The 23-time Pac-12 Champion Arizona State Sun Devils opened up their season on November 3rd with their annual Maroon and Gold Scrimmage. This scrimmage was a chance for fans to see what the Sun Devils have to offer this year and a chance for the wrestlers to fight for a starting spot.
The scrimmage was coached by former Sun Devil All-Americans Brandon Courtney and Michael McGee.
Things started off with the 125-pound weight class, where sophomore Max Brewster took a thrilling 13-11 win against freshman Damien Moreno to put Gold up 3-0.
Last season, redshirt junior Richard Figueroa split time with Courtney with both ranked top 10 in the 125-pound weight class. This season Figueroa will likely replace Courtney for the Sun Devils with the backup spot likely going to Brewster.
The 133-pound class was slightly less competitive and high scoring with sophomore Carter Dibert taking an 8-3 win for the Gold team to tie up the dual at three.
The 133 spot was previously occupied by Michael McGee who finished third at the NCAA Championships last year. This year, the presumed starter will be redshirt junior Julian Chlebove who competed in the U-23 World Championships.
The 141-pound weight class split the middle, as it was high scoring but not competitive as standout junior Jesse Vasquez took a convincing lead against redshirt junior Cody Foote early before he finished it in the third period with a 16-1 tech fall to put maroon up 8-3 in the dual.
Vasquez competed for the Sun Devils last season but was unable to finish the season due to injury.
Notably absent from the scrimmage was the 149-pound weight class including redshirt junior Kyle Parco. Parco finished fourth at the NCAA Championship last season and will most likely return there this season.
While Parco will likely start, the Sun Devils have back-ups like junior Mykey Ramos who had previously competed in the 141-pound weight class in the 2021-2022 season under Vasquez.
In a very close 157-pound affair, redshirt senior Jacori Teemer took the win for the Gold team against sophomore Michael Kilic 4-2. Teemer, a 2022 Pac-12 champion and All-American, had not competed last season due to injury.
Redshirt sophomore Max Wilner had competed under 157 last season but went 4-13. Kilic showed great resilience. He should give the Sun Devils a clear future regarding the 157-pound weight class.
165 pounds was another close match with a last-second takedown by freshman Nicco Ruiz to take the match 6-5 against redshirt senior Chance McLane. Ruiz extended Maroon’s lead by 3.
Redshirt senior Tony Negron occupied the 165-pound class last season where he started with a four-match win streak but soon fell finishing the season 10-14.
Negron moved up to 184 pounds for Friday’s match where he had a shocking 6-4 win over redshirt sophomore Cael Valencia.
Valencia, who is the brother of ASU wrestling icons Zahid and Anthony Valencia, attended his first NCAA Championship last season and was named to the Amateur Wrestling News’ 2023 All-Rookie team. Negron’s win brought Gold within 2 dual points of Maroon.
With star heavyweight Cohlton Schultz competing for a gold medal in Santiago, Chile, redshirt junior David Palosika and sophomore Damien Schunke competed at HWT. Schnuke shut out Palosika in a major decision 9-0 to give Maroon the dual win.
While the Sun Devils were secure in their lightweights, the heavyweights struggled last season. Schulz missed a few matches due to the Greco-Roman Training Camp and shockingly fell in some matches throughout the season.
Teemer’s return boosts the Sun Devils at 157 pounds, but there is uncertainty with the 165 and 184 classes.
ASU opens up the regular season at Wranglemania on Nov. 11 in Bethlehem, PA where the team will face No. 15 UNC and No. 21 Lock Haven.
The Sun Devils stay in Bethlehem for the Journeyman Classic on November 12th. Their first dual will be against No.4 Missouri on Nov. 19, a team they upset last year in their first home duel at Mullet Arena.
This duel will be a test for the 13th-ranked Sun Devils who look to claim a 24th Pac-12 championship before they depart for the Big-12.
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