by McKenzie Pavacich, Sun Devil Wrestling
TEMPE, Ariz. – The two-time reigning Pac-12 champion Arizona State wrestling team is gearing up for the start of the 2018-2019 season, packed with highly anticipated dual meet matchups and a chance to host the 2019 Pac-12 Conference championship.
Coming off of a landmark season comprised of a top-10 finish among a number of other accolades, head coach Zeke Jones is entering his fifth season with the Sun Devils.
Jones cites the success of last season is "certainly progress. We hit on some of the markers that we want to hit, and it's certainly going in the direction we want to head in."
Some of those markers include the highest Sun Devil wrestling finish in seven years, in addition to multiple All-Americans and the first NCAA champion since 2011, when Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins brought individual national titles back to Tempe.
"Zahid capped a year that we're trying to aspire to have in our program," said Jones. "He's excellent on the wrestling mat, but still has that unsatisfied desire to do better."
Dominance on the international level
Redshirt junior Zahid Valencia will return to the lineup this year as a two-time Pac-12 champion, a two-time All-American, the 2018 national champion at 174 pounds, as well as a USA Wrestling National Team member at 79kg.
Valencia, along with a handful of his teammates, partook in extracurricular wrestling this summer, competing at the junior, senior, and international levels during the months outside of the NCAA season.
"I think that anyone who is aspiring to be the best in the world has some year-round approach at the Olympic level," Jones said. "I think it takes a tremendous amount of discipline, dedication, commitment, desire and passion to do that."
After winning the 2018 NCAA tournament, Valencia secured his spot at the USA Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, one of the many steps to qualifying for the Senior World Team.
He then upended two-time NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State) in the finals of the Challenge Tournament, taking the series two to none (7-1, 5-0) to qualify for Final X.
Valencia then traveled to State College, Pa. to face off against four-time NCAA champion, Hodge Trophy winner, and sitting National Team member Kyle Dake (Cornell) in a best-of-three series for the World Team spot at the new 79kg weight class. Valencia kept fans on the edge of their seats for both matches, but Dake ultimately took the series two matches to none (4-0, 4-3).
Valencia is granted the unique opportunity to train with some of the best freestyle wrestlers in the country throughout the next year as a sitting National Team member.
"I think it's a blessing being able to get that experience at such a young age," Valencia said. "Just getting to continue to sharpen my skills all around, sharpen my technique to get to that next level."
The Sun Devil dominance didn't stop there.
Redshirt freshman Brandon Courtney sits second on the ladder for the Junior Freestyle World Team. Courtney represented the United States at the Junior Pan-Ams in August, where he won bronze.
Accompanying Courtney in Brazil was sophomore Kordell Norfleet. After a breakout debut in the freestyle qualifying tournaments, Norfleet brought home a gold medal for the United States at the Junior Pan-Ams.
Redshirt freshman Chad Porter donned the red, white and blue later as the 97kg representative for the U.S. Junior Greco World Team in Slovakia in September.
Other notable appearances this summer included sixth-place finishes from redshirt juniors Josh Kramer and All-American Josh Shields at the U23 World Team Trials, which took place in Akron, Ohio in June.
The four active athletes the Sun Devils have competing at the national level is one of the highest for any Division I wrestling program in the country.
"We have guys on the team that don't want to just be the best in the country, but the best in the world, and they're starting to do that," Jones said.
New face in Tempe
The Sun Devils added more depth to the coaching staff with the hiring of Olympic silver medalist Jamill Kelly. With Kelly's addition, two of the four coaches are Olympic medalists, providing a unique environment for the athletes in the wrestling room.
"Jamill's been everything we expected him to be," Jones said. "He's a professional coach and a hard worker and very passionate and talented and good at what he does."
This year's mission
The overall goal remains the same, but Coach Jones has his eyes set on improving the lives of each athlete, both on and off the mat.
"For me, as a coach, it's serving others to help them strive for their lifelong dreams and passions and goals," said Jones.
The chemistry among teammates and coaches is credited as one of the most important aspects to a successful season. That idea is far from unfamiliar in the Sun Devil room.
Jones preaches a bigger picture, with bigger goals to achieve "as collective team."
"Are we driven with this burning desire of excellence to train and to feel that we're being productive in our lives?" Jones said. "Or that we can do something great together that we can't do ourselves?"
That "something great" will begin on Nov. 2, 2018 with the Maroon and Gold Intrasquad match. Following the kickoff, the schedule takes off full swing, but will look a little different from what it has in the past.
"Virtually every one of our dual meets is a top-20 matchup, but really we scheduled this year to challenge ourselves as a team throughout the year," Jones said. "Any time you get the returning national championship team on the schedule, that's a tremendous opportunity."
The 2018-2019 season features matchups with a number of notable out-of-conference powerhouses, some of which will be hosted in Tempe. The home season will culminate with the Pac-12 Conference championship, which will be hosted in Wells Fargo Arena Mar. 9.
"Hosting the Pac-12 is always something that's important to us," Jones said. "It's a way to have our team at home with our community, our families, our fans. The 11th man, so to speak."
The team will be led by seasoned veterans, with a national champion, four All-Americans, and eight conference champions all returning to the mat.
"With a group of older guys, the clock's ticking," Jones said. "They're feeling the clock tick. But if you're just staring at the clock, you forget what your purpose is and why you're doing it. Our job as a team is to remind each guy why they're doing it."
TEMPE, Ariz. – The two-time reigning Pac-12 champion Arizona State wrestling team is gearing up for the start of the 2018-2019 season, packed with highly anticipated dual meet matchups and a chance to host the 2019 Pac-12 Conference championship.
Coming off of a landmark season comprised of a top-10 finish among a number of other accolades, head coach Zeke Jones is entering his fifth season with the Sun Devils.
Jones cites the success of last season is "certainly progress. We hit on some of the markers that we want to hit, and it's certainly going in the direction we want to head in."
Some of those markers include the highest Sun Devil wrestling finish in seven years, in addition to multiple All-Americans and the first NCAA champion since 2011, when Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins brought individual national titles back to Tempe.
"Zahid capped a year that we're trying to aspire to have in our program," said Jones. "He's excellent on the wrestling mat, but still has that unsatisfied desire to do better."
Dominance on the international level
Redshirt junior Zahid Valencia will return to the lineup this year as a two-time Pac-12 champion, a two-time All-American, the 2018 national champion at 174 pounds, as well as a USA Wrestling National Team member at 79kg.
Valencia, along with a handful of his teammates, partook in extracurricular wrestling this summer, competing at the junior, senior, and international levels during the months outside of the NCAA season.
"I think that anyone who is aspiring to be the best in the world has some year-round approach at the Olympic level," Jones said. "I think it takes a tremendous amount of discipline, dedication, commitment, desire and passion to do that."
After winning the 2018 NCAA tournament, Valencia secured his spot at the USA Wrestling World Team Trials Challenge Tournament, one of the many steps to qualifying for the Senior World Team.
He then upended two-time NCAA champion and Hodge Trophy winner Alex Dieringer (Oklahoma State) in the finals of the Challenge Tournament, taking the series two to none (7-1, 5-0) to qualify for Final X.
Valencia then traveled to State College, Pa. to face off against four-time NCAA champion, Hodge Trophy winner, and sitting National Team member Kyle Dake (Cornell) in a best-of-three series for the World Team spot at the new 79kg weight class. Valencia kept fans on the edge of their seats for both matches, but Dake ultimately took the series two matches to none (4-0, 4-3).
Valencia is granted the unique opportunity to train with some of the best freestyle wrestlers in the country throughout the next year as a sitting National Team member.
"I think it's a blessing being able to get that experience at such a young age," Valencia said. "Just getting to continue to sharpen my skills all around, sharpen my technique to get to that next level."
The Sun Devil dominance didn't stop there.
Redshirt freshman Brandon Courtney sits second on the ladder for the Junior Freestyle World Team. Courtney represented the United States at the Junior Pan-Ams in August, where he won bronze.
Accompanying Courtney in Brazil was sophomore Kordell Norfleet. After a breakout debut in the freestyle qualifying tournaments, Norfleet brought home a gold medal for the United States at the Junior Pan-Ams.
Redshirt freshman Chad Porter donned the red, white and blue later as the 97kg representative for the U.S. Junior Greco World Team in Slovakia in September.
Other notable appearances this summer included sixth-place finishes from redshirt juniors Josh Kramer and All-American Josh Shields at the U23 World Team Trials, which took place in Akron, Ohio in June.
The four active athletes the Sun Devils have competing at the national level is one of the highest for any Division I wrestling program in the country.
"We have guys on the team that don't want to just be the best in the country, but the best in the world, and they're starting to do that," Jones said.
New face in Tempe
The Sun Devils added more depth to the coaching staff with the hiring of Olympic silver medalist Jamill Kelly. With Kelly's addition, two of the four coaches are Olympic medalists, providing a unique environment for the athletes in the wrestling room.
"Jamill's been everything we expected him to be," Jones said. "He's a professional coach and a hard worker and very passionate and talented and good at what he does."
This year's mission
The overall goal remains the same, but Coach Jones has his eyes set on improving the lives of each athlete, both on and off the mat.
"For me, as a coach, it's serving others to help them strive for their lifelong dreams and passions and goals," said Jones.
The chemistry among teammates and coaches is credited as one of the most important aspects to a successful season. That idea is far from unfamiliar in the Sun Devil room.
Jones preaches a bigger picture, with bigger goals to achieve "as collective team."
"Are we driven with this burning desire of excellence to train and to feel that we're being productive in our lives?" Jones said. "Or that we can do something great together that we can't do ourselves?"
That "something great" will begin on Nov. 2, 2018 with the Maroon and Gold Intrasquad match. Following the kickoff, the schedule takes off full swing, but will look a little different from what it has in the past.
"Virtually every one of our dual meets is a top-20 matchup, but really we scheduled this year to challenge ourselves as a team throughout the year," Jones said. "Any time you get the returning national championship team on the schedule, that's a tremendous opportunity."
The 2018-2019 season features matchups with a number of notable out-of-conference powerhouses, some of which will be hosted in Tempe. The home season will culminate with the Pac-12 Conference championship, which will be hosted in Wells Fargo Arena Mar. 9.
"Hosting the Pac-12 is always something that's important to us," Jones said. "It's a way to have our team at home with our community, our families, our fans. The 11th man, so to speak."
The team will be led by seasoned veterans, with a national champion, four All-Americans, and eight conference champions all returning to the mat.
"With a group of older guys, the clock's ticking," Jones said. "They're feeling the clock tick. But if you're just staring at the clock, you forget what your purpose is and why you're doing it. Our job as a team is to remind each guy why they're doing it."