5 Things to Know About @ASUWrestling at Pac-12 Championships

TEMPE, Ariz. – Sun Devil Wrestling prepares to host the 2019 Pac-12 Championships this Saturday, Mar. 9, at Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe and tickets can be purchased at SunDevilTickets.com.
 
The schedule (all times MT) for Saturday is as follows:
Session 1
10 am – Doors open for session 1
11 am – First round
11:50 am – Semifinals
 
2 pm – Arena cleared
4 pm – Doors re-open
 
Session 2
5 pm – Consolation semifinals
6:45 pm – Grand march
6:55 pm – National anthem
7:05 pm – Championship round begins
 
Leading up to Saturday, here are 5 things to know prior to the championships:

1. Though the Sun Devils are looking to win their third consecutive title, it would be their first in Tempe since 1997 when they scored 139.5 points. That season, CSU Bakersfield finished second (118.0) and Cal Poly finished third (103.0). ASU has only won the title in Tempe three times (also 1985 and 1989).
2. Individually, All-Americans and two-time Pac-12 champions Josh Shields and Zahid Valencia look to become the first Sun Devils to win three straight conference championships since Anthony Robles from 2009-11.

            Including Robles, ASU has 15 in its history that have won three Pac-12 championships, nine of whom won three
            consecutively:
 
            Pat Pitsch (2006-08)
            Ryan Bader (2003, 2004, 2006)
            Danny Felix (1994-96)
            Ray Miller (1991-93)
            Zeke Jones (1988-90)
            Thom Ortiz (1988-90)
            Dan St. John (1988-90)
            Chip Park (1985, 1987-88)
            Mike Davies (1985, 1987-88)
            Rod Severn (1985, 1987-88)
            Tom Kolopus (1983-85)
            Dan Severn (1978, 1980-81)
            Dave Severn (1976-77, 1979)
            Buzz Hayes (1963-65)

1. In the past four seasons (2015-18), Arizona State has had 16 Pac-12 individual champions. Prior to 2015, the Sun Devils had not had a Pac-10/12 champion since 2011 and in the same four-year span leading up to that year (2008-11), ASU only had six. 
2. Arizona State looks to win their third straight conference championship for the first time since 2003, 2004, and 2005.
3. Josh Shields and Zahid Valencia are currently on track to win four-straight conference championships by their senior year next season (also Anthony Valencia, who is redshirting this season). Only three Sun Devils all-time have won four straight Pac-10/12 championships: Curley Culp (1965-68), Markus Mollica (1993-96), Eric Larkin (1999-03).