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NCAA Wrestling – Pre-Season Power Rankings – Can anyone compete with Penn State?

By Chris Snyder

Mar 19, 2022; Detroit, MI, USA; The Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team poses with the trophy after taking first place at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Little Cesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2022; Detroit, MI, USA; The Penn State Nittany Lions wrestling team poses with the trophy after taking first place at the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Little Cesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2022; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota wrestler Gable Steveson (right) wrestles Arizona State wrestler Cohlton Schultz (left) in the 285 pound weight class final match during the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Little Cesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2022; Detroit, MI, USA; Minnesota wrestler Gable Steveson (right) wrestles Arizona State wrestler Cohlton Schultz (left) in the 285 pound weight class final match during the NCAA Wrestling Championships at Little Cesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

team. 854. . . . Sun Devils . 2

2022 Dual Meet Record: 9-4
2022 NCAA Finish: 4th (66.5)
Returning All-Americans: 5

125 Brandon Courtney (6th)
133 Michael McGee (4th)
149 Kyle Parco (8th)
157 Jacori Teemer (6th)
285 Cohlton Schultz (2nd)

Arizona State fits into almost the same mold as Ohio State, however the Sun Devils are starting with a much higher floor than the Buckeyes.

This Arizona State squad returns five All-Americans along with previous All-American Kordell Norfleet. The only big loss the Sun Devils face is losing the services of Anthony Valencia who, for one reason or another, never really reached his full potential while in Tempe. Valencia was a two-time PAC-12 conference winner and he compiled excellent regular season records but he just couldn’t quite break through in the NCAA’s.

In the five NCAA Wrestling Championships he competed in, he reached the round of 12 only twice and finished as an All-American once; he finished eighth this past year.

The Sun Devils have a plethora of talent coming through their pipeline and two of them might make some big impacts this coming season. The overall No. 1 recruit from the 2021 recruiting cycle, Richard Figueroa, could be ready to crack the starting lineup, but it’ll be up Zeke Jones to figure out where to put him. Figueroa is projected to be at either 125 or 133 and ASU already has Brandon Courtney and Michael McGee holding down those spots.

Now this wouldn’t be Arizona State wrestling if it didn’t include another Valencia, because Cael Valencia (No. 8 recruit in 2021) is the most likely new face to break into the starting lineup. The Sun Devils have a hole at 174, and that is exactly where Cael is slotted to fit.

As a whole, Arizona State underperformed last year and I just don’t see this happening in the 2022-2023 season. They are too talented, too deep, and too experienced to not be pushing the next team for the title this coming year.

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