TEMPE, Ariz.—After their regular season home opener vs. Ohio State in mid-November, the Sun Devils return to action this weekend at the 35th annual Cliff Keen Las Vegas Collegiate Wrestling Invitational at the Las Vegas Convention Center (Dec. 2-3).
BUY TICKETS FOR HOME MATCHES
Season tickets can be purchased by calling the ASU ticket office at (480) 965-5333 while matside seating can be purchased through the sales hotline at (480) 965-5812.
CLIFF KEEN LAS VEGAS COLLEGIATE INVITATIONAL
The 35th annual Cliff Keen Invitational takes place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, Hall C5 (3150 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89109).
This weekend's tournament features 35 teams as well as many of the nation's top teams including eight of NWCA's top 25 alongside the No. 19 Sun Devils (No. 4 Ohio State, No. 6 Virginia Tech, No. 8 Cornell, No. 14 Central Michigan, No. 15 Stanford, No. 17 Wisconsin, No. 18 Minnesota).
Wrestling starts at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday with Friday's championship quarterfinals and consolation round of eight starting at 6 p.m. and Saturday's championship finals starting at 3 p.m. For the full schedule, visit www.cklvwrestle.com/schedule.
Ticket prices are as follows: All-Session ($40) or Single Session (Prelim $15 or Championship Finals $20). Tickets can be purchased at the door on the day of the event and are CASH ONLY. The event will be broadcast on FloWrestling.org.
IN THE RANKINGS
As a team, TrackWrestling ranks the Sun Devils No. 14 (tied), FloWrestling No. 16 while WIN Magazine ranks ASU No. 13. The NWCA/USA Today Coaches Poll ranks ASU No. 19 this week. The following are individual rankings for Sun Devils from several media outlets based on each athlete's perceived weight class:
The Open Mat - Ali Naser (No. 16, 133), Anthony Valencia (No. 14, 165), Zahid Valencia (No. 7, 174), Tanner Hall (No. 4, HWT)
Intermat - Anthony Valencia (No. 9, 165), Zahid Valencia (No. 7, 174), Tanner Hall (No. 4, HWT)
WIN Magazine - Christian Pagdilao (No. 10, 149), Josh Shields (No. 16, 157), Anthony Valencia (No. 8, 165), Zahid Valencia (No. 7, 174), Tanner Hall (No. 4, HWT)
TrackWrestling - Ali Naser (No. 24, 133), Josh Maruca (No. 23, 149), Anthony Valencia (No. 8, 165), Zahid Valencia (No. 7, 174), Tanner Hall (No. 4, HWT)
CURLEY CULP HONORED
Curley Culp, one of the best two-sport athletes Arizona State has ever seen, was an offensive and defensive lineman in football as well as 1967 NCAA heavyweight champion.
The five-time pro-bowler and 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Culp was enshrined in the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Chiefs during their Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl IV.
Culp had a singlet hung in the Wells Fargo Arena rafters in his honor at halftime of ASU's match vs. Ohio State on Nov. 19.
UP NEXT
After this weekend, the Sun Devils take a break from competition until after the holidays, next heading to Midlands (Dec. 29-30) in Evanston, Ill. ASU opens 2017 at Iowa State (Jan. 6) before returning home for their Pac-12 opener vs. Cal Poly on Jan. 8.