Sun Devil Wrestling Shines at Reno TOC with Trio of Champions
RENO, Nev. - Arizona State Wrestling rolled into the Reno Tournament of Champions this past weekend and left with more than just mat burns and bruises - they walked away with three individual titles and a statement that this team is deep, dangerous, and heating up as the season rolls on.
Six Sun Devils made the trip to the Reno Events Center, and while the tournament didn’t keep official team scores, ASU’s presence was felt loud and clear. Junior An’ee Vigil (125 lbs), redshirt senior Cael Valencia (174 lbs), and freshman Ben Szuba (HWT) each ran the table in their brackets, going undefeated and securing first-place finishes in dominant fashion.
Let’s break down how each of these champions got it done - and what it says about this Sun Devil squad.
An’ee Vigil (125 lbs): Grit, Guts, and Gold
Vigil entered the tournament as the No. 4 seed, but he wrestled like a man on a mission. After cruising through his first two matches with back-to-back technical falls, things got tighter in the semifinals.
Facing Jeremiah Wachsmuth of Clackamas, Vigil edged out a gritty 3-2 decision, showing poise under pressure. He followed that with an 11-4 victory over No. 2 seed Isaac Hampton in the final - a composed, complete performance that capped off a 4-0 run.
Vigil’s win gives him his first individual title of the season and adds to ASU’s growing list of tournament champions. He’s proving to be a steady force at 125, and his ability to grind through close matches could be a major asset come March.
Cael Valencia (174 lbs): A Clinic in Dominance
Valencia didn’t just win - he put on a wrestling clinic. The redshirt senior tore through the bracket with four technical falls in his five matches, showcasing a relentless offensive pace and elite mat control. In the final, he was tested by No. 3 seed Danill Gorshkov of Embry-Riddle but held on for a 9-8 decision to finish a perfect 5-0 on the weekend.
This is Valencia’s second individual title of the 2025-26 season, and his performance in Reno was a reminder of just how dangerous he can be when he’s in rhythm. His mix of experience and explosiveness makes him a leader on this ASU squad - and a nightmare for opponents.
Ben Szuba (HWT): Freshman Makes a Big-Time Statement
If there was a breakout star for ASU in Reno, it was heavyweight Ben Szuba. The freshman didn’t just win - he bulldozed his way through the top of the bracket, taking down the No.
3, No. 2, and No. 1 seeds in succession. That’s not just impressive - that’s a statement.
Szuba opened with a pin and a tech fall before dismantling No. 3 seed Kal-El Fluckiger in just 41 seconds. Then came another tech fall in the semis over No.
2 Kenny Copley, followed by a 9-8 thriller over top-seeded Dmarian Lopez in the final. That’s a 5-0 record with two pins, two techs, and a gutsy decision to cap it off.
For a freshman to put together that kind of run in a field this tough? That’s special. Szuba’s ceiling is sky-high, and the Sun Devils may have found their next anchor at heavyweight.
Other Notables: Manfredi Runner-Up, Delgado Battles Back
It wasn’t just the champions making noise. Redshirt freshman Joseph Manfredi (165 lbs) put together a strong tournament of his own, going 4-1 en route to a runner-up finish.
He powered through the early rounds with a sudden victory and two major decisions, then pinned his semifinal opponent in under a minute. In the final, he ran into top-seeded Cam Robinson of Grand View, who handed him a technical fall loss - but Manfredi’s performance still turned heads.
Freshman Gabriel Delgado (157 lbs) showed serious toughness after an early loss. He rattled off five straight wins in the consolation bracket - including a tech fall and a sudden victory - before hitting his match limit. That kind of resilience speaks volumes about his potential.
Tristan Mascarenas (125 lbs) picked up two wins of his own, including a tight 3-1 decision in the wrestlebacks, before bowing out after a tough draw.
Nine Champions and Counting
With Vigil, Valencia, and Szuba joining the list, Arizona State now boasts nine different individual tournament champions this season - a testament to the depth and balance across the roster. From veterans like Valencia to emerging talents like Szuba and Vigil, the Sun Devils are building a lineup that can compete at every weight.
Here’s the full list of ASU’s 2025-26 individual champions so far:
- 125 | An’ee Vigil (Reno TOC)
- 133 | Kyler Larkin (Michigan State Open)
- 141 | Pierson Manville (Michigan State Open)
- 149 | Kaleb Larkin (Michigan State Open)
- 157 | Chance McLane (Michigan State Open)
- 165 | Nicco Ruiz (Michigan State Open)
- 174 | Cael Valencia (Reno TOC), Leo Tukhlynovych (Michigan State Open)
- HWT | Ben Szuba (Reno TOC)
What’s Next: New Year, New Challenge
The Sun Devils will kick off 2026 with a trip to South Dakota State for a dual meet against the Jackrabbits. The action goes down at the Sanford Pentagon on Friday, Jan. 2, with wrestling set to begin at 6:00 p.m.
MST / 7:00 p.m. CST.
If Reno was any indication, this ASU team is locked in and ready to roll into the new year with momentum, muscle, and a mat-tested mentality.