PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz. - The Arizona State wrestling team capped off their 2018-19 season with the annual awards banquet at the Paradise Valley Country Club Tuesday evening.
Head coach Zeke Jones and assistant coaches Chris Pendleton and Jamill Kelly presented awards to a number of Sun Devils for their performances both on the mat and in the classroom. The 2019 senior class was also honored one final time.
Redshirt-junior Zahid Valencia was named the Sun Devil Outstanding Wrestler of the Year. Coming off of a productive junior season in which he won his second-straight NCAA Championship at the 174 lb. weight class, Valencia was also honored or this accomplishment with the Sun Devil Wrestling NCAA Champion Award.
Also honored for their outstanding achievements at the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships were NCAA All-Americans Christian Pagdilao and Josh Shields.
Valencia, Pagdilao and Shields were also recognized for winning individual Pac-12 Championships at their respective weight classes.
Redshirt-freshman Brady Daniel received the Sun Devil Wrestling Most Improved award. In his first season of NCAA competition, Daniel finished sixth in HWT at NDSU's Bison Open in November and again at SIUE's Cougar Clash in December.
The Sun Devil Newcomer of the Year award was presented to freshman Jacori Teemer. Teemer finished fifth place in the 70 kg class at the UWW Junior Freestlye in Las Vegas last weekend, claiming a berth to the 2019 Junior World Team Trials later this month.
Shields and redshirt-senior Austyn Harris were presented the Sun Devil Strong award by strength coach Rich Wenner for their commitment and hard work in the weight room.
Conner Small and Andy Gandara were named the Sun Devil Academic Wrestlers of the Year, celebrating their outstanding achievements in the classroom.
The senior class of Ryan Milhof, Jacen Petersen, Nikko Villareal, Ted Rico, Noor Almusahwi, Keavon Buckley, Pagdilao, Harris, Gandara and Small were recognized and each delivered a speech to their teammates about their time with the program.
Head coach Zeke Jones and assistant coaches Chris Pendleton and Jamill Kelly presented awards to a number of Sun Devils for their performances both on the mat and in the classroom. The 2019 senior class was also honored one final time.
Redshirt-junior Zahid Valencia was named the Sun Devil Outstanding Wrestler of the Year. Coming off of a productive junior season in which he won his second-straight NCAA Championship at the 174 lb. weight class, Valencia was also honored or this accomplishment with the Sun Devil Wrestling NCAA Champion Award.
Also honored for their outstanding achievements at the 2019 NCAA Wrestling Championships were NCAA All-Americans Christian Pagdilao and Josh Shields.
Valencia, Pagdilao and Shields were also recognized for winning individual Pac-12 Championships at their respective weight classes.
Redshirt-freshman Brady Daniel received the Sun Devil Wrestling Most Improved award. In his first season of NCAA competition, Daniel finished sixth in HWT at NDSU's Bison Open in November and again at SIUE's Cougar Clash in December.
The Sun Devil Newcomer of the Year award was presented to freshman Jacori Teemer. Teemer finished fifth place in the 70 kg class at the UWW Junior Freestlye in Las Vegas last weekend, claiming a berth to the 2019 Junior World Team Trials later this month.
Shields and redshirt-senior Austyn Harris were presented the Sun Devil Strong award by strength coach Rich Wenner for their commitment and hard work in the weight room.
Conner Small and Andy Gandara were named the Sun Devil Academic Wrestlers of the Year, celebrating their outstanding achievements in the classroom.
The senior class of Ryan Milhof, Jacen Petersen, Nikko Villareal, Ted Rico, Noor Almusahwi, Keavon Buckley, Pagdilao, Harris, Gandara and Small were recognized and each delivered a speech to their teammates about their time with the program.