ASU Wrestling: ASU get first look at roster additions in Maroon and Gold scrimmage

(Photo from: Sun Devil Athletics)

At the edge of the mat, junior 184-pounder Azizbek Fayzullaev used his foot to kick junior Shay Addison’s leg into his arms. Showing great chain wrestling and mat awareness to double off and drag his left foot in bounds. Although the ref ruled it no takedown, this shot captured the creative style of Arizona State Wrestling’s new transfer. Fayzullaev was one of nine additions to its revamped roster.

Sun Devil wrestling fans had their first chance to watch these newcomers during the Maroon and Gold scrimmage Friday night. Along with Fayzullaev’s 10-4 victory, freshman Joseph Manfredi and junior transfer Austin Scott also wrestled their first matches in ASU singlets.

Scott competed at 157 pounds against fellow junior Michael Kilic. In his first match in over a year, Kilic showed the complete package he flashed during his 7-2 freshman season. He scored three takedowns, an escape in only 11 seconds, with a dominant 3:45 seconds of riding time. Kilic used his leg-riding ability to glide to an 11-1 victory over Scott.

The third addition fared no better than Scott. Manfredi lost via technical fall to sophomore Nicco Ruiz. Ruiz is ranked 30 in the country at 165 pounds and has previous wins, in his career, over All-Americans, Oklahoma’s redshirt senior Cael Carlson, and Oregon State’s redshirt Senior Matthew Olguin. Ruiz used his signature low single for multiple of his six overall takedowns. Manfredi’s first taste of collegiate wrestling was bitter as he was outclassed by a wrestler well beyond his ranking.

At 125 pounds, returning national champion Richard Figueroa put on a show for his fans. Using his pace from whistle to whistle, the redshirt junior beat sophomore Damian Moreno 20-4. Although he was the smaller man, Moreno fought hard and only gave up one takedown in the first period. Ultimately, Figueroa found his rhythm and earned takedown after takedown until he used a boot scoot duck to a high crotch to secure the tech-fall with 8.3 seconds left.

Redshirt senior Julian Chlebove showed the assertiveness he will bring to his final season of collegiate wrestling. He defeated junior 133-pounder Carter Dibert by major decision 14-3. Chlebove was physical until the end, hitting Dibert with hard clubs and pushing his face into the mat for the final 10 seconds of the match. This intensity should help Chlebove get into the top 20 this year.

The return of redshirt sophomore Emilio Ysaguirre has been anticipated since his victory over Nebraska’s All-American Brock Hardy in 2023. The Eloy native won an 8-1 decision over sophomore Daniel Miranda, who is also from Arizona. Ysaguirre scored both his takedowns in the first period, an uncontested double leg in the first 10 seconds, and an outside step to high crotch. Despite the loss, Miranda’s showing marked improvements from his freshman season.

In the most competitive match of the night, it was senior Jesse Vasquez who came out ahead at 149 pounds. Fellow senior Mykey Ramos only gave up one takedown and limited riding time in his 5-2 loss. He figures to be one of the best backups in the country after Friday’s tight loss to a returning NCAA blood-rounder which is the consolation bracket for people who qualified but lost early in the NCAA Wrestling Championship Tournament. For Vasquez, it was his takedown in the first period that made the difference, a low single followed by a backdoor finish as he brought Ramos over his head.

At 174 pounds, graduate student Chance McLane won 7-1 over redshirt junior Max Wilner. McLane scored on a swing single in the first, followed by an escape, two stall calls, and a point for riding time. Neither wrestler saw much success last season, with McLane going 11-10 and Wilner 3-3. McLane figures to be the starter again and will try to qualify for the NCAA tournament for the first time.

In another match between two wrestlers looking for a change from last year, junior Jacob Meissner was 3-15 and junior Damion Schunke finished 2-9. Meissner came out ahead 4-2 in this battle between 184-pounders. In the first period, he got in deep on a single leg and piped to finish the only takedown of the match. Schunke’s persistence till the end wasn’t enough despite multiple shots in the last 10 seconds and even an attempted cartwheel takedown.

The final match(es) of the night was an unusual one. Four-time All-American and national finalist, Cohlton Schultz took on sophomore Phil Chobot and freshman Nick Hutchins in consecutive matches. Schultz showed out in the first match of his redshirt senior season, defeating Phil Chobot by pin while winning 22-4. He earned the tech fall in the first period using a variety of impressive takedowns; a cross-foot ankle pick, a heavy snap, toe-dragging double leg, slides, and a body lock throw-by. Coach Zeke Jones told them to continue the exhibition match, Shultz responded by snapping Chobot to his hands, sweeping his feet out from under him, and putting him to his back for the fall. His next match ended in the first period as Schultz collected the only two pins of the night. Facing the hometown freshman, Schultz quickly picked up two takedowns before he used a kimura grip to put Hutchins to his back for good.

Schultz and the Sun Devils will look for more dominance on November 9th at the Journeymen Duals. They will take on Long Island and Illinois in Bethlehem Pennsylvania.