TEMPE, Ariz. – The No. 18 Sun Devils host No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday, Nov. 19 in, despite being just three weeks into the regular season, one of the most hotly anticipated matchups of 2016-17. Here are five important storylines to watch for on Saturday.
There are still tickets available that can be purchased online by clicking HERE or by calling the ASU ticket office at (480) 965-5333. Matside seating can be purchased through the sales hotline at (480) 965-5812.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and the first 150 through the door will receive an ASU-branded drawstring bag (pictured below).
1. Tanner Hall vs. Kyle Snyder
Kyle Snyder (20) became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in US wrestling history in Rio in August 2016. Since Sept. 2015, Snyder has won a World championship, Big Ten championship, NCAA title, and Olympic gold medal.
But Tanner Hall will not back down from the challenge as he currently has a 2-1 record over the Olympic champion prior to their collegiate careers. Hall is ranked No. 5/6 among the nation's heavyweights by TrackWrestling, Intermat, and The Open Mat and competed at last season's NCAA Nationals at Madison Square Garden as part of the Sun Devils' No. 1 recruiting class.
2. Curley Culp honoring
Curley Culp, one of the best two-sport athletes Arizona State has ever seen, was an offensive and defensive lineman in football as well as 1967 NCAA heavyweight champion.
The five-time pro-bowler and 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Culp was enshrined in the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Chiefs during their Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl IV.
Culp will have his singlet honored and raised to the Wells Fargo Arena rafters at halftime as part of the day's festivities.
3. Zahid Valencia vs. Bo Jordan
Out of, likely, over 7000 collegiate matches in November, The Open Mat ranks this matchup at 174 lbs. the most anticipated match of the month.
4. ASU Recruiting Class/Transfers
The majority of members of ASU's 2015 signing class, named No. 1 by D1CollegeWrestling, FloWrestling, Intermat, and WIN Magazine, and marking the Sun Devils' first top recruiting class, per AWN, since 1988, have the first chance to compete in 2016-17.
As Tanner Hall was the only member of the class to see action as a true freshman, much of the remainder of the class including Anthony Valencia, Zahid Valencia, Josh Maruca, Josh Shields, and Nikko Villarreal have the chance to compete for the first time this season.
Joining the banner signing class are three impressive transfers who recently joined the Sun Devils roster or signed with ASU – Ali Naser, Jason Tsirtsis, and Ryan Millhof.
Naser (133) is the only collegiate wrestler to defeat not one but two Olympians (Coleman Scott, Sam Hazewinkel), as well as US World Team member Obe Blanc.
Tsirtsis (149) transferred from Northwestern where he was the 2014 NCAA Champion as well as a two-time Big Ten champion and 2015 All-American.
Millhof most recently signed with the Sun Devils, moving to Tempe from the University of Oklahoma, where he earned All-American honors in 2015-16 and was one of just four true freshmen to compete in OU's starting lineup in 2014-15.
5. Powerhouse vs. Returning Powerhouse
Since Zeke Jones took the helm of the Sun Devil wrestling program just over two years ago, ASU has started to once again rise to the national prominence the program once enjoyed.
Saturday's contest will feature a top-20 matchup as ASU was ranked No. 18 and Ohio State was ranked No. 2 in the most recent Trackwrestling rankings.
The Sun Devils have earned six spots in the NCAA championships for two straight seasons and have won their season opening dual for the last three, a significant improvement from prior recent seasons.
In 2016, the Buckeyes' Kyle Snyder and Myles Martin won the program's 20th and 21st NCAA individual championships in program history. Two seasons ago, Ohio State won the NCAA title as a team.
There are still tickets available that can be purchased online by clicking HERE or by calling the ASU ticket office at (480) 965-5333. Matside seating can be purchased through the sales hotline at (480) 965-5812.
Fans are encouraged to arrive early and the first 150 through the door will receive an ASU-branded drawstring bag (pictured below).
Need more reasons to show up early Saturday for our match vs. Ohio State? First 150 through the door receive this pitchfork bag #ElevateAll pic.twitter.com/bk8wxmZImK
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) November 14, 2016
1. Tanner Hall vs. Kyle Snyder
Kyle Snyder (20) became the youngest Olympic gold medalist in US wrestling history in Rio in August 2016. Since Sept. 2015, Snyder has won a World championship, Big Ten championship, NCAA title, and Olympic gold medal.
But Tanner Hall will not back down from the challenge as he currently has a 2-1 record over the Olympic champion prior to their collegiate careers. Hall is ranked No. 5/6 among the nation's heavyweights by TrackWrestling, Intermat, and The Open Mat and competed at last season's NCAA Nationals at Madison Square Garden as part of the Sun Devils' No. 1 recruiting class.
2. Curley Culp honoring
Curley Culp, one of the best two-sport athletes Arizona State has ever seen, was an offensive and defensive lineman in football as well as 1967 NCAA heavyweight champion.
The five-time pro-bowler and 1975 NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Culp was enshrined in the 2013 Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the 2013 Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame. He was a member of the Chiefs during their Super Bowl championship in Super Bowl IV.
Culp will have his singlet honored and raised to the Wells Fargo Arena rafters at halftime as part of the day's festivities.
3. Zahid Valencia vs. Bo Jordan
Out of, likely, over 7000 collegiate matches in November, The Open Mat ranks this matchup at 174 lbs. the most anticipated match of the month.
Our most anticipated match in November will include top wrestlers from @ASUWrestling and @wrestlingbucks.
— TheOpenMat.com (@theopenmat) October 29, 2016
Top 5: https://t.co/X7xwFa4tOL pic.twitter.com/zYA9SL63HH
4. ASU Recruiting Class/Transfers
The majority of members of ASU's 2015 signing class, named No. 1 by D1CollegeWrestling, FloWrestling, Intermat, and WIN Magazine, and marking the Sun Devils' first top recruiting class, per AWN, since 1988, have the first chance to compete in 2016-17.
As Tanner Hall was the only member of the class to see action as a true freshman, much of the remainder of the class including Anthony Valencia, Zahid Valencia, Josh Maruca, Josh Shields, and Nikko Villarreal have the chance to compete for the first time this season.
Joining the banner signing class are three impressive transfers who recently joined the Sun Devils roster or signed with ASU – Ali Naser, Jason Tsirtsis, and Ryan Millhof.
Naser (133) is the only collegiate wrestler to defeat not one but two Olympians (Coleman Scott, Sam Hazewinkel), as well as US World Team member Obe Blanc.
Tsirtsis (149) transferred from Northwestern where he was the 2014 NCAA Champion as well as a two-time Big Ten champion and 2015 All-American.
Millhof most recently signed with the Sun Devils, moving to Tempe from the University of Oklahoma, where he earned All-American honors in 2015-16 and was one of just four true freshmen to compete in OU's starting lineup in 2014-15.
5. Powerhouse vs. Returning Powerhouse
Since Zeke Jones took the helm of the Sun Devil wrestling program just over two years ago, ASU has started to once again rise to the national prominence the program once enjoyed.
Saturday's contest will feature a top-20 matchup as ASU was ranked No. 18 and Ohio State was ranked No. 2 in the most recent Trackwrestling rankings.
The Sun Devils have earned six spots in the NCAA championships for two straight seasons and have won their season opening dual for the last three, a significant improvement from prior recent seasons.
In 2016, the Buckeyes' Kyle Snyder and Myles Martin won the program's 20th and 21st NCAA individual championships in program history. Two seasons ago, Ohio State won the NCAA title as a team.