Petersen to grapple for Sun Devils

CHARLO — Jacen Petersen will be wrestling for Arizona State this time next year.

Perhaps the most highly touted recruit to come out of the Mission Valley in any sport ever, the two-time undefeated Class B-C state champion stopped his recruiting process short to take the Sun Devils’ partial scholarship offer.

He cancelled a scheduled trip to Oregon State after he made the decision last week.

Petersen had so much interest from colleges that it was nearly overwhelming, Mission-Charlo coach Lyle Cronk said.

“At the end of the season, he had to keep a schedule of when he could talk to coaches because he was getting a lot of phone calls,” Cronk said.

Bozeman grad Tyrel Todd, who is in his first year as an assistant coach in Tempe, was a deciding factor for Petersen.

“I’ve always wanted to go where Tyrel was because I kind of tried to copy his style,” said Petersen, who had been working with the former Michigan wrestler for years at camps in Bozeman.

Cronk said the roots are much deeper than that.

“I know that from the time he was a freshman, he’s talked about going to Arizona State,” said Cronk, who added that he had mostly stayed out of the recruiting process. “This was even before the Tyrel Todd connection, ... [but] what a coincidence that Tyrel Todd—one of the most successful kids to come out of Montana at the D-I level—ends up at Arizona State.”

Petersen said the expertise of Sun Devils head coach Shawn Charles — a four-time all-American himself — was also factored into his decision.

“He’s pretty awesome, and I’ve gotten to know him pretty well,” Petersen said.

Also a factor is the fact that his brother, Jake, lives in nearby Chandler, Ariz.

“If my parents wanted to come watch me at any of those other places … it’s not very easy to get there,” Petersen said. “But it’s a [short] flight down there.”

Petersen wouldn’t mention it, but he will be joining the Honors College as well.

“Some of the things I appreciate most out of Jacen … [are] that he’s shown everybody that not only can you be a two-time state champion here, but you can also do it and be a great guy, a humble guy and a great student,” Cronk said.

Petersen’s high school résumé includes more than just back-to-back 170-pound state championships the past couple of seasons. He posted a 48-0 record in 2013-14 for Mission-Charlo, including a championship in the Tri-State Invitational in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho in December.

Arizona State could not comment on Petersen until he officially signs later this month.