A respectable season for Arizona State in 2023-2024, specifically in the Pac-12 Championships dominating in team points with a staggering 137.5, an almost 20 point advantage over Little Rock with 114. The highest by a Pac-12 team since ASU scored 138 in 2021. Clinching a Pac-12 title with several top 3 finishes and 5 individual titles with Figueroa, Vasquez, Teemer, Parco and Schultz, the sad part is, only three are returning. Posting a 7-5 dual record, their biggest struggle last season was against top 10 ranked teams and seemingly tight wins over Pittsburgh and Stanford, either way are they a top 10 team this year?
125-Richard Figueroa
The best in his class, the returning junior looks to decorate with all the same medals last year, All American, Pac-12 Champion and NCAA Champion. Richard Figueroa winning by a 7-2 decision against Drake Ayala in the finals, his first time. Who will he face this year? Matt Ramos? Troy Spratley? Jakob Camacho? With one year of eligibility left after this one, he’ll have an opportunity for a title match if he doesn’t make it this year.
133-Julian Chlebove
Julian Chlebove started his first year last season going 19-10 making his first NCAA qualifier, more than likely to fill this weight. Went 2-1 at the Pac-12 championships beating Dominick Serrano in the opening round, eventually eliminated by Little Rock’s Nasir Bailey. Barely losing to Daton Fix last year in dual action, he has the ability to make some noise this post season.
141-Jesse Vasquez
Winning his first Pac-12 title this past year, Jesse Vasquez has a high probability to repeat this year. Going 11-4 last year, an old injury took him out for most of the season, making his return in February. Had some highlight wins against Cleveland Boston and Jason Miranda. Went 2-2 in the NCAA’s beating out Jordan Titus and Malyke Hayes, then losing to Joshua Koderhandt, overall not bad considering how he missed half the season. Preseason ranked No. 10 for 2024, If he can stay healthy he may make a deep run at nationals.
149-Mykey Ramos
After losing Kyle Parco to Iowa, the Sun devils are not in complete peril at the 149, they will could start Kaleb Larkin, who had a highlight reel win against No.9 Zach Redding of Iowa State, pinning him in 48 seconds for his first match as a collegiate wrestler. He also beat out Brock Rodgers (CSU Bakersfield) to make his only two matches of the season, could he continue that, for a full season though? You also have Mykey Ramos, with an overall 12-9 record who has shown consistent improvement and may be ready. Taking a look at their recruiting class they could also try out incoming freshman Pierson Manville, an 8X Fargo All-American and a 2X National Champion. He also obtained Gold in the Junior National Championships for men’s Greco-Roman as well. They have some options going into 2024.
157-Kaleb Larkin
Losing yet another integral part of their strategy, Arizona State loses 3X All-American Jacori Teemer to Iowa. The only 157 listed on their roster is Michael Kilic, he went 4-2 at the Keystone Classic and 3-0 at the Journeyman Classic in the 2022-2023 season. There is also an opportunity to introduce incoming freshman Austin Scott a two time state champion from Mesa Mountain View.
165-Nicco Ruiz
The 165 weight class has a little more hope with a likely start from Chance McLane a graduate senior who went 11-10 last season going 3-1 in the Pac-12 Championships. Beating out No.11 Holden Heller in their dual against Pittsburgh. Nicco Ruiz, showcasing an 8-2 record last season with a big upset against No.11 Matthew Olguin is another option. He went 5-0 at the November Reno TOC, can he grind out wins against nationally ranked opponents all year long? High probability he gets a redshirt this year, making way for McLane’s final season.
174-Cael Valencia
Another weight without answer, Shay Addison finished the 2023-2024 season with a 2-7 record notching two wins at the November Reno TOC. He did a little better the year prior finishing 4-3 but is he the answer for Arizona State? The only other option is Luke Isaak, a sophomore without one match listed so this could be an opportune time for them to try incoming freshman Javani Moore. A perfect 40-0 season in his senior year was Falcon High School’s first state champion since 1989. He picked up 20 wins by pinfall, wrestling at 165. Would they move him up a weight to compete for a starting spot?
184-Azizbek Fayzullaev
Damion Schunke being the only one listed at 184 will likely compete with Junior college transfer Azizbek Fayzullaev. A 2X National champ for Northwest College won at 184 and 174 the year prior. Also an 86kg champion at the U-23 Asian Championships in 2022, Schunke will have to step up.
197- Max Acciardi
Likely to start would be Jacob Meissner, going 3-15 in his sophomore year went 1-2 in his first Pac-12 championship tournament, beating Ryan Arrington (CSU Bakersfield). Also listed are two sophomores Kai Argyros and Phil Chobot both without a single match. Out of Arizona States 9 incoming recruits, only one competed anywhere near this weight which is Fayzullaev who will not move to the 197.
285-Cohlton Schultz
Next to Figueroa, is Cohlton Schultz a pinnacle to this rebuilding team. 4X All American, 4X Pac 12 Champion, 4X US Open Senior National Champion and 10X World Team member, the 285 is set in stone. To win a title, he’ll have to answer to Nick Feldman (Ohio State)whom he lost to in the NCAA’s last year by 11-4 decision. An even bigger challenge if he gets the chance would be against Wyatt Hendrickson (Air Force).
Overall Zeke Jones has done some incredible feats taking over the program since April of 2014. Developing 7 NCAA Champions, 38 All-Americans and 90 NCAA qualifiers. Bringing in 9 recruits to fill in the void, Arizona State is definitely in a rebuilding year. Placing in the top 10 as a team three year in a row, can they hold onto a top 10 finish this year with Figueroa, Vasquez and Schultz?
