TEMPE, Ariz.—The Sun Devils return home for a non-conference match vs. North Carolina (7 pm MT) at home Friday night before a key Pac-12 matchup at Stanford on Sunday (3 pm MT).
Friday's match vs. UNC will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Network Arizona.
BUY TICKETS FOR HOME MATCHES
Single game tickets can be purchased by calling the ASU ticket office at (480) 965-5333 or at the WFA box office starting 60 minutes prior to each match while matside seating can be purchased through the sales hotline at (480) 965-5812.
MMA NIGHT
As part of Sun Devil wrestling's continued effort to connect both with alumni and the MMA community, the program will hold their now-annual MMA night as part of Friday night's dual with North Carolina. There will be several chances to meet the stars with a schedule HERE.
The following is a list of those expected to be in attendance on Friday night. Several will also be in attendance at the Inner Circle reception prior to the match (6 p.m. in WFA Room 116). (ASU alums are bold with years competed).
Kellan Fluckiger (1999-2003), Tyrell Fortune, CB Dollaway (2005-06), Bubba Jenkins (2011), Cain Velasquez (2004-06), Josh DaSilveira (2014-16), Efrain Escudero, John Moraga (Espinoza; 2003-07), Cliff Starks (2003-05), Brendan Tierney, Thom Ortiz (1986-90), Shannon Rich
Below are notable facts and figures on the Sun Devil returners from the above list:
•Bubba Jenkins won an individual national championship at 157 (2011) .
•Thom Ortiz was an All-American on the 1988 National Championship team and is one of just nine three-time All-Americans in Sun Devil history (1988-90). He also served as coach at ASU from 2001-09.
•The list features five All-Americans (Fluckiger '03, Dollaway '06, Jenkins, Velasquez, and Ortiz).
•Two two-time All-Americans (only 19 in program history) are expected to be in attendance in Cain Velasquez (2005-06) and Bubba Jenkins (2009, 2011).
•Ortiz (1988-90) is a three-time conference champions, Fluckiger (2001, 2003) and Velasquez (2005-06) are two-time Pac-10 champions, and Josh DaSilveira won the Pac-12 championship most recently (2016).
•Fluckiger and Dollaway are in the Sun Devil top-20 for career bonus point and major decision wins while Fluckiger also is in the top-20 for tech fall career wins.
VIRGINIA DUALS
The Sun Devils defeated Bucknell, 29-10, and Campbell, 23-20, en route to a trip to the gold medal bracket, their sixth in history and second straight. ASU finished third after falling to Oklahoma in the semifinals before coming back to defeat North Dakota State in the third-place match, marking the Sun Devils' best finish since 1997.
Zahid Valencia was named Outstanding Wrestler for the weekend, given annually to the best wrestler at the tournament, as voted upon by the coaches in attendance.
ASU's Virginia Duals History
1987 – 7th Place
1988 – 2nd Place
1989 – 2nd Place
1990 – 2nd Place
1997 – 3rd Place
2014 – 7th Place
2015 – 6th Place
2016 – 4th Place
2017 – 3rd Place
UP NEXT
After this week's home match vs. North Carolina and trip to Stanford, the Sun Devils return home once again for a non-conference match vs. Illinois on Sunday, Jan. 29 at 3:30 pm.
VALENCIAS EARN BACK-TO-BACK PAC-12 ACCOLADES
Anthony Valencia earned his first career Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week nod (Jan. 11) for posting two-bonus point wins in victories at Iowa State on Jan. 6 (first in Ames since 1989) and home vs. Cal Poly on Jan. 8. His pin of CP's Luke Wilson was the team's third fastest to date of the season (43 seconds). At the time, his then-six pins led the team and were good for third in the conference.
The following week, on Jan. 18, his brother Zahid Valencia received the same honor, also the first of his career. Valencia was named Outstanding Wrestler for the Virginia Duals and went 4-0, continuing his undefeated season.