ASU Wrestling: Sun Devils begin season with Mountaineer Open

(Photo: Reece Andrews/WCSN)

Coach Zeke Jones and the Sun Devils wrestling squad will be back in action on Nov. 14 in Boone, N.C., for the Mountaineer Open.

ASU will wrestle for the first time since earning their first team trophy since 1995 at the NCAA Championships last March. Last season, the Sun Devils, led by Brandon Courtney’s stellar performance and Anthony Valencia’s grit, placed fourth at the D1 national championships.

Courtney amassed the most team points off three decision victories, one major decision, a first tie-breaker win, and becoming the runner up at 125 pounds.

In the last two weeks of the season, Courtney lost one match. It came in the national championship round to Spencer Lee in the NCAA 125 pounds finals.

Courtney is looking to avenge that loss this season and represent his home state proudly.

Anthony Valencia is coming back after pouring his heart and soul into the mat at the championships. In Valencia’s sixth year, he won his fourth Pac-12 championship and placed eighth in the NCAA Championships. Valencia got injured during the tournament, but continued wrestling to help ASU win a team trophy.

Valencia is returning with that same spirit this season.

“I want to get my individual title,” Valencia said. “That’s why I’m here.”

His need to constantly get better complements Jones’ attitude to adapt and always learn more.

“If you’re not learning you’re dying,” Jones said.

The Sun Devils’ newest members are beginning to learn this mindset.

Richard Figueroa — the number one pound-for-pound recruit in the nation — and Cael Valencia are some of the freshmen who have stood out during preseason practices.

ASU will wrestle against no. 23 Illinois, no. 38 Air Force, no. 44 Appalachian State, no. 48 Indiana, no. 58 Duke, no. 61 Kent State and no. 64 Gardner-Webb.

Brandon Courtney will wrestle against no. 20 Codi Russel, no. 21 Jake Ferri, no. 28 Justin Cardani, and no. 30 Jacob Moran.

The new transfer from Fresno State, Kyle Parco, will wrestle at 149 pounds against no. 4 Dylan Duncan, no. 9 Jonathan Milner, and no. 30 Graham Rooks.

Anthony Valencia will wrestle no. 23 Danny Braunagel and no. 26 Will Formato. Cohlton Schultz will wrestle no. 25 Luke Huffman.

ASU will have five Pac-12 champions back on the mat this year. This includes 2019 Senior Nationals champion and 2020 Olympic Team Trials runner-up Cohlton Schultz.