Coach Zeke Jones knows Arizona State is what its 0-7 record says it is. He also knows there’s much more to it when — as he said — you look under the hood.

Look closely at ASU this season and you see a winless team that just can’t turn that proverbial corner.

Between graduation and the transfer portal — both those arriving and those departing — there’s almost an entirely new Sun Devils lineup. That lineup has lost each match by an average score of 25-14, which translates to the need for winning two more bouts per match to greatly alter the course of the season.

This season doesn’t get any easier with the likes of Missouri, Northern Colorado, Northern Iowa, Cornell, Oregon State, Oklahoma and Lehigh remaining. But it’s the postseason that counts and Jones is confident the Sun Devils will step up in Tulsa (at the Big 12 Championships) and Cleveland (NCAA Championships).

“We want to win some dual meets and be positioned at the NCAA tournament. The light looks good at the end of the tunnel,” he said. “We’ve got some kids that could be in day three of the NCAA tournament. And if everything goes our way, there's a possibility of having three finalists.

“Obviously, good weight classes and that's a big stretch, but it's certainly possible. We want to see ourselves be in that top 10, and kind of take some of the sting away from the dual meet season. Right now, we're a much better tournament team. We want to try to get the whole team ready but also understand that I think our bright part of the season is coming at the end.”

Jones said his group of fresh faces is doing well. 

“With three freshmen and a sophomore who are winning a lot — and will continue to win a lot in the program — gives us a good nucleus to build over the long term,” he said. “In the short term, we're winning four matches and five matches in every dual meet. It's never enough, right? And that’s been the story of our life. 

“You win four or five, but it usually takes five or six. So we're one kid away, two kids away from really winning all our duals. I feel there's a real sense of hope. And the kids, regardless of their outcome, have been really focused on the process, trying to get better at wrestling, keeping a proper perspective. The energy is way different … way, way different.”

Which Weight Class For Larkin?

ASU’s latest loss was a 20-19 home setback against West Virginia, highlighted by a 4-2 victory by #3 Kaleb Larkin over now-#4 Ty Watters at 157 pounds. Larkin converted on a third-period scramble for the winning takedown after each took a combined total of about eight shots but neither committed to finishing.

“Watters is a really good scrambler, like Kaleb, and I think that’s what took some of the takedowns away from Kaleb and vice-versa,” Jones said. 

Kaleb Larkin bumped up from 149, but Jones said a decision between 149 and 157 is not yet imminent.

“It’s hard to say at this point,” Jones said. “You have to digest what you’re doing and pause and take a moment to reflect. We need data and we have data at 149 and now we’re getting data at 157. He’ll make that decision as he continues to move forward.”

Jones said Larkin’s descent plan is fine in case a weight drop is in the works. 

“Yeah, he could descend back to ‘49 at any time,” he said.

Upper Weights Not Punching Back

The Sun Devils have built leads in quite a few matches only to see them slip away.

“I mean, that's where we've been getting beat, right? We’re trying different combinations, and 74-84-97 need to step up and we’ll find somebody that wants that spot and wants to own it and take it over,” Jones said.

He said #13 Nicco Ruiz at 165 is one on the rise. 

“People just haven't seen it in a year because of his injuries. But I'm telling you, the kid can wrestle, and he's going to be a threat at the end of the season; he’s gonna be a tough out,” Jones said.

He also said Missouri transfer Colton Hawks at 197 simply needs to shake off the rust after more than a year of inactivity due to injury. 

“He’ll make big improvement as he goes; he just needs matches,” Jones said. “He’s rusty, but he has tremendous skills.”

That’s The Plan

Like any organization — business or athletics — a strategic plan is in place within the ASU program. Various factors have altered the existing five-year plan, but with redshirts as well as three Class of 2026 recruits on the Flo 2026 Big Board and four others to date committed, including two-time Minnesota state champ Billy Ward, Jones said the future remains bright.

“I just feel those kids will really be able to impact the program,” he said. “I think we're a year away from having a team like we used to have. It’s taken two years since hitting the reset button, but I think we're there. 

“And I think the kids are excited about their future and the new group of kids, so they're pumped to prove their point to show what they’re made of.”