TEMPE – The No. 4 Sun Devil wrestling team will take a break from its dual schedule and head to Las Vegas for the weekend, as the squad gets set to compete in the 38th annual Cliff Keen Invitational, Dec. 6-7 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
After snapping No.1 ranked Penn State's 60-match win streak over a week ago, the Devils return to the mat with a No. 4 ranking to their name. A ranking that is the programs highest team ranking since 1998 (NWCA poll).
ASU will make an appearance at the Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday for the first time since 2017. The Sun Devils finished third overall (113.5) in 2017, with medalists in five of the 10 weight classes – Josh Maruca, Josh Shields, Anthony Valencia, Zahid Valencia and Tanner Hall. The third-place finish for ASU was its highest in over 17 years, and the first top-five finish since 2005.
Z. Valencia looks to make it three-consecutive CKLV titles this weekend, as he was crowned champion in his freshman and sophomore seasons. In his freshman season, Valencia became just the second Sun Devil freshman to win a CKLV title (Erik Larkin).
Coming into the weekend, ASU has nine wrestlers ranked by Trackwrestling. Brandon Courtney enters the top-25 ranked No. 18 overall at 125 lbs. after starting his redshirt sophomore season, 8-1. Josh Kramer (133 lbs) has been sensational in his senior season, holding a 7-2 record, while taking down four ranked opponents in the process. Josh Maruca (149 lbs) continues to climb the ranks after defeating Penn State's Josh Verkleeren, which marked his third-straight victory. Jacori Teemer earned his first win as a Sun Devil in the dual over Penn State. Teemer is 1-1 and ranked No. 19 at 157.
Josh Shields (165 lbs) is 6-2 through eight matches so far with four bonus-point wins and a fifth-ranked status. Anthony Valencia remains ranked No. 8 at 174 lbs. this week, with a 6-2 record. Valencia is back in the lineup after taking a redshirt last season, looking to pursue his first career All-American award in 2020. No. 1 overall Zahid Valencia is a perfect 8-0 with seven bonus point wins to start his senior campaign. Zahid has his eyes on a third straight national title, which would make him the first Sun Devil in program history to do so. No. 14 Kordell Norfleet (197) had arguably the biggest win at 197 in ASU's victory over the Nittany Lions. Norfleet earned a 10-4 decision win over All-American Kyle Conel in his first match of his junior season, earning him a spot at No. 14 in the country. Tanner Hall has also been a bright spot for the Devils, as Hall is ranked No. 7 at 285 and supplies a 6-2 mark to this point in the season.
Fans will have the chance to follow the event live all weekend long as it will be streamed on FloWrestling.org with live stats on FloWrestling's FloArena. Coverage begins at 10 am MST on Friday and runs through Saturday.
All-session passes can be purchased for $40, while single session tickets will go for $20 (championship finals) and $15 (prelim rounds). Tickets can only be purchased the day of competition at the Las Vegas Convention Center with cash only.
UP NEXT
ASU takes nearly a month off from competition before returning to the mat after the new year with a matchup against top-five ranked Ohio State, Jan. 6 at 5 pm MST. The match will be broadcast live on FS1.
ASU ENDS THE 60-MATCH WIN STREAK
In a record breaking crowd (8,522) at Desert Financial Arena, the Sun Devils handed No. 1 ranked Penn State their first loss since 2015, while ending a win-streak of 60 straight matches. A streak that was the longest since Iowa won 69 straight matches between 2008-2011. Winners of the last four National Championships and a team that has won eight of the last nine National titles, the Nittany Lions came into Tempe as one of the best teams in college wrestling history.
THE BIG THREE
The 2019-20 season will bring a familiar face back to the lineup for the Sun Devils, as heavyweight Tanner Hall returns to the squad after redshirting in the 2018-19 season. Hall rejoins fellow teammates Zahid Valencia and Josh Shields in their final year together. The three All-Americans have been exceptional in their career at ASU and have proved to be important cogs when all three are featured in the starting lineup. The team has gone on to go 23-5 in the 28 duals where Hall, Shields and Z. Valencia wrestled in the lineup. Individually, Valencia was a perfect 28-0, while Shields won 25 of his 28 matches and Hall only had five losses in 28 bouts. The trio has combined for 301 victories while surrendering just 49 losses in their three seasons at ASU.
THREE SUN DEVILS CROWNED CHAMPIONS AT JOURNEYMEN
On Nov. 10, the Sun Devils opened up the new season with a trip to Troy, N.Y. 10 of 13 student athletes placed while three were crowned tournament champions at their respective weight class - No. 24 Brandon Courtney (125), No. 10 Anthony Valencia (174) and No 1 Zahid Valencia (184). Josh Kramer (133) was also a bright spot for the Sun Devils, finishing with a runner-up finish. Kramer ran through arguably the toughest stretch to get to the championship, defeating #12 Anthony Madrigal (Oklahoma), #15 Nick Farro (Lehigh) and #10 DJ Fehlman (Lock Haven).
ASU WRESTLING GARNERS #2 RECRUITING CLASS
After landing the No.1 pound-for-pound recruit in heavyweight Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State moved up to the second-best recruiting class in the nation behind No. 1 Ohio State, according to intermatwrestlecom. The 2019 class also featured three-time Pennsylvania state champion Julian Chlebove, Orange Country wrestler of the year Trey Munoz and New Jersey state champion Nick Raimo.
After snapping No.1 ranked Penn State's 60-match win streak over a week ago, the Devils return to the mat with a No. 4 ranking to their name. A ranking that is the programs highest team ranking since 1998 (NWCA poll).
ASU will make an appearance at the Cliff Keen Invitational on Friday for the first time since 2017. The Sun Devils finished third overall (113.5) in 2017, with medalists in five of the 10 weight classes – Josh Maruca, Josh Shields, Anthony Valencia, Zahid Valencia and Tanner Hall. The third-place finish for ASU was its highest in over 17 years, and the first top-five finish since 2005.
Z. Valencia looks to make it three-consecutive CKLV titles this weekend, as he was crowned champion in his freshman and sophomore seasons. In his freshman season, Valencia became just the second Sun Devil freshman to win a CKLV title (Erik Larkin).
Coming into the weekend, ASU has nine wrestlers ranked by Trackwrestling. Brandon Courtney enters the top-25 ranked No. 18 overall at 125 lbs. after starting his redshirt sophomore season, 8-1. Josh Kramer (133 lbs) has been sensational in his senior season, holding a 7-2 record, while taking down four ranked opponents in the process. Josh Maruca (149 lbs) continues to climb the ranks after defeating Penn State's Josh Verkleeren, which marked his third-straight victory. Jacori Teemer earned his first win as a Sun Devil in the dual over Penn State. Teemer is 1-1 and ranked No. 19 at 157.
Josh Shields (165 lbs) is 6-2 through eight matches so far with four bonus-point wins and a fifth-ranked status. Anthony Valencia remains ranked No. 8 at 174 lbs. this week, with a 6-2 record. Valencia is back in the lineup after taking a redshirt last season, looking to pursue his first career All-American award in 2020. No. 1 overall Zahid Valencia is a perfect 8-0 with seven bonus point wins to start his senior campaign. Zahid has his eyes on a third straight national title, which would make him the first Sun Devil in program history to do so. No. 14 Kordell Norfleet (197) had arguably the biggest win at 197 in ASU's victory over the Nittany Lions. Norfleet earned a 10-4 decision win over All-American Kyle Conel in his first match of his junior season, earning him a spot at No. 14 in the country. Tanner Hall has also been a bright spot for the Devils, as Hall is ranked No. 7 at 285 and supplies a 6-2 mark to this point in the season.
Fans will have the chance to follow the event live all weekend long as it will be streamed on FloWrestling.org with live stats on FloWrestling's FloArena. Coverage begins at 10 am MST on Friday and runs through Saturday.
All-session passes can be purchased for $40, while single session tickets will go for $20 (championship finals) and $15 (prelim rounds). Tickets can only be purchased the day of competition at the Las Vegas Convention Center with cash only.
UP NEXT
ASU takes nearly a month off from competition before returning to the mat after the new year with a matchup against top-five ranked Ohio State, Jan. 6 at 5 pm MST. The match will be broadcast live on FS1.
ASU ENDS THE 60-MATCH WIN STREAK
In a record breaking crowd (8,522) at Desert Financial Arena, the Sun Devils handed No. 1 ranked Penn State their first loss since 2015, while ending a win-streak of 60 straight matches. A streak that was the longest since Iowa won 69 straight matches between 2008-2011. Winners of the last four National Championships and a team that has won eight of the last nine National titles, the Nittany Lions came into Tempe as one of the best teams in college wrestling history.
THE BIG THREE
The 2019-20 season will bring a familiar face back to the lineup for the Sun Devils, as heavyweight Tanner Hall returns to the squad after redshirting in the 2018-19 season. Hall rejoins fellow teammates Zahid Valencia and Josh Shields in their final year together. The three All-Americans have been exceptional in their career at ASU and have proved to be important cogs when all three are featured in the starting lineup. The team has gone on to go 23-5 in the 28 duals where Hall, Shields and Z. Valencia wrestled in the lineup. Individually, Valencia was a perfect 28-0, while Shields won 25 of his 28 matches and Hall only had five losses in 28 bouts. The trio has combined for 301 victories while surrendering just 49 losses in their three seasons at ASU.
THREE SUN DEVILS CROWNED CHAMPIONS AT JOURNEYMEN
On Nov. 10, the Sun Devils opened up the new season with a trip to Troy, N.Y. 10 of 13 student athletes placed while three were crowned tournament champions at their respective weight class - No. 24 Brandon Courtney (125), No. 10 Anthony Valencia (174) and No 1 Zahid Valencia (184). Josh Kramer (133) was also a bright spot for the Sun Devils, finishing with a runner-up finish. Kramer ran through arguably the toughest stretch to get to the championship, defeating #12 Anthony Madrigal (Oklahoma), #15 Nick Farro (Lehigh) and #10 DJ Fehlman (Lock Haven).
ASU WRESTLING GARNERS #2 RECRUITING CLASS
After landing the No.1 pound-for-pound recruit in heavyweight Cohlton Schultz, Arizona State moved up to the second-best recruiting class in the nation behind No. 1 Ohio State, according to intermatwrestlecom. The 2019 class also featured three-time Pennsylvania state champion Julian Chlebove, Orange Country wrestler of the year Trey Munoz and New Jersey state champion Nick Raimo.