*NOTE* - I want to make it clear what this is and what this is not. What this is NOT is an overview of the entire team. What this is, is a who’s who preview of THIS season 2022-2023. Meaning that I am going to talk about the starters who I feel will have an impact THIS year. Those who will win big matches in duals. Those who will earn placings in major tournaments like CKLV, RENO, MIDLANDS, MATMEN INVITE, SOUTHERN SCUFFLE, CONFERENCES & NCAA’s. In some cases a weight class will have multiple talented wrestlers. I will note that & I will also be making posts later on about the best wrestle-offs to look forward to this season. Then after that is determined I will make post later into the season of who our best backups are in the nation.
This post will NOT include redshirts. Those who are redshirting this season will be included in a separate post entitled “22’-23’ Best Redshirts.”
I think we're likely looking at a team that will decisively win the PAC-12 team championship & is likely to qualify all 10 wrestlers to the NCAA championships. In what should be a great season of competitive wrestling, the fight to finish top four by year's end will be a dog fight & the Sun Devils will be in it.
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| 125 lbs Brandon Courtney |
24-4 on the season last year, Brandon Courtney heads into his final season of eligibility a two time All American. 6th last year, he was an NCAA runner-up in 2021. While the 125 lbs class looks to be owned by Iowa's Spencer Lee, who will face him in the finals will be a race that Courtney will certainly be in.
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| 133 lbs Michael McGee |
Another Sun Devil headed into his final season of eligibility who is also a two time All American is Michael McGee. 6th in 2021 he was 4th this past year. Many fans think we'll have a three-peat of Roman Bravo-Young Penn State Vs Daton Fix of Oklahoma State in this year's NCAA finals. Is there anyone among the 133 lbs'ers who might upend either one for a spot in the finals? Thus far McGee has only faced each once. A 5-1 loss to Fix & a 6-2 loss to Bravo-Young. What I would say at this point is that McGee has proven himself a forerunner for that 3rd place spot.
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| 141 lbs Jesse Vasquez |
Sophomore Jesse Vasquez was having himself a very nice freshman season last year until his season was cut short due to an injury he faced in his only loss of the season to NCAA champion Nick Lee of Penn State. Up until that point he was 7-0 with impressive wins over Cody Phippen of Air Force, Anthony Brito of Appalachian State, Corey Rooks of Indiana & Collin Gerardi of Virginia Tech. I'm very anxious to see what Vasquez can do with a full season & how he'll measure up against the top ranked wrestlers in the weight class.
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| 149 lbs Kyle Parco |
Could we possibly looking at an NCAA finalist for the Sun Devils? I think so. Yianni Diakomihalis of Cornell seems to be in a league of his own, but that runner-up spot at the NCAA's in my opinion will be one of the greatest wars of the season. 6th in 2021, Parco was 4th this past year.
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| 157 lbs Jacori Teemer |
Undefeated throughout the regular season & the PAC-12 championships last year, Jacori Teemer earned his second All American honor with a 6th place finish at the NCAA championships. He was 4th in 2021. At this particular point in time I would say 157 lbs hasn't been claimed yet. With his lightning quick speed & phenomenal conditioning, Teemer is going to be a tough guy to beat. Let's take into consideration the improvements and adjustments he made from 20' to 21' & then from 21' to 22'. He has a proven track record that he figures out a way to win.
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| 165 lbs Tony Negron |
While at Penn State, Tony Negron hasn't had much of a chance to prove himself on the collegiate mats yet. As far as I'm concerned his greatest win this far during his collegiate career has been a 10-6 decision of Iowa State's Austin Kraisser. It'll be interesting to see how he does with a full season as the starter.
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| 184 lbs Anthony Montalvo |
I was very happy to see Anthony Montalvo make the move from Oklahoma State to Arizona State. I think the move will be very good for both Montalvo & for the Sun Devils. I can see him doing very well under coach Pendleton. An NCAA qualifier in 2020, look for Montalvo to be a piece of the puzzle that helps the Sun Devils throughout duals & tournaments this season.
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| 197 lbs Kordell Norfleet |
Kordell Norfleet has a rare opportunity to go down in history as one of the only five time PAC-12 champions in the history of NCAA DI wrestling. Logically thinking he might as well add an All American honor to that outstanding accomplishment right?
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| HWT Cohlton Schultz |
I think we're looking at a future World/Olympic Greco-Roman medalist when we look at Cohlton Schultz. Only a sophomore by COVID-19 eligibility, he very well could have some of those accomplishments. 4th in 2021, he was an NCAA runner-up this past season, as well as the Gorriaran award winner. His only loss last season was to NCAA champ Gable Steveson of Minnesota, although in 20'-21' he lost twice to Iowa's Tony Cassioppi. So, it's anything but a given, but Schultz certainly has his name in the hat to be an NCAA champion this season. For that matter, he also has an opportunity to be one of the rare individuals to win the Gorriaran more than once. In my best Ozzy Osbourne impersonation TheCohltrain "All Aboard!!!!"
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