CORVALLIS, Ore. – After winning their first Pac-12 Championship in 11 years last season, No. 9 Sun Devil wrestling repeated the feat with their first back-to-back conference titles since 2005 and 2006, a stretch in which the Sun Devils won three in four years and four in six years (also 2001 and 2003).
ASU won their 20th all-time conference championship (18th in the Pac-10/12) behind six individual champions – Ali Naser (133), Jason Tsirtsis (149), Josh Shields (157), Anthony Valencia (165), Zahid Valencia (174), and Kordell Norfleet (184), the most for the Sun Devils since six in 2003. Ryan Millhof (125) and Tanner Hall (HWT) also join their teammates as NCAA qualifiers.
Naser and Norfleet make their first trip to NCAA's while Shields, A. Valencia, Z. Valencia, and Hall return for the second straight season. Tsirtsis and Millhof return to NCAA's after previous success at the national tournament but will represent the Sun Devils for the first time.
Shields, A. Valencia, and Z. Valencia become the first back-to-back Pac-12 individual champions for Arizona State since Anthony Robles won three straight from 2009-11.
As a team, the Sun Devils finished with 96 points followed by host Oregon State in second (70), CSU Bakersfield third (52.5), Stanford fourth (47.5), and Cal Poly fifth (37).
"It takes a community to build a program and our support system is fantastic," said head coach Zeke Jones. "We need to continue to surround our athletes with people who care about them. When we came in, we got a great jumpstart on that recruiting class that was No. 1, which is all these sophomores that you see here, but I don't think we're ever satisfied with where we are. Until we can get on top of the podium at NCAA's, we're going to keep striving."
The NCAA selection show will take place at 4pm MT on Wednesday, Mar. 7, when the at large NCAA qualifiers will be announced. The Sun Devils' NCAA qualifiers prepare to head to Cleveland, Ohio for the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships Mar. 15-17.
Results
125 – Ryan Millhof – 2nd Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Ryan Millhof DEC Sergio Mendez (CSUB), 8-7
Finals – Ronnie Bresser (OSU) DEC Ryan Millhof, 3-2
133 – Ali Naser – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Ali Naser DEC Devan Turner (OSU), 3-2
Finals – Ali Naser DEC Mason Pengilly (Stanford), 8-3
141 – Nikko Villarreal (4th Place)
1st Round – Jack Hathway (Oregon State) MD Nikko Villareal, 9-0
Cons. Semifinal – Nikko Villarreal DEC Isaiah Locsin (Stanford), 8-2
3rd Place Match – Jack Hathway (Oregon State) DEC Nikko Villarreal, 6-0
149 – Jason Tsirtsis – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Jason Tsirtsis TF Jake Barry (Stanford), 16-0 (5:34)
Finals – Jason Tsirtsis DEC Josh Cortez (Cal Poly), 3-2
157 – Josh Shields – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Josh Shields TF Coleman Hammond (CSU Bakersfield), 18-2 (4:20)
Finals – Josh Shields MD Hunter Willits (Oregon State), 10-2
165 – Anthony Valencia – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Anthony Valencia FALL Jared Hill (Stanford), 1:04
Finals – Anthony Valencia FALL Lorenzo De La Riva, 6:14
174 – Zahid Valencia – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Zahid Valencia FALL Myles Terry (Oregon State), 3:49
Finals – Zahid Valencia MD Keaton Subjeck (Stanford), 15-7
184 – Kordell Norfleet – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Kordell Norfleet DEC Dom Ducharme, 12-5
Finals – Kordell Norfleet DEC Matt Wilhelm (Cal Poly), 9-4
197 – Cade Belshay – 5th Place
1st Round – Tom Lane (Cal Poly) MD Cade Belshay, 11-0
Cons. Semifinal – Nathan Traxler (Stanford) DEC Cade Belshay, 5-4 TB-1
HWT – Tanner Hall – 3rd Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Nathan Butler (Stanford) DEC Tanner Hall, 2-1 TB-1
Finals – Tanner Hall FALL Spencer Empey (Cal Poly), 4:30
ASU won their 20th all-time conference championship (18th in the Pac-10/12) behind six individual champions – Ali Naser (133), Jason Tsirtsis (149), Josh Shields (157), Anthony Valencia (165), Zahid Valencia (174), and Kordell Norfleet (184), the most for the Sun Devils since six in 2003. Ryan Millhof (125) and Tanner Hall (HWT) also join their teammates as NCAA qualifiers.
6?? individual titles
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) February 26, 2018
1?? big team win@ASUWrestling celebrates back-to-back Pac-12 titles ???? pic.twitter.com/URrvBCYQ1y
Naser and Norfleet make their first trip to NCAA's while Shields, A. Valencia, Z. Valencia, and Hall return for the second straight season. Tsirtsis and Millhof return to NCAA's after previous success at the national tournament but will represent the Sun Devils for the first time.
Shields, A. Valencia, and Z. Valencia become the first back-to-back Pac-12 individual champions for Arizona State since Anthony Robles won three straight from 2009-11.
Still undefeated ?? @Z_MONEY97 #SunDevilIntensity https://t.co/Ok9l0weoKI
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) February 25, 2018
As a team, the Sun Devils finished with 96 points followed by host Oregon State in second (70), CSU Bakersfield third (52.5), Stanford fourth (47.5), and Cal Poly fifth (37).
"It takes a community to build a program and our support system is fantastic," said head coach Zeke Jones. "We need to continue to surround our athletes with people who care about them. When we came in, we got a great jumpstart on that recruiting class that was No. 1, which is all these sophomores that you see here, but I don't think we're ever satisfied with where we are. Until we can get on top of the podium at NCAA's, we're going to keep striving."
The NCAA selection show will take place at 4pm MT on Wednesday, Mar. 7, when the at large NCAA qualifiers will be announced. The Sun Devils' NCAA qualifiers prepare to head to Cleveland, Ohio for the 2018 NCAA Wrestling Championships Mar. 15-17.
Results
125 – Ryan Millhof – 2nd Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Ryan Millhof DEC Sergio Mendez (CSUB), 8-7
Finals – Ronnie Bresser (OSU) DEC Ryan Millhof, 3-2
133 – Ali Naser – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Ali Naser DEC Devan Turner (OSU), 3-2
Finals – Ali Naser DEC Mason Pengilly (Stanford), 8-3
141 – Nikko Villarreal (4th Place)
1st Round – Jack Hathway (Oregon State) MD Nikko Villareal, 9-0
Cons. Semifinal – Nikko Villarreal DEC Isaiah Locsin (Stanford), 8-2
3rd Place Match – Jack Hathway (Oregon State) DEC Nikko Villarreal, 6-0
149 – Jason Tsirtsis – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Jason Tsirtsis TF Jake Barry (Stanford), 16-0 (5:34)
Finals – Jason Tsirtsis DEC Josh Cortez (Cal Poly), 3-2
157 – Josh Shields – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Josh Shields TF Coleman Hammond (CSU Bakersfield), 18-2 (4:20)
Finals – Josh Shields MD Hunter Willits (Oregon State), 10-2
165 – Anthony Valencia – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Anthony Valencia FALL Jared Hill (Stanford), 1:04
Finals – Anthony Valencia FALL Lorenzo De La Riva, 6:14
174 – Zahid Valencia – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Zahid Valencia FALL Myles Terry (Oregon State), 3:49
Finals – Zahid Valencia MD Keaton Subjeck (Stanford), 15-7
184 – Kordell Norfleet – 1st Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Kordell Norfleet DEC Dom Ducharme, 12-5
Finals – Kordell Norfleet DEC Matt Wilhelm (Cal Poly), 9-4
197 – Cade Belshay – 5th Place
1st Round – Tom Lane (Cal Poly) MD Cade Belshay, 11-0
Cons. Semifinal – Nathan Traxler (Stanford) DEC Cade Belshay, 5-4 TB-1
HWT – Tanner Hall – 3rd Place (NCAA Qualifier)
Semifinals – Nathan Butler (Stanford) DEC Tanner Hall, 2-1 TB-1
Finals – Tanner Hall FALL Spencer Empey (Cal Poly), 4:30