In the 2020-21 wrestling season, redshirt junior Michael McGee placed third at the Pac-12 Championships and became a first-time All-American, placing him among the most elite college wrestlers in his first year at ASU. He said the support and competition of his teammates helped him get there.
McGee decided to transfer to ASU from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where he'd spent three seasons, after Old Dominion discontinued its wrestling program following the 2019-20 season. The decision came due to financial troubles within the school's athletic department following budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
McGee played a multitude of sports growing up, including basketball and football; however, it was his dad who inspired him to be a wrestler. "When I was younger, he nudged me toward it," McGee said. A dominant wrestler in high school, McGee's dad gave up his wrestling dreams to support his family.
McGee was a force from the very beginning — he was a two-time Illinois state champion, three-time region champion, and two-time sectional champion in high school.
"Plainfield was the new kid on the block," said Dave Early, McGee's former coach at Plainfield East High School. "He put us on the map."
ASU wrestling is led by three-time Pac-12 coach of the year and Olympic silver medalist Zeke Jones. According to McGee, assistant coach Lee Pritts was good friends with his previous coach at Old Dominion and played an important role in his decision to transfer to ASU.
"Having a coach that was a smaller guy, they understand a lot of techniques that you'll need and a lot of the places you'll be when you're wrestling," McGee said. "I knew how good coach Jones was, I liked his style, and I thought he could add a lot to the basics I already knew."
However, teammates Brandon Courtney, a redshirt junior, and Jacori Teemer, a redshirt sophomore, have helped to take McGee to the next level.
"My practice partner Brandon Courtney, that's my man," McGee said. "It's good to wrestle someone every day which is different; he comes after me at practice."
Upon his arrival at ASU, McGee was roommates with redshirt junior Kordell Norfleet and Teemer. Spending hours together every day, McGee built a lasting relationship with Teemer that has helped him both on the mat and off.
"I wanted to learn a lot of things from Jacori just because I like the way he wrestles; he's comfortable in a lot of positions that I would not say I am as comfortable in," McGee said. “When I would work out with Jacori, I would pick his brain, his style is very unique, and adding things from their arsenal definitely helped me to get to where I was at last year."
McGee finished with 75 points at the 2021 NCAA tournament, the most out of 266 wrestlers. Behind him was Teemer, who finished with 68 points.
McGee entered the tournament as a nine seed but lost to redshirt sophomore Lucas Byrd from the University of Illinois in the fifth-place match, placing sixth — his highest podium finish in his third appearance at the tournament.
"Michael gets points. That's why people love Michael, he gets points," Jones said.
McGee and the Sun Devils are looking to avenge their fourth-place finish at the 2021 NCAA Championships. "I got a hit list," McGee said. "All the top guys are on my wall."
McGee has two years of eligibility left and with a national title in mind, he hopes to become an Olympian in the coming years.
"I generally believe I can become an Olympian because the people next to me are Olympians and have medals," McGee said of the people he trains with. "I feel like I have not tapped into my full potential yet."
The 2021-22 wrestling season is set to begin on Nov. 19 against No. 19 Oklahoma in Tempe.
Reach the reporter at agupt208@asu.edu
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