(Photo: Travis David V Whittaker/WCSN)
After a month-long road trip of traveling up and down the west coast, back and forth from Virginia and Pennsylvania, the No.13 Arizona State wrestling team (4-9) is set to take on the No. 10 Missouri Tigers (14-0) in their last non-conference dual of the season at Wells Fargo Arena.
Being on the road for the last month, Friday night’s dual sets up a three-week stretch of home meets against Missouri, Cal State Bakersfield and Cal Poly prior to the Pac-12 championships in Tempe, Arizona, on Saturday, March 9.
Ahead of the dual, ASU wrestling coach Zeke Jones sees Missouri as another quality opponent.
“They are solid top to bottom,” said Jones. “Obviously we want to compete against these teams, although we’re really more focused on getting ourselves better and improving individually.”
Currently fighting the injury bug, ASU will once again look for different guys to make an impact.
“We are going to need some help to beat a team like Missouri,” said Jones. “Guys are going to need to step up do something they haven’t done in the past. Those guys that have been getting their hand raised might have to do something extra special.”
Of the guys who aren’t winning consistently, Jones sees them getting better in the practice room.
“Each one of them is improving in their own way, said Jones. “Looking at some of them they need to step up and be more confident in their skills.”
Missouri boasts six ranked guys whereas the Sun Devils currently have three guys ranked in the latest FloWrestling rankings.
Looking at this week’s matchup with Missouri, there is potential for several feature matchups once again. Specifically in the middleweights at 157 lb. 165 and 174.
ASU 157-lb No. 15 Christian Pagdilao is lined up to face No. 13 Jarrett Jacque.
Josh Shields still remains ranked No. 4 after defeating Chance Marsteller of Lock Haven a few weeks ago and is set to face No. 13 Connor Flynn.
“I’m excited to wrestle Connor and Missouri in general,” said Shields. “We really do wrestle the best teams in the country and that has prepared me well for this coming postseason.”
At 174-lb. returning National Champion Zahid Valencia is set up for yet another top-5 matchup as he is set to face No. 4 Daniel Lewis.
Lewis was an All-American twice at 165 lb. and earned All-American status a year ago at 174 for the Tigers.
“I know he’s a tough wrestler,” said Valencia. “He goes out there and scraps. He looks for some bonus points but I feel confident in my training and everything I have worked on with my coaches.”
An injury update on Ryan Millhof and Kordell Norfleet is that they are still questionable.
“My hope is they will make it back,” said Jones. “Ryan’s working out, Kordell’s working out. They are improving. I’d like to see them get in there as soon as possible.”
Arizona State and Missouri are set to square off this Friday, Feb. 8 at 7:00 p.m. MST. The match can be viewed on Pac-12 plus through ASU’s live stream.
