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    Photo: Tony Rotundo

    2023-24 Pac-12 Preview (Team-by-Team)

    The Pac-12 coaches plan to throw out some top-tier wrestlers to claim the final Pac-12 title. In this preview, we will look at each projected starting lineup and analyze some of the wrestlers. A second, forthcoming preview will break down the conference weight-by-weight.

    Arizona State

    125 - Richard Figueroa/Tristan Mascarenas

    133 - Julian Chlebove/Carter Dibert

    141 - Jesse Vasquez/Emilio Ysaguirre

    149 - Kyle Parco/ Kaleb Larkin

    157 - Jacori Teemer 

    165 - Chance Mclane/ Nicco Ruiz

    174 - Tony Negron/Cael Valencia

    184 - Cael Valencia/Tony Negron

    197 - Anthony Montalvo/Jacob Meissner

    285 - Cohlton Schultz 

    Arizona State’s depth is unmatched with eight wrestlers projected to make the NCAA Championships in the preseason rankings. The lightweights carried the Sun Devils the last few years, but the tide has changed. 

    Although Figueroa and Chlebove are outstanding wrestlers, teams will not want to face Vasquez, Parco, and Teemer in three straight matches. The three of them can make runs for an NCAA title. ASU should be fighting for another team trophy in March.

     

    Cal Poly

    125 - Dominic Mendez

    133 - Zeth Romney

    141- Abraham Hinrichsen

    149 - Chance Lamer

    157 - Legend Lamer

    165 - Luka Wick

    174 - Adam Kemp

    184 - Jarad Priest

    197 - Josh Harkey

    285 - Trevor Tinker

    Cal Poly’s lightweights are young prospects. Mendez and Romney were both top 100 recruits who were CA State Finalists. In addition, the Mustangs have zero seniors in the starting lineup, making them a dangerous group for the next few years depending on where their next move takes them. 

    This season the Mustangs will be dangerous from 149 to 174 pounds, having three NCAA qualifying wrestlers. 

     

    CSU Bakersfield

    125 - Richard Castro-Sandoval

    133 - Santino Sanchez

    141 - Tyler Deen

    149 - Johnathan Viveros

    157 - Brock Rogers

    165 - Augustine Garcia

    174- Evan Gilbert

    184 - Guillermo Escobedo

    197 - Mateo Morales

    285 - Jake Andrews

    CSU Bakersfield will struggle to contend against its Pac-12 opponents. On the bright side, Garcia is the only senior penciled into the starting ten. The upperweight tandem of Escobedo and Morales could be the toughest part of the Roadrunner lineup. 

     

    Little Rock

    125 - Jeremiah Reno

    133 - Nasir Bailey

    141 - Jayden Gomez/Brennan Van Hoecke

    149 - Kyle Dutton

    157 - Matthew Bianchi 

    165 - Brendon Abdon

    174 - Tyler Brennan

    184 - Triston Wills

    197 - Stephen Little

    285 - Josiah Hill/KJ Miley

    Little Rock will have four freshmen in the starting lineup. However, coach Neil Erisman believes every one of them is a darkhorse in their respective weight classes. Bailey, Dutton, Abdon, and Little were Fargo champions. In addition, Little earned several ranked wins last season and Miley put together a 10-8 record competing unattached. 

    The upperweights could be the headliners for the Trojans as Wills, Little, and Hill are projected to reach the NCAAs.

     

    Oregon State

    125 - Brandon Kaylor/Maximo Renteria/Caleb Coyle

    133 - Gabe Whisenhunt/Damion Elliot/Nash Singleton

    141 - Cleveland Belton/Ayden Garver/ Nathan Aguilar

    149 - Noah Tolentino/Austin Scott

    157 - Isaiah Crosby/Murphy Menke

    165 - Matthew Olguin/ Cole Zoller

    174 - Travis Wittlake/Mason Reiniche/Kekana Fouret

    184 - Trey Munoz/Kodiak Stephens

    197 - Mason Christiansen/Jackson McKinney/Brett Mower

    285 - Boone McDermott/Charles Hastriter

    Oregon State has a great chance to repeat as Pac-12 champions and finish as a top 20 team in the country. The Beavers talent and depth are spread throughout the lineup. Kaylor has a chance to take over the 125-pound class in the Pac-12 and reach the podium in March.

    Belton and Olguin have the opportunity to break brackets in March, while Munoz is one of the best pound-for-pound wrestlers in the Pac-12.

     

    Stanford

    125 - Nico Provo

    133 - Dominick LaJoie

    141 - Jason Miranda

    149 - Jaden Abas

    157 - Daniel Cardenas

    165 - Hunter Garvin

    174 - Luke Duthie

    184 - Jack Darrah

    197 - Nick Stemmet

    285 - Peter Ming

    Chris Ayres fields a competitive squad in his first season as the Stanford head coach. The Cardinal crew can be a long shot to win the Pac-12 and finish top 25 at the NCAA Championships. Even though Stanford does not have an NCAA champion-caliber wrestler, a few should contend to be All-Americans.

    Abas, Cardenas and Garvin can be a dangerous trio in the middleweight classes. Abas ranks 11th in the preseason, Cardenas ranks ninth and Garvin ranks 29th. However, Garvin has the opportunity to become the Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year if he impresses in a decent weight class.

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