This article was originally published on March 20, 2022.
ASU Wrestling traveled to Detroit as a sleeper team to win multiple individual trophies and a team trophy. Halfway through the tournament, the Sun Devils were in a prime spot, sitting a few points out of second place. The team was 18-5 in the first three sessions.
However, the Sun Devils fell in the last three sessions. In the last three sessions, ASU wrestling finished 3-14. Since the Sun Devils dropped several matches, they fell out of the national title race. Instead, Arizona State brought home a 4th place trophy with 66.5 team points.
In addition, ASU earned five individual trophies and All- American honors. Brandon Courtney finished sixth, Michael McGee finished fourth, Kyle Parco finished eighth, Jacori Teemer finished sixth and Cohlton Schultz placed second.
Plus, Schultz earned an extra award, the Gorriaran Award. The Gorriaran Award, presented by the National Wrestling Coaches Association, goes to the wrestler with the most pins in the least amount of time. Schultz had two pins in the tournament in less than three minutes.
Although the Sun Devils returned with five All-Americans, two wrestlers fell short. Anthony Valencia and Kordell Norfleet both finished 2-2 in the tournament, failing to reach the podium.
Anthony Valencia’s time for ASU wrestling came to a wrap. The four-time Pac-12 champion and two-time All-American finished with a 118-34 record. Kordell Norfleet still has another year of eligibility but is still deciding if he will return for his sixth year.
Overall, the team succeeded at Little Caesar’s Arena. Zeke Jones discussed bringing home the second straight team trophy back to Tempe.
“It feels great to always bring a trophy home,” Jones said. “It sets a standard, says that we are getting in championship contention. Means the kids’ work that they put in all year has paid off. Wood and medals are always good to bring home”.
With the 2022 season under wraps, Jones previewed next year’s roster.
“I don’t know where they will fit, but I know they are all gonna train hard to get ready,” Jones said.
The team has two highly-rated redshirt freshmen, 174-pound Cael Valencia and 125-pound Richard Figueroa. The team is in a good spot with having a lot of guys who they can put on the front half of their lineup. The back weights from 165-184 are the team’s most questionable parts going into next year.
Cael should step in at either 174 or 184 but there will be the opening at 165 with Anthony Valencia graduating. Once the questions are answered, the Sun Devil roster will be a contender once again for a team title.
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