After revamping the roster and building a new set of values, the Sun Devils look to turn things around for the 2025-26 wrestling season.
Heading into the season, the team added 16 wrestlers - the largest signing class in their history.
"It's exciting to bring a lot of new faces," ASU wrestling head coach Zeke Jones said. "I think the expectations are high because of that. You get a lot of great kids that are coming in, that are new. The energy is good."
A cohesion between old and new Sun Devils looks to bring ASU success after the program ended the 2024-25 season with an unfamiliarly low 4-11 record.
This cohesiveness was something that Jones established early on. He had his wrestlers arrive in June, the earliest to date for his squad, to begin team bonding.
"We built a value system: grit, gratitude and brotherhood," Jones said. "And that's already starting to permeate the team."
A strong value system, consistency at practice, and a fun atmosphere have created athletes who are eager to compete.
After competing at Northern Colorado, Benji Alanis returned to his home state, Arizona, for his senior year. During his time with the Bears, Alanis competed in the 149 weight class, securing 27 collegiate wins.
He describes his move to ASU as a "perfect fit," offering him the opportunity to be near family and contribute to a determined Sun Devil team.
According to Alanis, the team is "ready to scrap" this season, a mentality that correlates with his goals.
"I want to win," Alanis said. "I want to compete hard, and I think that should be a goal for everyone on the team. Go out there and win, wrestle hard, have fun and just compete."
Seeking a switch-up in team culture, sophomore Jude Randall, from the University of Oklahoma, was drawn to ASU's competitive atmosphere. Randall finished his freshman year with a 9-3 record wrestling at 157 pounds, also winning the U20 Pan-Am Championships in the 72-kilogram weight class in 2025.
"The coaches want to see you win," Randall said. "They want to see you hit your goals, so they help you with everything they can to do that, and so does everyone here on the team."
This support has been extended to Randall since day one, as teammates and coaches treated him as an "ASU guy" rather than a transfer.
The recruiting cycle was a little different for Jones, as a new roster cap forced him to be more particular in his choosing. When it came to recruits, he evaluated the quality of the wrestlers on and off the mat.
"We're really selective, ensuring that we get the best student athlete, best wrestler, person, student, that we possibly can," Jones said. "We're in a place where we got some really good guys."
It was always a goal for junior Ane'e Vigil to compete for a Division I program, and after dominating at Clackamas Community College, he took the next step to ASU. During his time in the NJCAA, Vigil won two individual national championships at 125 pounds.
He joins fellow newcomers who are "hungry" to compete for the Sun Devils.
Coming from Rider University, graduate student David Szuba is a "seasoned" wrestler, ready to lock down big wins for ASU. The heavyweight won the MAC championship in the 2024-25 season and finished his time at Rider with an overall record of 68-37.
The values guiding the team: grit, gratitude and brotherhood, have created a chemistry that could bring the Sun Devils success.
"I know that we're going to knock some socks off and definitely exceed expectations," Szuba said.
Edited by Alan Deutschendorf, Henry Smardo and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at cjoneil6@asu.edu and follow @cjojournalism on X.
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Char O’Neil is a junior studying sports journalism with a minor in special events management. This is her second semester with The State Press. She has also reported for AZPreps365, Blaze Radio and Phoenix College Basketball.
