TEMPE, Ariz. – Many members of the Arizona State wrestling team will be competing on the national and world stage during summer/fall 2018. See below for a full schedule (with dates added periodically) as well as results and recaps for each of the competitions.
Freestyle
Apr. 28, 2018 – U.S. Open (Las Vegas)
Brandon Courtney won the UWW Junior Freestyle title at 57 kg while Kordell Norfleet (Junior Team/86 kg) finished fourth and Tanner Hall (Senior Team/125 kg) finished sixth to qualify for the Junior and Senior Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge tournament.
Get all the details here.
May 17, 2018 – Junior/Senior World Team Trials (Rochester, Minn.)
With two dominant, shutout victories in the best-of-three finals at World Team Trials, Brandon Courtney won the UWW Junior World Team Trials.
Courtney won his first match, 10-0, and his second, 11-0, over Ohio State commit Malik Heinselman at 57 kg. Courtney may have a spot on the world team dependent on a wrestleoff. As the returning World champion at the weight class, Daton Fix will wrestle off Courtney (July 15 in Fargo, ND//4:30 pm CT in best-of-three series) for the Junior Team spot as he was unable to secure a Senior Team spot at Final X Lincoln.
In his first year competing at the Senior level, Zahid Valencia nearly shut out fellow Junior World silver medalist and two-time National Team member Alex Dieringer in a best-of-three series (79 kg). With the wins, Valencia advanced to Final X, where he will face 2018 U.S. Open winner Kyle Dake.
Kordell Norfleet (86 kg) was also a finalist for the Junior Team while Cade Belshay (Junior Team) and Tanner Hall (Senior Team) also competed.
June 2-3, 2018 – U23 World Team Trials (Akron, Ohio)
At U23 World Team Trials in Akron, Josh Kramer (61kg) and All-American Josh Shields (74kg) placed fifth and sixth in their weight classes, respectively.
Chance Ikei (61kg), Cory Crooks (65kg), Mason Smith (65kg), Pac-12 Champion Josh Maruca (70kg), Jacen Petersen (74kg), and Conner Small (86kg) also competed over the weekend.
June 16, 2018 – Final X (State College, Pa.)
After upsetting two-time National Team member and fellow Junior World silver medalist Alex Dieringer earlier this spring, Zahid Valencia advanced to the first-ever Final X series, his matches held in one of three Final X locations – State College, Pa. Taking on four-time NCAA champion, Dan Hodge Trophy winner, World Cup champion, 2016 Olympic trials runner-up, and three-time World Team Trials runner-up Kyle Dake (who is six years Valencia's senior), Valencia took the early advantage in the second round but ultimately fell in two matches in a best-of-three series, 4-0, 4-3.
After competing on the past three Junior World teams, bringing home a silver medal in 2017, for Valencia, it would've been an extremely impressive feat but ultimately making it to this point was equally as impressive. In history, only 18 wrestlers (two Sun Devils – Zeke Jones and Bill Rosado) have earned spots on the Senior World Team while still holding college eligibility. Valencia will, once again, have a chance to join this list in 2019.
July 7 – Canada Cup (Guelph, Ont., Canada)
Ali Naser (61kg) won his weight class at the 2018 Canada Cup in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Naser was one of 120 athletes competing from seven different countries including Canada, USA, Russia, China, Mongolia, Benin, and Algeria. The Canada Cup of International Wrestling started in the fall of 1980 by the Federal Government to provide Canada's wrestlers with an alternative to the boycotted Olympic Games in Moscow.
July 15 – Brandon Courtney Wrestle-Off for Junior World Team spot (Fargo, N.D.)
Brandon Courtney faced Daton Fix in a best-of-three series for the 57 kg spot on the USA Junior World Freestyle Team. In their second consecutive year meeting for a spot on the Junior World Team after meeting in the finals of the Junior WTT a year ago, Fix earned the spot by winning the first two bouts 11-0, 10-0. Courtney is the alternate for the Junior world team spot.
August 17-19 – Junior Pan-American Championships (Fortaleza, Brazil)
In not only his first international appearance but his first time outside the United States, sophomore Kordell Norfleet won gold at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, one of nine Americans to win gold in men's freestyle at the competition. Fellow Sun Devil Brandon Courtney, who redshirted his freshman season in 2017-18, earned a bronze medal in the day's competition. Norfleet used four tech falls vs. opponents from Colombia, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina, respectively to capture a bronze medal, never surrendering a single point in the day's action. Courtney won on three tech falls, dropping only one match across the entire day right before the evening's bronze medal match. ASU assistant coach Chris Pendleton accompanied the duo on the trip. FULL STORY
June 8 – Junior World Team Trials (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Chad Porter (97kg) will make his first world team appearance this fall as he won a spot on the UWW Junior Greco Roman World Team at the Junior GR WTT. After earning a bye in the quarterfinals, Porter wrestled his way through the semis, finals, and best-of-three championship series. In the final series, Porter defeated Oklahoma State's Austin Harris in the first two matches to earn the spot. Full results are as follows below. The Junior World Championships, including freestyle and Greco-Roman take place Sept. 17-23 in Trnava, Slovakia.
Semis – Chad Porter VPO Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 5-0
Finals – Chad Porter VPO1 Anthony Riopelle (NMU-OTS), 5-2
Championship Series (1) – Chad Porter VPO1 Austin Harris, 8-3
Championship Series (2) – Chad Porter VPO1 Austin Harris (Cowboy RTC/TMWC)
June 21-22 – Senior World Team Trials (Tulsa, Okla.)
Alum Kevin Radford (ASU '15) finished top-three at Senior World Team Trials, earning a spot on the USA Senior National Team. Radford defeated Richard Carlson (Minnesota Storm) by TF, 8-0 in the third-place match. This is Radford's first spot on the National Team.
Sept. 17-23 – Junior World Championship (Trnava, Slovakia)
Chad Porter earned the 97kg spot, winning at Junior World Team Trials in June.
Freestyle
Apr. 28, 2018 – U.S. Open (Las Vegas)
Brandon Courtney won the UWW Junior Freestyle title at 57 kg while Kordell Norfleet (Junior Team/86 kg) finished fourth and Tanner Hall (Senior Team/125 kg) finished sixth to qualify for the Junior and Senior Men's Freestyle World Team Trials Challenge tournament.
Get all the details here.
May 17, 2018 – Junior/Senior World Team Trials (Rochester, Minn.)
With two dominant, shutout victories in the best-of-three finals at World Team Trials, Brandon Courtney won the UWW Junior World Team Trials.
Courtney won his first match, 10-0, and his second, 11-0, over Ohio State commit Malik Heinselman at 57 kg. Courtney may have a spot on the world team dependent on a wrestleoff. As the returning World champion at the weight class, Daton Fix will wrestle off Courtney (July 15 in Fargo, ND//4:30 pm CT in best-of-three series) for the Junior Team spot as he was unable to secure a Senior Team spot at Final X Lincoln.
In his first year competing at the Senior level, Zahid Valencia nearly shut out fellow Junior World silver medalist and two-time National Team member Alex Dieringer in a best-of-three series (79 kg). With the wins, Valencia advanced to Final X, where he will face 2018 U.S. Open winner Kyle Dake.
Kordell Norfleet (86 kg) was also a finalist for the Junior Team while Cade Belshay (Junior Team) and Tanner Hall (Senior Team) also competed.
June 2-3, 2018 – U23 World Team Trials (Akron, Ohio)
At U23 World Team Trials in Akron, Josh Kramer (61kg) and All-American Josh Shields (74kg) placed fifth and sixth in their weight classes, respectively.
Chance Ikei (61kg), Cory Crooks (65kg), Mason Smith (65kg), Pac-12 Champion Josh Maruca (70kg), Jacen Petersen (74kg), and Conner Small (86kg) also competed over the weekend.
June 16, 2018 – Final X (State College, Pa.)
After upsetting two-time National Team member and fellow Junior World silver medalist Alex Dieringer earlier this spring, Zahid Valencia advanced to the first-ever Final X series, his matches held in one of three Final X locations – State College, Pa. Taking on four-time NCAA champion, Dan Hodge Trophy winner, World Cup champion, 2016 Olympic trials runner-up, and three-time World Team Trials runner-up Kyle Dake (who is six years Valencia's senior), Valencia took the early advantage in the second round but ultimately fell in two matches in a best-of-three series, 4-0, 4-3.
Valencia vs Dake. #FinalX pic.twitter.com/oJGORS2Iwj
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) June 16, 2018
After competing on the past three Junior World teams, bringing home a silver medal in 2017, for Valencia, it would've been an extremely impressive feat but ultimately making it to this point was equally as impressive. In history, only 18 wrestlers (two Sun Devils – Zeke Jones and Bill Rosado) have earned spots on the Senior World Team while still holding college eligibility. Valencia will, once again, have a chance to join this list in 2019.
Final preparations are finished, #FinalX State College is just about to officially begin! Watch live here: https://t.co/JVTo04ORp8. @z_money_97/Dake will be the 4th in the 6-match rotation in a best-of-3 finals #SunDevilIntensity (??: @Richard_Immel) pic.twitter.com/XxYzJGODjQ
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) June 16, 2018
July 7 – Canada Cup (Guelph, Ont., Canada)
Ali Naser (61kg) won his weight class at the 2018 Canada Cup in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Naser was one of 120 athletes competing from seven different countries including Canada, USA, Russia, China, Mongolia, Benin, and Algeria. The Canada Cup of International Wrestling started in the fall of 1980 by the Federal Government to provide Canada's wrestlers with an alternative to the boycotted Olympic Games in Moscow.
July 15 – Brandon Courtney Wrestle-Off for Junior World Team spot (Fargo, N.D.)
Brandon Courtney faced Daton Fix in a best-of-three series for the 57 kg spot on the USA Junior World Freestyle Team. In their second consecutive year meeting for a spot on the Junior World Team after meeting in the finals of the Junior WTT a year ago, Fix earned the spot by winning the first two bouts 11-0, 10-0. Courtney is the alternate for the Junior world team spot.
August 17-19 – Junior Pan-American Championships (Fortaleza, Brazil)
In not only his first international appearance but his first time outside the United States, sophomore Kordell Norfleet won gold at the 2018 Junior Pan American Championships, one of nine Americans to win gold in men's freestyle at the competition. Fellow Sun Devil Brandon Courtney, who redshirted his freshman season in 2017-18, earned a bronze medal in the day's competition. Norfleet used four tech falls vs. opponents from Colombia, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina, respectively to capture a bronze medal, never surrendering a single point in the day's action. Courtney won on three tech falls, dropping only one match across the entire day right before the evening's bronze medal match. ASU assistant coach Chris Pendleton accompanied the duo on the trip. FULL STORY
Greco-RomanFreestyle newcomer Kordell Norfleet prepares for 2018 Junior Pan Ams: "It all started with ASU"
— USA Wrestling (@USAWrestling) August 9, 2018
??: https://t.co/fOcrtXGMa5 pic.twitter.com/VrU4txavAQ
June 8 – Junior World Team Trials (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Chad Porter (97kg) will make his first world team appearance this fall as he won a spot on the UWW Junior Greco Roman World Team at the Junior GR WTT. After earning a bye in the quarterfinals, Porter wrestled his way through the semis, finals, and best-of-three championship series. In the final series, Porter defeated Oklahoma State's Austin Harris in the first two matches to earn the spot. Full results are as follows below. The Junior World Championships, including freestyle and Greco-Roman take place Sept. 17-23 in Trnava, Slovakia.
Semis – Chad Porter VPO Nicholas Boykin (Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club), 5-0
Finals – Chad Porter VPO1 Anthony Riopelle (NMU-OTS), 5-2
Championship Series (1) – Chad Porter VPO1 Austin Harris, 8-3
Championship Series (2) – Chad Porter VPO1 Austin Harris (Cowboy RTC/TMWC)
June 21-22 – Senior World Team Trials (Tulsa, Okla.)
Alum Kevin Radford (ASU '15) finished top-three at Senior World Team Trials, earning a spot on the USA Senior National Team. Radford defeated Richard Carlson (Minnesota Storm) by TF, 8-0 in the third-place match. This is Radford's first spot on the National Team.
Sept. 17-23 – Junior World Championship (Trnava, Slovakia)
Chad Porter earned the 97kg spot, winning at Junior World Team Trials in June.