Arizona State University announced on Mar. 20 that two of its wrestlers, Nicco Ruiz and David Szuba, earned All-American honors during the second day of the NCAA Wrestling National Championships in Cleveland, Ohio. The recognition came after both athletes delivered strong performances at Rocket Arena.
The achievement is significant for the Sun Devil wrestling program, as it highlights the continued success of its athletes on a national stage. Earning All-American status is considered one of the highest individual honors in collegiate wrestling.
Ruiz, a redshirt sophomore competing in the 165-pound division, secured his All-American title by defeating Lehigh’s Max Brignola with an 8-2 decision in their third matchup this season. He then advanced further by winning against Bryce Hepner from North Carolina with a 2-0 decision, positioning himself to compete for third place in Saturday’s consolation semifinals.
Szuba, a graduate student heavyweight, achieved All-American status after three consecutive wins in the consolation bracket. This accomplishment marks him as the seventh consecutive Arizona State heavyweight to receive such recognition since 2020. Although he lost to Iowa’s Ben Kueter in a 7-0 decision, Szuba will compete for seventh place in his final collegiate season.
Other Sun Devils also competed but did not advance as far. Graduate student Colton Hawks ended his tournament run after losses to Joey Novak (Wyoming) and Branson John (Maryland). Freshmen Kyler Larkin and Kaleb Larkin concluded their first full seasons after being eliminated on Friday.
The NCAA Wrestling Championships will continue as Ruiz and Szuba vie for podium placements during session five. Fans can follow their progress on ESPNU and ESPN+.