by Ryan Capeloto, Sun Devil Student Media Relations Assistant
There are multiple reasons to be eager about the Arizona State wrestling team in the upcoming 2019-2020 season. After finishing 12th at the NCAA Championships last year, the team is ready to take the NCAA by storm. Look for the Sun Devils to make a run at the NCAA team title this year.
Returning from the previous year, the wrestling team has three All-Americans, including Zahid Valencia, who won his second-straight NCAA Championship at 174 pounds. Valencia was the first wrestler in ASU history to win back-to-back NCAA titles in the same weight class. The other leaders of the team, All-American Josh Shields is back after going to the 2019 NCAA Championships, while 2017 returning All-American Tanner Hall looks to complete his career with an NCAA championship. The core of the team is returning, including Pac-12 champions Josh Maruca, Anthony Valencia, and Kordell Norfleet along with the second-ranked recruiting class in the country adding more fuel to the fire to let coach Zeke Jones work his magic with the program.
Jones has high expectations for the new season. Jones stated that it has been a journey to get the program to a place where it can strive for championship performance. Jumping from 68th in the country to 12th last season puts the team in a plausible position.
"The goal is for every weight class to have a national champion," Jones said. "The ultimate goal is to have 10 national champions in all 10 weight classes, and that's something that has never been done, but that is the goal."
Jones knows the talent and passion this team and recruiting class are bringing to the table, that is why he is approaching his fifth season in charge differently.
In previous years, the team has sacrificed students to redshirts for multiple reasons. For instance, preserving the eligibility of certain team members.
"This year isn't about sacrificing and saving up for next year," Jones said. "We are going to put our best lineup in."
Providing your best lineup can be a challenge when you have depth on your roster like the Sun Devils have found. Last year, the Devils specialized in higher weight classes, which is why it is incredible most of the incoming recruits are in the lower weight classes.
"Where we needed help, we got it," Jones said.
Breaking down each weight class we will be able to see the potential starters and why the Sun Devil wrestling team will be a force to be reckoned with. Below, all weight classes are projected and may change as the season moves forward.
125 LBS (BRANDON COURTNEY, NICK RAIMO)
Returning Sophomore Brandon Courtney, and incoming freshman Nick Raimo are the two front runners coming out of the 125 lbs. Courtney produced great results a year ago. He comes from a different wrestling background, but is improving his Folkstyle and should be in the lightweight mix. Out of high school, Raimo has built an established resume already. A two-time New Jersey State champion and four-time Cadet National U16 champion, Nick is also a capable 133 lbs wrestler. Given that information and being months away from the season, the lineup could potentially change.
133 LBS (JOSH KRAMER, JULIAN CHLEBOVE)
In addition to Nick Raimo in the 133 lbs class is Josh Kramer. Kramer is a fifth-year senior who also has Pac-12 championship finalist on his resume. Fighting for spots alongside those two is incoming freshman Julian Chlebove, who is also capable of stepping up a weight class to 141 lbs. Julian was the Pennsylvania Wrestler of the Year and three-time Pennsylvania State champion. Julian's father, Ian Chlebove, also wrestled under Jones. Incoming Sun Devil Cleveland Belton, will also throw his hat into the ring for the 133 lbs spot. He was a two-time California State champion and high school national champion who was ranked 12th in the nation at 132 lbs coming out of high school.
141 LBS (COREY CROOKS, ADAM BUSIELLO)
Inside the 141 lbs class we have junior Cory Crooks. Crooks is a hometown kid who has two Arizona State championships to his name. He redshirted in his sophomore year producing top finishes at meets. Also competing for the starting spot with him is incoming freshman Adam Busiello, though he can step up to the 149 lbs class if needed. Busiello's impressive accomplishments include being a three-time Super 32 champion, and being one of three people to win five New York State championships. Fellow teammate Jacori Teemer is one of the other men to earn this achievement.
149 LBS (JOSH MARUCA)
Josh Maruca, is a fifth-year senior expected to take a leap forward. A past Pac-12 champion and three-time NCAA qualifier. He has wrestled with teammate Josh Shields for years as they attended high school together.
157 LBS (JACORI TEEMER)
Jacori Teemer, another student who can slide down to 149 or stay up and wrestle 157 lbs. Teemer, a top five recruit out of a high school, is in the same category as Busiello. A five-time New York State Champion and Cadet World Bronze Medalist, Teemer sat out last season with a redshirt, and is expected to splash onto the scene this year.
165 LBS (JOSH SHIELDS)
The higher weight classes is the bread and butter of the lineup. Returning two-time All-American and three-time Pac-12 Champion Josh Shields wrestles out of the 165 lbs class. He made it to the NCAA championships last year and will be vying for a return trip in 2020.
174 LBS (ANTHONY VALENCIA, TREY MUNOZ)
Anthony Valencia, a two-time Pac-12 champion and two-time NCAA qualifier, comes off his redshirt season and will likely impact the team immediately. Incoming recruit, Trey Munoz, will likely insert himself into the 174 lbs class as well. Just last year he was undefeated in his senior season, and won the 170-pound CIF State title. Jones has said Munoz probably has the highest upside of anyone on the team and is technically gifted as a wrestler.
184 LBS (ZAHID VALENCIA, ZANE COLEMAN)
Returning two-time NCAA Champion Zahid Valencia projects at 174/184 lbs. Valencia will be looking to make history, going for a third straight NCAA Championship.
Likely to shadow arguably the best wrestler in the nation will be one of the new recruits Zane Coleman. Under his belt, Coleman holds four Oklahoma State championships and was the Oklahoman's All-City Wrestler of the year. Not to mention in his senior year he went 41-1.
197 LBS (KORDELL NORFLEET, CADE BELSHAY)
At the 197 lbs class, junior Kordell Norfleet enters his sophomore season of eligibility. As a freshman Norfleet won the Pac-12 title at 184 lbs, and was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. He won't be alone though, as he also has Cade Belshay competing with him. In his freshman year, Belshay competed at the Pac-12 Championships in the 197 lbs weight class.
285 LBS (TANNER HALL, COHLTON SCHULTZ)
Returning in the heavyweight class is All-American, Tanner Hall, who also finished third in the NCAA two years ago. Hall also has a Pac-12 title under his belt, but will be challenged by incoming frosh Cohlton Schultz. Schultz coming in is the number one pound-for-pound recruit in the nation, as well as a four-time Colorado State champion and three-time world medalist.
Reviewing the options the Sun Devils have to set in their lineup is no doubt a head-scratcher for Jones. Closer to the season, he will have a better picture of who will be wrestling and in what weight classes they're competing in.
"If we stay up on our weights, we get one more good guy in the lineup, if we go down, we lose one good guy but may move up the podium higher," Jones said. "It's is better to have more, but better to have better."
Last year Arizona State ranked 17th in the country for attendance, but with a home schedule that features Penn State, that number is likely to spike in 2019-20. The Nittany Lions come to Tempe in November boasting a resume that has been unmatched in the NCAA over the past decade. Penn State has won seven out of the last eight National Championships for wrestling.
Stay up to date on the latest ASU wrestling news by following the team @ASUWrestling on Twitter, @sundevilwrestling1962 on Instagram.
There are multiple reasons to be eager about the Arizona State wrestling team in the upcoming 2019-2020 season. After finishing 12th at the NCAA Championships last year, the team is ready to take the NCAA by storm. Look for the Sun Devils to make a run at the NCAA team title this year.
Returning from the previous year, the wrestling team has three All-Americans, including Zahid Valencia, who won his second-straight NCAA Championship at 174 pounds. Valencia was the first wrestler in ASU history to win back-to-back NCAA titles in the same weight class. The other leaders of the team, All-American Josh Shields is back after going to the 2019 NCAA Championships, while 2017 returning All-American Tanner Hall looks to complete his career with an NCAA championship. The core of the team is returning, including Pac-12 champions Josh Maruca, Anthony Valencia, and Kordell Norfleet along with the second-ranked recruiting class in the country adding more fuel to the fire to let coach Zeke Jones work his magic with the program.
Jones has high expectations for the new season. Jones stated that it has been a journey to get the program to a place where it can strive for championship performance. Jumping from 68th in the country to 12th last season puts the team in a plausible position.
"The goal is for every weight class to have a national champion," Jones said. "The ultimate goal is to have 10 national champions in all 10 weight classes, and that's something that has never been done, but that is the goal."
Jones knows the talent and passion this team and recruiting class are bringing to the table, that is why he is approaching his fifth season in charge differently.
In previous years, the team has sacrificed students to redshirts for multiple reasons. For instance, preserving the eligibility of certain team members.
"This year isn't about sacrificing and saving up for next year," Jones said. "We are going to put our best lineup in."
Providing your best lineup can be a challenge when you have depth on your roster like the Sun Devils have found. Last year, the Devils specialized in higher weight classes, which is why it is incredible most of the incoming recruits are in the lower weight classes.
"Where we needed help, we got it," Jones said.
Breaking down each weight class we will be able to see the potential starters and why the Sun Devil wrestling team will be a force to be reckoned with. Below, all weight classes are projected and may change as the season moves forward.
125 LBS (BRANDON COURTNEY, NICK RAIMO)
Returning Sophomore Brandon Courtney, and incoming freshman Nick Raimo are the two front runners coming out of the 125 lbs. Courtney produced great results a year ago. He comes from a different wrestling background, but is improving his Folkstyle and should be in the lightweight mix. Out of high school, Raimo has built an established resume already. A two-time New Jersey State champion and four-time Cadet National U16 champion, Nick is also a capable 133 lbs wrestler. Given that information and being months away from the season, the lineup could potentially change.
133 LBS (JOSH KRAMER, JULIAN CHLEBOVE)
In addition to Nick Raimo in the 133 lbs class is Josh Kramer. Kramer is a fifth-year senior who also has Pac-12 championship finalist on his resume. Fighting for spots alongside those two is incoming freshman Julian Chlebove, who is also capable of stepping up a weight class to 141 lbs. Julian was the Pennsylvania Wrestler of the Year and three-time Pennsylvania State champion. Julian's father, Ian Chlebove, also wrestled under Jones. Incoming Sun Devil Cleveland Belton, will also throw his hat into the ring for the 133 lbs spot. He was a two-time California State champion and high school national champion who was ranked 12th in the nation at 132 lbs coming out of high school.
141 LBS (COREY CROOKS, ADAM BUSIELLO)
Inside the 141 lbs class we have junior Cory Crooks. Crooks is a hometown kid who has two Arizona State championships to his name. He redshirted in his sophomore year producing top finishes at meets. Also competing for the starting spot with him is incoming freshman Adam Busiello, though he can step up to the 149 lbs class if needed. Busiello's impressive accomplishments include being a three-time Super 32 champion, and being one of three people to win five New York State championships. Fellow teammate Jacori Teemer is one of the other men to earn this achievement.
149 LBS (JOSH MARUCA)
Josh Maruca, is a fifth-year senior expected to take a leap forward. A past Pac-12 champion and three-time NCAA qualifier. He has wrestled with teammate Josh Shields for years as they attended high school together.
157 LBS (JACORI TEEMER)
Jacori Teemer, another student who can slide down to 149 or stay up and wrestle 157 lbs. Teemer, a top five recruit out of a high school, is in the same category as Busiello. A five-time New York State Champion and Cadet World Bronze Medalist, Teemer sat out last season with a redshirt, and is expected to splash onto the scene this year.
165 LBS (JOSH SHIELDS)
The higher weight classes is the bread and butter of the lineup. Returning two-time All-American and three-time Pac-12 Champion Josh Shields wrestles out of the 165 lbs class. He made it to the NCAA championships last year and will be vying for a return trip in 2020.
174 LBS (ANTHONY VALENCIA, TREY MUNOZ)
Anthony Valencia, a two-time Pac-12 champion and two-time NCAA qualifier, comes off his redshirt season and will likely impact the team immediately. Incoming recruit, Trey Munoz, will likely insert himself into the 174 lbs class as well. Just last year he was undefeated in his senior season, and won the 170-pound CIF State title. Jones has said Munoz probably has the highest upside of anyone on the team and is technically gifted as a wrestler.
184 LBS (ZAHID VALENCIA, ZANE COLEMAN)
Returning two-time NCAA Champion Zahid Valencia projects at 174/184 lbs. Valencia will be looking to make history, going for a third straight NCAA Championship.
Likely to shadow arguably the best wrestler in the nation will be one of the new recruits Zane Coleman. Under his belt, Coleman holds four Oklahoma State championships and was the Oklahoman's All-City Wrestler of the year. Not to mention in his senior year he went 41-1.
197 LBS (KORDELL NORFLEET, CADE BELSHAY)
At the 197 lbs class, junior Kordell Norfleet enters his sophomore season of eligibility. As a freshman Norfleet won the Pac-12 title at 184 lbs, and was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year. He won't be alone though, as he also has Cade Belshay competing with him. In his freshman year, Belshay competed at the Pac-12 Championships in the 197 lbs weight class.
285 LBS (TANNER HALL, COHLTON SCHULTZ)
Returning in the heavyweight class is All-American, Tanner Hall, who also finished third in the NCAA two years ago. Hall also has a Pac-12 title under his belt, but will be challenged by incoming frosh Cohlton Schultz. Schultz coming in is the number one pound-for-pound recruit in the nation, as well as a four-time Colorado State champion and three-time world medalist.
Reviewing the options the Sun Devils have to set in their lineup is no doubt a head-scratcher for Jones. Closer to the season, he will have a better picture of who will be wrestling and in what weight classes they're competing in.
"If we stay up on our weights, we get one more good guy in the lineup, if we go down, we lose one good guy but may move up the podium higher," Jones said. "It's is better to have more, but better to have better."
Last year Arizona State ranked 17th in the country for attendance, but with a home schedule that features Penn State, that number is likely to spike in 2019-20. The Nittany Lions come to Tempe in November boasting a resume that has been unmatched in the NCAA over the past decade. Penn State has won seven out of the last eight National Championships for wrestling.
Stay up to date on the latest ASU wrestling news by following the team @ASUWrestling on Twitter, @sundevilwrestling1962 on Instagram.