Host Stanford seeks to defend Pac-12 title, with Arizona State as highest ranked team in conference
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by Gary Abbott, USA Wrestling
Image of Brandon Courtney of Arizona State (125) courtesy of TheSunDevils.com
In 2019, Stanford did something it had never done in the history of the Pac-12 Championships, which went back 58 years. Stanford wrestling won its first Pac-12 wrestling title, in one of the closest team races in history. This year, Stanford has an opportunity to repeat as champions, when it is hosts the tournament at Maples Pavillion on Saturday, March 7.
Based upon the entire 2019-20 season, Arizona State has been the strongest Pac-12 team at the national level, finishing at No. 6 in the NWCA Coaches Poll based upon dual meets, and holding down No. 4 in the final Trackwrestling NCAA Tournament rankings. Arizona State had its first 15-win dual meet season in 35 years. The Sun Devils snapped Penn State’s 60-match dual meet streak with a 19-18 victory in Tempe on November 22. Arizona State finished a perfect 5-0 in Pac-12 duals this year.
On Feb. 20, with only two dual meets left in the season, local and national media reported that two-time NCAA champion, senior Zahid Valencia, nationally-ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds, had been suspended indefinitely from the Sun Devil team. Specifics were not given by the university for the reason of the suspension, although the details were widely reported from other sources. Since then, Arizona State has not commented and Valencia has not competed. In this week’s Pac-12 team notes, Arizona State lists Cade Belshay as its entry at 184. The Sun Devils head to Stanford with its best wrestler’s career ended by suspension.
The lineup that Coach Zeke Jones is bringing to Pac-12 is still the most loaded team in the field, fully capable of bringing the Sun Devils its 19th Pac-12 title. Seven ASU starters hold a national ranking.
Although the conference has not published pre-seeds, the Sun Devils have five athletes who were No. 1 in the last Pac-12 coaches’ rankings: Brandon Courtney (125), Jacori Teemer (157), Anthony Valencia (174), Kordell Norfleet (197) and Tanner Hall (285). The various national individual rankings put Courtney, Joshua Shields (165) and Hall within the top 8, meaning they are projected to be All-Americans. Hall was third in the 2017 NCAA Championships as a sophomore. Shields was an All-American last year, placing sixth at the NCAAs and is a returning Pac-12 champion. Others who are ranked in the top 16, within All-American striking distance, are Norfleet, Teemer and Anthony Valencia.
It will take a great performance for one of the other teams to beat Arizona State, and the rankings indicate that Stanford is best suited to get it done. Stanford finished the season ranked No. 24 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, based on duals, and No. 15 in the Trackwrestling NCAA Tournament rankings. Seven different Cardinal wrestlers are in at least one of the national rankings.
The top star for Stanford is Shane Griffith at 165, who is at No. 3 in most national rankings, and is ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12 coaches rankings. Griffith defeated ASU Shields in their dual meet by a 5-3 margin in sudden victory 2. He has a 26-0 record heading into the conference meet. Also as high as No. 3 in the national rankings is freshman Real Woods at 141 pounds, who lost to Ohio State’s then No. 1 Luke Pletcher 3-1 in sudden victory in a dual meet for Woods’ only loss this year. In the Oregon State dual meet, he beat returning Pac-12 champion Grant Willits, 9-1.
Returning Pac-12 champion Nathan Traxler is in the top 12 of many national rankings at 197. The other returning Pac-12 champion for the Cardinal is Requir van der Merwe at 149, who is not nationally ranked at this time, but was No. 3 in the conference rankings. Others with national rankings are Jackson DiSario (125), Gabe Townsell (133), Tyler Eischens (157) and Haydn Maley (285). Just like it took a full team effort to win the Pac-12 last year, Jason Borrelli’s troops will need a similar balanced effort to repeat.
Oregon State has won 23 Pac-12 team title, the most of any university, and has crowned the most Pac-12 individual champion in conference history. The highest ranked Beaver nationally is Devan Turner at 133, who is in the top 15 in most rankings, and who is expected to be No. 1 seed at the conference meet. Willits is a clear No. 2 in the conference ranking, and in the top 25 nationally. Another OSU wrestler in some national rankings is Colt Doyle at 184. Brandon Kaylor (125) and Lane Stigall (149) are potential conference finalists.
Cal-State Bakersfield and Cal-Poly both have individuals who could do some damage on Saturday. Russell Rohlfing of CSUB should be the top seed at 149 pounds, and is in a number of national rankings. Roadrunners Angelo Martinoni (141), Wyatt Gerl (157), Albert Urias (174) and Jarod Snyder (285) have potential to be finalists. Cal Poly’s top star has been Tom Lane at 197, who has national rankings as high as No. 10. Josh Loomer (184) and Bernie Truax (164) also could do some damage for Cal Poly.
The new team in the conference is first-year program Little Rock, which doesn’t currently have any nationally ranked athletes. Neil Erisman’s Trojans will be aiming to win medals and get their first NCAA Div. I qualifiers. Paul Bianchi (133) is a potential finalist. Others to watch are Jayden Carson (125), Connor Ward (141) and Tyler Brennan (149).
Event: Pac-12 Wrestling Championships
Location: Maples Pavillion, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.
Date: Saturday, March 7
Broadcast: Pac-12 Network, Pac-12 Networks Live
Pac-12: 16 automatic qualifiers
125 (2), 133 (1), 141 (2), 149 (1), 157 (2), 165 (2), 174 (1), 184 (1), 197 (3), 285 (1)
NWCA Dual Meet Ranked Teams
No. 6 Arizona State
No. 24 Stanford
Trackwrestling Tournament Ranked Teams
No. 4 Arizona State
No. 15 Stanford
Individual ranked wrestlers (Track/WIN/Flo)
125 – No. 8/8/7 Brandon Courtney (Arizona State), No. 29/--/-- Jackson DiSario (Stanford)
133 – No. 10/15/14 Devan Turner (Oregon State), No. 30/--/-- Joshua Kramer (Arizona State), No. 32/--/-- Gabe Townsell (Stanford), No. 33/--/-- Chance Rich (CSU-Bakersfield)
141 – No. 3/3/9 Real Woods (Stanford), No. 25/--/24 Grant Willits (Oregon State)
149 – No. 27/--/-- Russell Rohlfing (CSU-Bakersfield)
157 – No. 11/13/15 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State), No. 31/--/-- Tyler Eischens (Stanford)
165 – No. 3/5/3 Shane Griffith (Stanford), No. 6/6/6 Joshua Shields (Arizona State)
174 – No. 9/10/9 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State)
184 – No. 33/--/ Colt Doyle (Oregon State)
197 – No. 9/13/9 Kordell Norfleet (Arizona State), No. 10/14/ Tom Lane (Cal Poly), No. 13/12/13 Nathan Traxler (Stanford),
285 – No. 4/7/6 Tanner Hall (Arizona State), No. 22/-- Haydn Maley (Stanford)
2019 NCAA All-Americans returning
Josh Shields, Arizona State (6th at 165)
Past All-Americans returning
Tanner Hall, Arizona State (3rd at 285 in 2017)
2019 Pac-12 champions returning
Grant Willits (Oregon State), 141
Joshua Shields (Arizona State), 165
Requir van der Merwe (Stanford), 149
Nathan Traxler (Stanford), 197
2019 Pac-12 Tournament Standings: 1. Stanford, 81.5; 2. Arizona State, 79.5; 3. Oregon State, 77.5; 4. CSU Bakersfield, 49.5; 5. Cal Poly, 15
Schedule
Saturday, March 7
9:30 a.m. – Round I
11:50 a.m. – Round 2
4:30 p.m. – Round 3
6:05 p.m. – Championship Round
Pac-12 Tournament Ticket link
In 2019, Stanford did something it had never done in the history of the Pac-12 Championships, which went back 58 years. Stanford wrestling won its first Pac-12 wrestling title, in one of the closest team races in history. This year, Stanford has an opportunity to repeat as champions, when it is hosts the tournament at Maples Pavillion on Saturday, March 7.
Based upon the entire 2019-20 season, Arizona State has been the strongest Pac-12 team at the national level, finishing at No. 6 in the NWCA Coaches Poll based upon dual meets, and holding down No. 4 in the final Trackwrestling NCAA Tournament rankings. Arizona State had its first 15-win dual meet season in 35 years. The Sun Devils snapped Penn State’s 60-match dual meet streak with a 19-18 victory in Tempe on November 22. Arizona State finished a perfect 5-0 in Pac-12 duals this year.
On Feb. 20, with only two dual meets left in the season, local and national media reported that two-time NCAA champion, senior Zahid Valencia, nationally-ranked No. 1 at 184 pounds, had been suspended indefinitely from the Sun Devil team. Specifics were not given by the university for the reason of the suspension, although the details were widely reported from other sources. Since then, Arizona State has not commented and Valencia has not competed. In this week’s Pac-12 team notes, Arizona State lists Cade Belshay as its entry at 184. The Sun Devils head to Stanford with its best wrestler’s career ended by suspension.
The lineup that Coach Zeke Jones is bringing to Pac-12 is still the most loaded team in the field, fully capable of bringing the Sun Devils its 19th Pac-12 title. Seven ASU starters hold a national ranking.
Although the conference has not published pre-seeds, the Sun Devils have five athletes who were No. 1 in the last Pac-12 coaches’ rankings: Brandon Courtney (125), Jacori Teemer (157), Anthony Valencia (174), Kordell Norfleet (197) and Tanner Hall (285). The various national individual rankings put Courtney, Joshua Shields (165) and Hall within the top 8, meaning they are projected to be All-Americans. Hall was third in the 2017 NCAA Championships as a sophomore. Shields was an All-American last year, placing sixth at the NCAAs and is a returning Pac-12 champion. Others who are ranked in the top 16, within All-American striking distance, are Norfleet, Teemer and Anthony Valencia.
It will take a great performance for one of the other teams to beat Arizona State, and the rankings indicate that Stanford is best suited to get it done. Stanford finished the season ranked No. 24 in the NWCA Coaches Poll, based on duals, and No. 15 in the Trackwrestling NCAA Tournament rankings. Seven different Cardinal wrestlers are in at least one of the national rankings.
The top star for Stanford is Shane Griffith at 165, who is at No. 3 in most national rankings, and is ranked No. 1 in the Pac-12 coaches rankings. Griffith defeated ASU Shields in their dual meet by a 5-3 margin in sudden victory 2. He has a 26-0 record heading into the conference meet. Also as high as No. 3 in the national rankings is freshman Real Woods at 141 pounds, who lost to Ohio State’s then No. 1 Luke Pletcher 3-1 in sudden victory in a dual meet for Woods’ only loss this year. In the Oregon State dual meet, he beat returning Pac-12 champion Grant Willits, 9-1.
Returning Pac-12 champion Nathan Traxler is in the top 12 of many national rankings at 197. The other returning Pac-12 champion for the Cardinal is Requir van der Merwe at 149, who is not nationally ranked at this time, but was No. 3 in the conference rankings. Others with national rankings are Jackson DiSario (125), Gabe Townsell (133), Tyler Eischens (157) and Haydn Maley (285). Just like it took a full team effort to win the Pac-12 last year, Jason Borrelli’s troops will need a similar balanced effort to repeat.
Oregon State has won 23 Pac-12 team title, the most of any university, and has crowned the most Pac-12 individual champion in conference history. The highest ranked Beaver nationally is Devan Turner at 133, who is in the top 15 in most rankings, and who is expected to be No. 1 seed at the conference meet. Willits is a clear No. 2 in the conference ranking, and in the top 25 nationally. Another OSU wrestler in some national rankings is Colt Doyle at 184. Brandon Kaylor (125) and Lane Stigall (149) are potential conference finalists.
Cal-State Bakersfield and Cal-Poly both have individuals who could do some damage on Saturday. Russell Rohlfing of CSUB should be the top seed at 149 pounds, and is in a number of national rankings. Roadrunners Angelo Martinoni (141), Wyatt Gerl (157), Albert Urias (174) and Jarod Snyder (285) have potential to be finalists. Cal Poly’s top star has been Tom Lane at 197, who has national rankings as high as No. 10. Josh Loomer (184) and Bernie Truax (164) also could do some damage for Cal Poly.
The new team in the conference is first-year program Little Rock, which doesn’t currently have any nationally ranked athletes. Neil Erisman’s Trojans will be aiming to win medals and get their first NCAA Div. I qualifiers. Paul Bianchi (133) is a potential finalist. Others to watch are Jayden Carson (125), Connor Ward (141) and Tyler Brennan (149).
Event: Pac-12 Wrestling Championships
Location: Maples Pavillion, Stanford University, Palo Alto, Calif.
Date: Saturday, March 7
Broadcast: Pac-12 Network, Pac-12 Networks Live
Pac-12: 16 automatic qualifiers
125 (2), 133 (1), 141 (2), 149 (1), 157 (2), 165 (2), 174 (1), 184 (1), 197 (3), 285 (1)
NWCA Dual Meet Ranked Teams
No. 6 Arizona State
No. 24 Stanford
Trackwrestling Tournament Ranked Teams
No. 4 Arizona State
No. 15 Stanford
Individual ranked wrestlers (Track/WIN/Flo)
125 – No. 8/8/7 Brandon Courtney (Arizona State), No. 29/--/-- Jackson DiSario (Stanford)
133 – No. 10/15/14 Devan Turner (Oregon State), No. 30/--/-- Joshua Kramer (Arizona State), No. 32/--/-- Gabe Townsell (Stanford), No. 33/--/-- Chance Rich (CSU-Bakersfield)
141 – No. 3/3/9 Real Woods (Stanford), No. 25/--/24 Grant Willits (Oregon State)
149 – No. 27/--/-- Russell Rohlfing (CSU-Bakersfield)
157 – No. 11/13/15 Jacori Teemer (Arizona State), No. 31/--/-- Tyler Eischens (Stanford)
165 – No. 3/5/3 Shane Griffith (Stanford), No. 6/6/6 Joshua Shields (Arizona State)
174 – No. 9/10/9 Anthony Valencia (Arizona State)
184 – No. 33/--/ Colt Doyle (Oregon State)
197 – No. 9/13/9 Kordell Norfleet (Arizona State), No. 10/14/ Tom Lane (Cal Poly), No. 13/12/13 Nathan Traxler (Stanford),
285 – No. 4/7/6 Tanner Hall (Arizona State), No. 22/-- Haydn Maley (Stanford)
2019 NCAA All-Americans returning
Josh Shields, Arizona State (6th at 165)
Past All-Americans returning
Tanner Hall, Arizona State (3rd at 285 in 2017)
2019 Pac-12 champions returning
Grant Willits (Oregon State), 141
Joshua Shields (Arizona State), 165
Requir van der Merwe (Stanford), 149
Nathan Traxler (Stanford), 197
2019 Pac-12 Tournament Standings: 1. Stanford, 81.5; 2. Arizona State, 79.5; 3. Oregon State, 77.5; 4. CSU Bakersfield, 49.5; 5. Cal Poly, 15
Schedule
Saturday, March 7
9:30 a.m. – Round I
11:50 a.m. – Round 2
4:30 p.m. – Round 3
6:05 p.m. – Championship Round
Pac-12 Tournament Ticket link
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