The #39 Arizona State Sun Devils take on the #13 Michigan Wolverines in the opening round of the National Duals Invite this Saturday. Arizona State is a very interesting team as for a variety of reasons we just don't know what to expect out of them. A lot of freshmen who have yet to compete collegiately. Some NJCAA transfers. A senior who is one of the most inconsistent & unpredictable wrestlers I've ever seen in my 34 years of being involved in this sport. On paper the Wolverines should plow through the Sun Devils like a county truck driver looking to earn some overtime after a big snowstorm. It might be a different story on the mat. Michigan is most certainly going to walk away from this with the W, but it might not exactly be the shutout others might predict.
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| U.R. Damian Moreno Vs #20 Diego Sotelo 125 |
I believe the Wolverines will strike first & strike hard, as Harvard transfer & AA contender Diego Sotelo should pick up some major decision points in the opening match.
ARIZONA STATE: 0
MICHIGAN: 4
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| U.R. Kyler Larkin Vs U.R. Gauge Botero 133 |
We have two talented freshmen here at 133 lbs, both looking to make a name for themselves at the DI collegiate ranks. Son of four-time All American Eric Larkin, the future is already looking bright as Kyler has already won RENO & more recently was crowned Gold at the U20's. Gauge Botero comes into the DI ranks with quite an impressive high school resume. The Pennsylvania native was 3rd-1st-6th-2nd in what many consider to be the toughest state tournament in the entire country. Going to go with the Sun Devil by dec in this one.
ARIZONA STATE: 3
MICHIGAN: 4
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| #32 Pierson Manville Vs #11 Dylan Ragusin 141 |
Experience is once again going to be a factor as we head into the 141 lbs match. While I do think Pierson Manville will enjoy a successful career at Arizona State, he's going up against four-time NCAA DI qualifier & All-American Dylan Ragusin. Ragusin probably doesn't like #11 very much & it probably has him in a mood. A mood to major & I say he does. The Sun Devils could also start Emillio Ysaguirre here as well, but I'm not sure if the outcome would be any different.
ARIZONA STATE: 3
MICHIGAN: 8
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| U.R. Kaleb Larkin Vs #3 Lachlan McNeil 149 |
I remember when Kaleb Larkin first started at Arizona State. Like I currently am with Kyler, I was anxious to see how the son of a four-time All American/national champion, who had won Bill Farrell was going to do collegiately. He started off great, sticking NCAA DI R12'er Zach Redding in less than a minute. And then...nothing. We haven't seen or heard from him since. I'll give him the benefit of the doubt that he can keep this match with Lachlan McNeil close. Upsetting the three-time All American/national champion hopeful? I don't see it. I may actually be wrong on it staying a decision. The future Canadian Olympic medalist is tough.
ARIZONA STATE: 3
MICHIGAN: 11
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| U.R. Mike Kilic Vs U.R. Cam Catrabone 157 |
Last season Mike Kilic went 4-18. Meanwhile Cam Catrabone won a 16-14 match over Sam Cartella, a 13-6 decision over Dylan Layton & a 6-1 decision over Jaxon Joy. Pretty sure we're going to see a major if not more here for the Wolverines.
ARIZONA STATE: 3
MICHIGAN: 15
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| #13 Nicco Ruiz Vs #32 Dylan Gilcher 165 |
Here's an opportunity for the Sun Devils to strike back. Nicco Ruiz had some really great wins last year, including defeating Michigan's four-time All American Cam Amine. He shouldn't have too much trouble putting Dylan Gilcher away, but I think it'll only be by decision. He only gave up two bonus point decisions in '24-'25. Guy knows how to work the clock.
ARIZONA STATE: 6
MICHIGAN: 15
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| U.R. Cael Valencia Vs #9 Beau Mantanona 174 |
A lot are going to look at this match & chalk it up as an easy 3 points, if not 4 or even 5 or 6 for the Wolverines. I wouldn't. Now, I am going to predict a win for Beau Mantanona, but I'm not guaranteeing it. C-Val as I like to call him is one of those guys that you never know what to think. Sometimes he's the Tiger & other times he's the gazelle. Could he go out and upset Mantanona? Yeah, he could. On his best day Cael Valencia is good. He's shown it at various times throughout his career. At other times, he's bad. As in he could also end up tech'd by the end of the first period. If wrestling had major bets, this would be the guy bookies would hate.
ARIZONA STATE: 6
MICHIGAN: 18
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| U.R. Aziz Fayzullaev Vs #15 Brock Mantanona 184 |
I get accused of being biased sometimes & I personally think since starting JT1Wrestle as its own thing back in 2014, I've more than proven through countless examples that I am not. However, I realize that since I am picking Fayzullaev to pull off an upset here, the accusations will once again begin. Yeah, I have high hopes for the former NJCAA standout. Perhaps I'm off my hinges. That's ok. Averaging 225 articles per season, I've been wrong before.
ARIZONA STATE: 9
MICHIGAN: 18
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| #25 Colton Hawks Vs #32 Hayden Walters 197 |
The rankings have this one slightly favored for Colton Hawks, a transfer from Missouri. For the sake of the Sun Devils, Hawks could really use a win here, as it would allow Arizona State to walk away from this dual knowing that they gave the much higher ranked Wolverines a respectable match. I do predict a win for Hawks.
ARIZONA STATE: 12
MICHIGAN: 18
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| #21 David Szuba Vs #4 Taye Ghadiali HWT |
David Szuba is a good wrestler. I can see the former Rider Bronco, now Arizona State Sun Devil doing some big things this year, but Taye Ghadiali is at another level. Wyatt Hendrickson & Gable Steveson now gone, we're still trying to figure out who the new king in town is at HWT. Ghadiali among the candidates.
ARIZONA STATE: 12
MICHIGAN: 21
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So yeah, losing 12-21 when you're ranked #39 & your opponent is ranked #13. I don't think that is a bad showing & it helps to illustrate that Arizona State is probably going to be better than initially anticipated for '25-'26. My opinion & prediction of course.
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