TEMPE, Ariz. – Six Sun Devil wrestlers were selected as All-Americans by the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA), announced by the organization on Friday.
Josh Shields (165), Anthony Valencia (174) and Tanner Hall (HWT) received first-team status, while Brandon Courtney (125), Jacori Teemer (157) and Kordell Norfleet (197) were second-team selections. The six selections marks the most All-American bids for an Sun Devil wrestling team since 1990, when eight sun devils received the national accolade.
"To have six All Americans in one season is a monumental feat," Head coach Zeke Jones said. "It's a culmination of our long-term plan when we targeted 2020 to make a championship run. Most of all, it was that hard work, trust, and belief in our men that gave them the opportunity to be All Americans. I couldn't be more proud. The team will go down as one of the best Arizona State wrestling teams of all time."
Every year, the NWCA announces All-American awards based off the wrestlers performance at the national tournament. With the cancellation of the NCAA Championships due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the NWCA based their nominees off of overall body of work through the conference tournaments and up until the national championships.
Courtney, Teemer, A. Valencia and Norfleet all notch All-American distinction for the first time at ASU. Teemer is the first ASU freshman to receive the prestigious national honor since Zahid Valencia placed third at the 2017 NCAA Championships.
Shields caps his final season in Tempe as a three-time All-American, making him the 11th ASU wrestler to reach the podium three times in their career.
Hall made it back to the podium for the first time since his sophomore season when he placed third in St. Louis. The Meridian, ID native becomes the first ASU heavyweight wrestler to clinch two All-American awards since Cain Velasquez (2005, 2006).
ASU moved up as high as No. 4 in the nation at one point during the regular season and remained a consensus top-5 team throughout. The Sun Devils were one of just three teams in the nation to have at least six wrestlers qualify as top-10 seeds for the national tournament.
The Sun Devils posted a 15-2 mark during the regular season, achieving the most wins by an ASU wrestling team in 31 years (1989-90). They finished at the top of the leader board at the Pac-12 Championships by scoring the highest conference point total (141.5) since 1993 and clinching five individual titles. Jones was named Pac-12 Coach of the Year for the third time in four years and Norfleet finished as the Co-Most Outstanding Wrestler of Pac-12 tournament.