TEMPE, Ariz. – Head Coach Zeke Jones announced the addition of Michigan Trunkel as the Director of Operations for Sun Devil Wrestling earlier this month.
"We're excited to add Michigan to our staff," Coach Zeke Jones remarked. "His experience working with the Olympic movement, college wrestling, and professional sports makes him perfect for our job. We look forward to him making our program and athletic department better."
Trunkel joins the staff after gaining experience at both the collegiate and professional level, while also boasting an extensive wrestling background. He most recently served as an operations intern for the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, where he was involved with wrestling among several other Olympic sports. He spent the summer of 2018, working with the National Sports Center as a Sports Administration & Event Management Intern.
"I am excited to join the Sun Devil Wrestling staff," Trunkel stated. "I can't wait to help the wrestling program and athletic department reach their goals while also ensuring our student athletes succeed not only in sports, but in all aspects of life."
The 2018 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities received his bachelor's degree in Sport Management with a minor in leadership. While pursuing his degree as a senior at Minnesota, he gained plenty of experience at the professional level. He spent part of 2018 as a Gameday Marketing Assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves in addition to time spent as a Concierge at the Target Center, the home venue for the Timberwolves. Trunkel resume does not stop there, as he also worked with the Minnesota Twins, Big Ten Network, and in the Gopher Athletics' Marketing Department among several other entities while a student.
After the completion of his high school career in Wisconsin, Trunkel stayed involved in the sport while attending Minnesota. He worked with the three-time national title winning Golden Gopher Wrestling program, where he provided administrative support during home matches. Heavily involved in the Minnesota Wrestling community, Trunkel was elected as the president of the club wrestling team, a position he held from 2017-18.
"The sport of wrestling has always been an important part of my life," Trunkel said. "Wrestling is more than just a sport to my family. I've learned many valuable life lessons and skills from the sport that I pride myself upon."
He joins a program that continues to gain momentum, brining in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation according to intermatwrestle.com. Reigning 174-pound National Champion Zahid Valencia joins forces with returning All-Americans Tanner Hall and Josh Shields, giving Sun Devil fans a lot to be excited about as it relates to the future of wrestling in Tempe.
"We're excited to add Michigan to our staff," Coach Zeke Jones remarked. "His experience working with the Olympic movement, college wrestling, and professional sports makes him perfect for our job. We look forward to him making our program and athletic department better."
Trunkel joins the staff after gaining experience at both the collegiate and professional level, while also boasting an extensive wrestling background. He most recently served as an operations intern for the United States Olympic Committee in Colorado Springs, where he was involved with wrestling among several other Olympic sports. He spent the summer of 2018, working with the National Sports Center as a Sports Administration & Event Management Intern.
"I am excited to join the Sun Devil Wrestling staff," Trunkel stated. "I can't wait to help the wrestling program and athletic department reach their goals while also ensuring our student athletes succeed not only in sports, but in all aspects of life."
The 2018 graduate of the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities received his bachelor's degree in Sport Management with a minor in leadership. While pursuing his degree as a senior at Minnesota, he gained plenty of experience at the professional level. He spent part of 2018 as a Gameday Marketing Assistant for the Minnesota Timberwolves in addition to time spent as a Concierge at the Target Center, the home venue for the Timberwolves. Trunkel resume does not stop there, as he also worked with the Minnesota Twins, Big Ten Network, and in the Gopher Athletics' Marketing Department among several other entities while a student.
After the completion of his high school career in Wisconsin, Trunkel stayed involved in the sport while attending Minnesota. He worked with the three-time national title winning Golden Gopher Wrestling program, where he provided administrative support during home matches. Heavily involved in the Minnesota Wrestling community, Trunkel was elected as the president of the club wrestling team, a position he held from 2017-18.
"The sport of wrestling has always been an important part of my life," Trunkel said. "Wrestling is more than just a sport to my family. I've learned many valuable life lessons and skills from the sport that I pride myself upon."
He joins a program that continues to gain momentum, brining in the No. 2 recruiting class in the nation according to intermatwrestle.com. Reigning 174-pound National Champion Zahid Valencia joins forces with returning All-Americans Tanner Hall and Josh Shields, giving Sun Devil fans a lot to be excited about as it relates to the future of wrestling in Tempe.