TEMPE -- Zahid Valencia arrived home in southern California this week, looking forward to a well-earned, albeit short break. Over the past three years, the Sun Devil sophomore-to-be, has rolled right from his high school and collegiate wrestling seasons into the junior world championships, and then right back into the school year.
It's been a break-neck, no-break training pace -- almost Olympic in scope -- and that was by design. Valencia is unwavering in his goals. He wants to be an NCAA champion, a world champion and an Olympic champion. Last week in Tampere, Finland, he took a step in that direction.
Valencia earned a silver medal at the Junior World Championships at 84 kilograms to help lead the U.S. to its first junior worlds title since 1984. Valencia fell to Russia's Artur Naifonov, 7-5, in the final after an impressive run through the earlier rounds. Valencia began the tournament by defeating Azerbaijan's Gadzhimura Magomedsaidov, 11-2 (Magomedsaidov defeated Valencia last year in the quarterfinals). Valencia then scored back-to-back technical falls, 10-0 over Cheolyeon Lee of Korea in just 50 seconds, and 11-0 over 2016 Cadet World champion Deepak Puniac of India.
"It was nice to get on top of that podium after three years of making the junior world team," Valencia said. "It was a good experience for me to continue to grow and learn for the senior worlds and the Olympics."
Valencia had a remarkable freshman season at ASU, going 38-1 and owning the No. 1 national ranking for much of the season. His only collegiate loss came in the NCAA semifinals at 174 pounds when eventual champion Mark Hall of Penn State beat him, 4-3.
Sun Devil coach Zeke Jones understands why that loss frustrated an undefeated wrestler with such high expectations. Jones sensed the same disappointment from Valencia in Finland, but in the bigger picture, Jones views those two experiences as valuable training on Valencia's steeply climbing performance curve.
"He really wrestled outstanding," said Jones, who earned a Junior World Freestyle silver for the United States in 1986. "The difference between first and second in the world is really just one mistake or a tough judgment call. That's part of learning and gaining experience."
Valencia had both a tough call and a mistake go against him in the final in Finland. Early in the match, he was penalized with a caution and two points for attacking the fingers of his opponent. After a step-out for Valencia, Naifonov opened a 4-1 lead.
Valencia rallied with a body lock after Naifonov tried to stand up out of a quad pod. The four-point move put Zahid ahead at the break, but that's when Valencia's normally aggressive style cost him, in a counter takedown and step-out for Naifonov.
"That first caution hurt me in the beginning but I was thinking, 'it's early. I can wear him out,' but he wrestled smart and stingy. He wasn't giving up a lot of points," said Valencia, who was trying for a push-out on the pivotal turn in the match. "That's the thing I regret. I would probably refocus on that and wrestle smarter. I didn't need that point."
Jones agreed.
"We talk about lead management all the time, and it's the same scenario in every sport," Jones said. "We always teach our kids to keep scoring so he has been conditioned to do that and we like that, but at the highest level, athletes are better -- you're dealing with the best in the world -- so while the ideal is to keep scoring points, the key is they can't score on you.
"He hasn't been in a lot of close matches so he hasn't had to manage those situations. Sometimes, you have to understand how to manage your lead, so I think this was a great learning experience for Zahid."
The Sun Devils have been represented on the Junior World Team the last seven years with Zahid Valencia earning a spot from 2015-17, his brother, Anthony Valencia, in 2014, and Tanner Hall in 2011 and 2012. Jason Tsirtsis was on the 2013 team and Bubba Jenkins won gold in 2007 team prior to his time in Tempe.
Zahid Valencia views this move as a stepping-stone to the senior world championships and Jones said there is precedent on his side.
"If you look at the junior world medalists and senior world medalists, there is a high correlation," Jones said. "Next year, he'll have an excellent shot, and within three years he'll be in prime position for the Olympics."
Jones doesn't plan any major additions to Valencia's repertoire, but there will be minor tweaks when he returns to campus next week.
"The world has all his video now and they know him inside and out so you have to implement a few new things; new set-ups, new formations, something to his attack. Not a lot, he's already a scratch golfer, but how does he lower that number?"
Valencia is enjoying putting those thoughts on hold for one week while he relaxes at the beach and spends time with his family.
"Right now, I'm just relaxing a little bit, recovering my body and getting refocused; getting hungry again," Valencia said. "The more I continue to wrestle in these big tournaments, the more experience I gain in the field that will help me.
"My coaches know all the right things to do with training, conditioning and lifting so I'll just believe in them, continue to work hard and smart and try to go undefeated. I feel positive. I feel good about where I am."
It's been a break-neck, no-break training pace -- almost Olympic in scope -- and that was by design. Valencia is unwavering in his goals. He wants to be an NCAA champion, a world champion and an Olympic champion. Last week in Tampere, Finland, he took a step in that direction.
Valencia earned a silver medal at the Junior World Championships at 84 kilograms to help lead the U.S. to its first junior worlds title since 1984. Valencia fell to Russia's Artur Naifonov, 7-5, in the final after an impressive run through the earlier rounds. Valencia began the tournament by defeating Azerbaijan's Gadzhimura Magomedsaidov, 11-2 (Magomedsaidov defeated Valencia last year in the quarterfinals). Valencia then scored back-to-back technical falls, 10-0 over Cheolyeon Lee of Korea in just 50 seconds, and 11-0 over 2016 Cadet World champion Deepak Puniac of India.
"It was nice to get on top of that podium after three years of making the junior world team," Valencia said. "It was a good experience for me to continue to grow and learn for the senior worlds and the Olympics."
Valencia had a remarkable freshman season at ASU, going 38-1 and owning the No. 1 national ranking for much of the season. His only collegiate loss came in the NCAA semifinals at 174 pounds when eventual champion Mark Hall of Penn State beat him, 4-3.
Sun Devil coach Zeke Jones understands why that loss frustrated an undefeated wrestler with such high expectations. Jones sensed the same disappointment from Valencia in Finland, but in the bigger picture, Jones views those two experiences as valuable training on Valencia's steeply climbing performance curve.
"He really wrestled outstanding," said Jones, who earned a Junior World Freestyle silver for the United States in 1986. "The difference between first and second in the world is really just one mistake or a tough judgment call. That's part of learning and gaining experience."
Valencia had both a tough call and a mistake go against him in the final in Finland. Early in the match, he was penalized with a caution and two points for attacking the fingers of his opponent. After a step-out for Valencia, Naifonov opened a 4-1 lead.
Valencia rallied with a body lock after Naifonov tried to stand up out of a quad pod. The four-point move put Zahid ahead at the break, but that's when Valencia's normally aggressive style cost him, in a counter takedown and step-out for Naifonov.
"That first caution hurt me in the beginning but I was thinking, 'it's early. I can wear him out,' but he wrestled smart and stingy. He wasn't giving up a lot of points," said Valencia, who was trying for a push-out on the pivotal turn in the match. "That's the thing I regret. I would probably refocus on that and wrestle smarter. I didn't need that point."
Jones agreed.
"We talk about lead management all the time, and it's the same scenario in every sport," Jones said. "We always teach our kids to keep scoring so he has been conditioned to do that and we like that, but at the highest level, athletes are better -- you're dealing with the best in the world -- so while the ideal is to keep scoring points, the key is they can't score on you.
"He hasn't been in a lot of close matches so he hasn't had to manage those situations. Sometimes, you have to understand how to manage your lead, so I think this was a great learning experience for Zahid."
The Sun Devils have been represented on the Junior World Team the last seven years with Zahid Valencia earning a spot from 2015-17, his brother, Anthony Valencia, in 2014, and Tanner Hall in 2011 and 2012. Jason Tsirtsis was on the 2013 team and Bubba Jenkins won gold in 2007 team prior to his time in Tempe.
Zahid Valencia views this move as a stepping-stone to the senior world championships and Jones said there is precedent on his side.
"If you look at the junior world medalists and senior world medalists, there is a high correlation," Jones said. "Next year, he'll have an excellent shot, and within three years he'll be in prime position for the Olympics."
Jones doesn't plan any major additions to Valencia's repertoire, but there will be minor tweaks when he returns to campus next week.
"The world has all his video now and they know him inside and out so you have to implement a few new things; new set-ups, new formations, something to his attack. Not a lot, he's already a scratch golfer, but how does he lower that number?"
Valencia is enjoying putting those thoughts on hold for one week while he relaxes at the beach and spends time with his family.
"Right now, I'm just relaxing a little bit, recovering my body and getting refocused; getting hungry again," Valencia said. "The more I continue to wrestle in these big tournaments, the more experience I gain in the field that will help me.
"My coaches know all the right things to do with training, conditioning and lifting so I'll just believe in them, continue to work hard and smart and try to go undefeated. I feel positive. I feel good about where I am."