Will Arizona State Be Competitive in 2023?

publishedover 1 year ago
1 min read

Last year Arizona State finished in 4th place with five NCAA placewinners.

Will they be competitive again in 2023?

Who's Returning?

Good news for ASU. . . the only national qualifier leaving the Sun Devils is Anthony Valencia (165).

That means all five NCAA placewinners are back: Brandon Courtney (125), Michael McGee (133), Kyle Parco (149), Jacori Teemer (157), and Cohlton Schultz (285).

4X NCAA qualifier Kordell Norfleet (197) is due to make the podium after finishing in the round of 12 (2021) and round of 16 (2022).

Meanwhile at 141 lbs, 4X California State Champ Jesse Vasquez started last season until he was injured. In 2023, he'll be back for the Sun Devils.

So who is new to the lineup?


Familiar Names

ASU secured two solid recruiting classes in 2021 and 2022. Each class features familiar names such as "Valencia" and "Norfleet," who are younger brothers to wrestlers on the team.

Cael Valencia was the #13 recruit in 2022 and is expected to start at 174 lbs.

2020 Illinois State Champ Kendall Norfleet is expected to start at 165 lbs.


The Transfer

Oklahoma State wrestler Anthony Montalvo transferred to Arizona State in May.

He has wrestled at both 174 and 184, and he qualified for NCAAs in 2020. He'll likely go 184 to fit ASU's lineup but will battle Alaska State Champ Josh Nummer for the starting position.


Lineup Preview

Here's your quick look at the entire projected lineup.

  • 125. Brandon Courtney (6th)
  • 133. Michael McGee (4th)
  • 141. Jesse Vasquez
  • 149. Kyle Parco (8th)
  • 157. Jacori Teemer (6th)
  • 165. Kendall Norfleet
  • 174. Cael Valencia
  • 184. Anthony Montalvo
  • 197. Kordell Norfleet (NQ)
  • 285. Cohlton Schultz (2nd)

What to Expect?

Right now FloWrestling has Arizona State finishing 2nd at the NCAA Championships. So will they be competitive? Absolutely.

With their current preseason rankings, I expect ASU to finish with around 75 points, up from 67 points last year. This puts them in the conversation for top 3 again.

Fun fact: ASU has put a wrestler in the finals every year since 2018. That bodes well for 2023.

So who's next? Reply and let me know who you think makes the finals next year.

Josiah Hritsko

Wrestling Fan & Founder of Fanco Wrestling


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