Zahid Valencia
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Zahid Valencia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Bellflower, California, U.S. | May 11, 1997||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Weight | 184 lb (83 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Country | United States | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sport | Wrestling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Event(s) | Freestyle and Folkstyle | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club | Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club Sun Devil Wrestling Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coached by | Zeke Jones | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Zahid Valencia (born May 11, 1997) is an American freestyle wrestler and graduated folkstyle wrestler who competes at 86 kilograms.[1][2] As a folkstyle wrestler, he was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion and three-time Pac-12 Conference champion out of Arizona State University.[3] In freestyle, he was the 2019 US national champion and has competed at multiple international tournaments, winning gold at the Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series 2021 and 2021 Poland Open and bronze at the Grand Prix de France Henri Deglane 2021.[4][1]
Folkstyle career
[edit]High school
[edit]Zahid attended St. John Bosco High School along with his brother Anthony and Aaron Pico.[5] A three-time CIF state champion, Valencia won four Walsh Jesuit Ironman titles and placed third in the state as a sophomore while wrestling with a broken ankle.[6] His setback at the state tournament was the only one in his high school career, compiling 158 wins with 100 pins and 12 technical falls. When he graduated, Valencia was awarded the Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award, was named the 2015 Junior Hodge Trophy winner,[7] and was rated one of the top-five recruits by multiple outlets.[3][8]
College
[edit]In June 2014, Zahid and his brother Anthony, announced that they had committed to the Arizona State Sun Devils, competing in the NCAA Division I level.[9]
2015–2016
[edit]As a redshirt athlete, Valencia compiled eight wins and two losses in two tournaments, one loss was handed by graduated Penn State legend and two-time Dan Hodge Trophy winner David Taylor (TF), and the other one by returning All-American Hayden Zillmer (3–4), placing seventh at the Midland Championships.[10] He also claimed the Edinboro Open title.[11]
2016–2017
[edit]Valencia had one of the most dominant freshman campaigns in the history of the school.[12] During regular season, he racked up titles from the Midlands Championships,[13] the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invite,[14] the Journeyman Collegiate Classic[15] and the Daktronics Open,[16] went 14–0 in dual meets and compiled an overall undefeated record of 31–0.[5] At the Pac-12 Championships, he defeated two opponents, including the fastest pin of the tournament (16 seconds) and was named the Outstanding Wrestler.[17] Entering the NCAA's as the undefeated top-seed, Valencia got three wins (including one over Myles Amine) to make the semifinals, where he suffered his only loss of the season, handed by Mark Hall from Penn State.[18] After his title run was derailed, Valencia got two more victories to claim third-place and capture All-American honors.[19] Once the season was over, Valencia was named the Pac-12 Wrestler and Freshman of the Year (first ever to obtain both honors), and the Sun Devil Most Outstanding Wrestler.[20]
2017–2018
[edit]As a sophomore, Valencia claimed titles from the Cliff Keen Invitational (named OW)[21] and the Midlands Championships,[22] and compiled a 25–0 record during regular season.[23] In the post-season, he claimed his second straight Pac-12 Conference title,[24] and entered the NCAA's as the top-seed for the second year straight.[25] At the NCAA championships, Valencia reached the semifinals with two pins and a major decision, where he defeated returning All-American Myles Amine by decision to make the finals.[25] In the finale, he defeated his rival and the returning NCAA champion Mark Hall, who denied Valencia the title opportunity the previous year (8–2 decision), to become the eleventh Sun Devil to claim an NCAA title.[26] After the season, Valencia was named the Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year, marking the first time a wrestler has earned back-to-back honors since Eric Larkin ('01–'03).[27]
2018–2019
[edit]In his junior year, Valencia claimed titles from the Bison Open,[28] the Cougar Clash[29] and also his third consecutive Midlands title.[30] This season marked the first and second times he had been defeated during regular season, as he was first beaten by rival Mark Hall (0-4)[31] and was then shockingly pinned by Daniel Lewis from Missouri,[32] going 13–2 in duals and 24-2 overall.[33] At the Pac-12 Championships, Valencia recorded two dominant technical falls to claim his third straight title and was named the OW.[34] At the NCAA championships, Valencia, the third seed, made his way to his second final with a pin and three major decisions, while avenging his regular-season loss to Daniel Lewis.[35] In the finale, he once again faced his nemesis Mark Hall, whom he edged by a point and denied the title for a second time, claiming his second NCAA title and avenging his other loss from the regular season.[36] After the season, Valencia was named the Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year for the third time.[37]
2019–2020
[edit]As a senior, Valencia moved up from 174 to 184 pounds,[38] claimed titles from the Journeyman Collegiate Classic[39] and the Cliff Keen Invitational,[40] and was racking up an undefeated 12–0 record in dual meets (20-0 overall).[41] On February, Valencia tested positive to a recreational substance from the Matteo Pellicone (freestyle), and was subsequently suspended by the ASU wrestling team, which finished his career as a folkstyle wrestler.[42]
During his collegiate years, Valencia was a two-time NCAA Division I national champion, a three-time All-American, a three-time Pac-12 champion, and a three-time Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year.[3]
Freestyle career
[edit]Age-group
[edit]As a junior, Valencia was a three-time US World Team Member and national champion, and placed 10th, seventh, and second respectively at the World Championships.[43] He also competed at the '16 Beat the Streets dual against Mojtaba Goleij, where he was beaten.[44] He was a two-time Fargo National Champion in the cadet level.[43]
Senior level
[edit]2015–2016
[edit]Valencia made his senior level debut at the Grand Prix of Spain on July 11, 2015, where he placed second after victories over international opponents.[45] He came back later at the Bill Farrell Memorial International, but was unable to place, going out with three victories and two losses.[46] To close off 2015, Valencia went 2–2 at the US Senior Nationals. In January 2016, Valencia went 0–2 at the Dave Schultz Memorial International.[47]
2018–2020
[edit]Valencia came back to the freestyle scene in big fashion after his '18 NCAA championship run at the US World Team Trials of May 2018. In the WTT Challenge tournament, he opened up with a 10–0 technical fall over two-time ACC champion Josh Asper, and shook three-time NCAA Division I champion Alex Dieringer twice, downing him 7–0 and 5–1.[48] At Final X, he took on the eventual '18 World Champion and four–time NCAA champion Kyle Dake, who defeated Valencia 0–4 and 3–4.[49]
After one year of inactivity in freestyle, Valencia competed at the US World Team Trials Challenge in May 2019. In the first round, he earned a technical superiority over Geno Morelli, and a 5–0 victory over his collegiate rival Mark Hall in the semifinals.[50] In the best-of-three, he once again faced Alex Dieringer, but was dominantly defeated twice.[51]
In December 2019, Valencia moved up from 79 kilos to 86 kilos and claimed his first US National title at the Senior Nationals of Fort Worth, Texas. In this tournament, he claimed notable wins over Nate Jackson, Aaron Brooks, and Myles Martin.[4]
He came back a month later at the 2020 Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series of January, in Italy. He racked up wins over '18 World Championship runner-up Fatih Erdin and avenged his losses to Alex Dieringer to claim the title.[52] However, it was announced on February that Valencia had been disqualified due to a failed drug test, where he tested positive to a banned, recreational substance.[53] This also caused his suspension from the ASU wrestling team.[54]
Valencia was scheduled to wrestle at the '20 US Olympic Team Trials on April 4–5 at State College, Pennsylvania.[55] However, the event was postponed along with the 2020 Summer Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[56] Both competitions were later scheduled to take place in 2021.[57][58]
Valencia headlined FloWrestling: Burroughs vs. Valencia on November 14, 2020, against '12 Olympic Gold medalist and four-time World Champion (at 74 kg) Jordan Burroughs, at a catchweight of 185 pounds.[59] At the weigh-ins, Burroughs weighed 178.2 pounds, while Valencia marked 184.1 pounds on the scale.[60] After a perfect 4–0 first period lead, Valencia was bombed with four takedowns while only earning one step-out, which was enough for the smaller athlete to claim the victory.[61]
2021
[edit]To start off the year, Valencia competed at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix of France on January 16.[62] First, he drove the accomplished Russian Magomed Ramazanov to a back-and-forth match, which he ended up losing seven points to eight. In the consolation bracket, he claimed three straight victories to claim bronze, with a notable technical fall over '12 Olympic bronze medalist and two-time European Champion Dato Marsagishvili in the last match.[63]
Valencia then wrestled at the prestigious UWW Matteo Pellicone Ranking Series on March 7.[64] After two technical falls, one of which was over '18 World Championship runner-up Fatih Erdin, Valencia proved his improved skills against long-time rival and multiple–time age–group World Champion Mark Hall, earning a flawless technical fall to claim the gold medal.[65]
Valencia competed at the rescheduled US Olympic Team Trials on April 2–3 as the second seed, in an attempt to represent the United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics.[66] After defeating reigning NCAA champion Aaron Brooks, he was downed by 2019 U23 World Champion Bo Nickal, before coming back to beat Nate Jackson and Pat Downey.[67]
Valencia came back at the prestigious Poland Open on June 8, where he racked up notable and dominant wins over '19 World Championship silver medalist from India Deepak Punia, '20 European Championship silver medalist from San Marino Myles Amine and '21 European Championship silver medalist from Georgia Sandro Aminashvili en route to the gold medal.[68]
Freestyle record
[edit]NCAA record
[edit]Stats
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Metcalfe, Jeff. "Sunkist Kids' Zahid Valencia, Surino win gold, silver medals for U.S. wrestling". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
- ^ Zahid Valencia - National Teams. usawrestlingmembership.com. Retrieved June 13, 2023.
- ^ a b c "Zahid Valencia - Wrestling". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ a b "Schultz Claims Title, Zahid Valencia Advances to Championship Match at Senior Nationals". Arizona State University Athletics. December 21, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ a b "ASU's only undefeated wrestler Zahid Valencia talks childhood, family and aspirations". The Arizona State Press. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "The Iron Men of St. John Bosco". Orange County Register. December 20, 2013. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Junior Hodge Trophy Winners". WIN Magazine. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
- ^ "Dave Schultz High School Excellence Award: Zahid Valencia". Team USA. June 4, 2015. Archived from the original on June 9, 2015.
- ^ "St. John Bosco wrestling's Zahid and Anthony Valencia commit to Arizona State". Press Telegram. June 9, 2014. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ truewrestling. "2015 Midlands Results & Thoughts – True Wrestling". Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "ASU wrestling gets five first-place finishes in Pennsylvania". The Arizona State Press. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Eight things to know about Arizona State at the NCAA wrestling championships". Arizona State University Athletics. March 9, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ Al, Coach (December 30, 2016). "Valencia Brothers Reach Midlands Semi-Finals along with De La Riva and IMAR". The California Wrestler. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Six returning champs, 4 freshmen reach finals in Las Vegas". InterMat. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Z. Valencia Finishes First, Sun Devils Earn Eight Top Three Finishes". Arizona State University Athletics. November 13, 2016. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "See the results for the 2016 Warren Williamson/Daktronics Open wrestling event on FloWrestling.org". www.flowrestling.org. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Arizona State captures 2017 Pac-12 Wrestling Championship". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Top seeds hold firm, Penn State separates as semifinals set at NCAA Division I Championships". Team USA. March 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 26, 2022.
- ^ "ASU wrestling finishes strong at 2017 NCAA Championships". The Arizona State Press. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Arizona State's Zahid Valencia named Pac-12 Freshman and Wrestler of the Year". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on April 10, 2021. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Wrestling: Ohio State wins 3 individual brackets, team title in Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational tournament". The Lantern. December 3, 2017. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ Goodwin, Cody. "Midlands Takeaways: Sorensen wins third consecutive crown, Iowa wins fifth straight team title". Hawk Central. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Pac-12 announces Wrestler of the Week". pac-12.com. February 14, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "No. 9 ASU wrestling wins back-to-back Pac-12 championships". The Arizona State Press. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ a b "Zahid Valencia Advances to NCAA Finals, Has 3 All-Americans". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ Kaye, Jordan (March 18, 2018). "ASU Wrestling: Zahid Valencia becomes national champion after revenge victory over Mark Hall". House of Sparky. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "Arizona State sweeps Pac-12 Wrestling honors". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ "16 From No. 6 Place, Seven Win Championships at 48th Bison Open". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "ASU wins SIUE Cougar Clash". InterMat. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "No. 8 Arizona State's Zahid Valencia Threepeats Midlands Title". ASU Now: Access, Excellence, Impact. December 30, 2018. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ PennLive, Jim Carlson | Special to (December 15, 2018). "No. 2 Mark Hall knocks off No. 1, and No. 1 Penn State wrestlers roll past Arizona State, 41-3". pennlive. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Riddell, Will (February 9, 2019). "ASU Wrestling: #10 Arizona State drops fourth straight with a loss to #5 Missouri". House of Sparky. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ Metcalfe, Jeff. "ASU wrestling hosts Pac-12 Championships, seeking third consecutive title". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "Stanford Captures First Pac-12 Wrestling Title". pac-12.com. Archived from the original on November 7, 2020. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "Valencia Advances to Second Straight National Title Match". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "Zahid Valencia Taunts Mark Hall With His Own Celebrations At NCAA Championships". Onward State. March 24, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "Wrestling's Zahid Valencia Named Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year". Arizona State University Athletics. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "ASUDevils - ASU wrestling ready to take on 'Goliath' no. 1 Penn State". arizonastate.rivals.com. November 20, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "10 From Place, Three Win Championships at Journeymen Collegiate Classic". Arizona State University Athletics. November 10, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "Zahid Valencia Wins Third CKLV Title, Finishes Third". Arizona State University Athletics. December 7, 2019. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ "2019-20 Sun Devil Wrestling Roster/Schedule" (PDF).
- ^ "Zahid Valencia suspended by ASU after failed drug test". InterMat. Retrieved December 28, 2020.
- ^ a b "Biography - Zahid Valencia, AZ". www.usawmembership.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ Staff, A. W. P. (May 19, 2016). "Beat The Streets Results". Associated Wrestling Press. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Zahid Valencia, Teshya Alo named 2015 ASICS High School Wrestlers of the Year". Team USA. July 23, 2015. Archived from the original on July 26, 2015.
- ^ "2015 Bill Farrell International Open". Trackwrestling. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "2016 Dave Schultz Memorial International". Trackwrestling. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Valencia dominates Dieringer at World Team Trials". InterMat. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ Smith, Earl (June 17, 2018). "Final X State College Results". The Open Mat. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Penn State Wrestling's Nickal, Retherford Advance To Final X With Chance To Qualify For World Team". Onward State. May 19, 2019. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ Cain, Brandon M. (May 19, 2019). "Oklahoma State's Alex Dieringer will wrestle Kyle Dake at Final X: Rutgers". Cowboys Ride For Free. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Gilman, Dake and Valencia win golds, four others medals to close out Matteo Pellicone". Team USA. January 18, 2020. Archived from the original on July 3, 2020.
- ^ "Report: ASU wrestling star Zahid Valencia suspended indefinitely for failed drug test". 12news.com. February 20, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Zahid Valencia suspended by ASU after failed drug test". InterMat. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ "Olympic Team Trials Will Be At Penn State April 4-5, 2020". www.flowrestling.org. May 2, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ Kratch, James (March 31, 2020). "USA Wrestling moves Olympic Trials to 2021 due to coronavirus pandemic | What it means". nj. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ CooperBergen, Darren. "With Olympics postponed, wrestler Suriano now focusing on his next move". recordonline.com. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
- ^ Church, Ben (April 20, 2020). "Virus expert 'pessimistic' over Tokyo Olympics". CNN. Retrieved April 22, 2020.
- ^ "Alumni Zahid Valencia Set to Wrestle Olympian Jordan Burroughs". Arizona State University Athletics. November 3, 2020. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
- ^ Guenther, Dylan (November 14, 2020). "King Burroughs Reigns Supreme". Corn Nation. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
- ^ "Burroughs rallies past Valencia in FloWrestling show". InterMat. Retrieved December 27, 2020.
- ^ Eric. "Henri Deglane Grand Prix of France Preliminary Entries". United World Wrestling. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
- ^ "Snyder, Dake, Diakomihalis and Suriano win gold, four others earn medals at the Henri Deglane Grand Prix". Team USA. January 16, 2021. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021.
- ^ Eric. "Matteo Pellicone Entries". United World Wrestling. Retrieved February 24, 2021.
- ^ "Pantaleo & Valencia win Matteo Pellicone golds, silvers to Burroughs, Suriano, McFadden & Hall, bronzes to Graff, McKenna & Martin". Team USA. March 7, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2021.
- ^ "A.J. Ferrari: A Day in the Life for the NCAA Champ Preparing for Olympic Trials". Pokes Report. March 25, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ "U.S. Olympic Wrestling Trials results". sports.yahoo.com. Retrieved June 1, 2021.
- ^ "Valencia and Pantaleo win gold, and Green takes silver on day one of Poland Open". teamusa.org. June 8, 2021. Archived from the original on June 8, 2021.
- ^ LLC, ACS. "Zahid Valencia (Arizona State) Profile". www.wrestlestat.com. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
External links
[edit]- Zahid Valencia at the International Wrestling Database