The prolific Sunkist Wrestling Club has picked up some exceptional wrestlers to continue their history of success. The thorough process led to the huge additions of Abby Nette, Forrest Molinari, and Kayla Miracle.

The new recruits are a select few that are able to squeak into the Sunkist program. However, ASU and Sunkist legend Kelsey Campbell knew these pickups were not for the hype and hoopla. 

“They don't just do handouts,” Campbell said. “They're not trying to pick up a million people. It's not build a huge club, and that's why consistently throughout the years Sunkist has been such a solid organization.”

On the other hand, Sunkist has the top-notch Sun Devil wrestling squad feeding into the program, with the likes of power duo Tanner Hall and Josh Shields joining Zahid Valencia as a part of the Sunkist Wrestling Club. Shields knows Sunkist’s growth coincides with Arizona State’s program.

“The way programs get good is by the guys who have been growing the building, they don't leave,” Shields said. “So if you look at programs like Penn State and Oklahoma State, and even Iowa, the way that they built their programs up so well is because guys stick around. We'll see Sunkist at Arizona State University start to grow and create a culture.”

How has this small-knit wrestling community continued to grow and succeed for 50 years, though?

It all starts with the veterans incorporating the new recruits to the Sunkist traditions.

“What I can do to help is live my life the best way possible and bring in that focus into each workout,” Campbell said. “Plus, being an example is the best way I can help with my lifestyle and with the way that I treat the other athletes and the coaches.”

The leadership continues up the chain to the coaches as they aim to prepare their athletes for domination.

“It's great to have someone [Mark Perry] who has wrestled and coached in the Big Ten to come to the Pac-12 and then come to the program like the Sunkist,” Shields said. “Perry brings that attitude and the mentality and so does Frank Molinaro. Sunkist is going to be so phenomenal this following year and the following years because of the leadership.”

This leadership is more than coaches coaching athletes, though. The culture for these new recruits will lead to new brothers and sisters. As the longest-tenured member, Campbell realized the encouragement since the first day she stepped on the mat.

“I think that I just couldn't be at the level I'm at without their support,” Campbell said. “If they see that you ever need to get to the next level, they will meet that need, and I think that's what I love the most about the club.”

After running side-by-side with Sunkist for four years, Shields is amazed by the backing Sunkist provides, too.

“It doesn't get better than the training that we have out here,” Shields said. “It's an atmosphere unlike any other and it's becoming a training center like no other.”

The new recruits have been able to work out to certain limits during the pandemic. Even so, the newly acquired wrestlers anticipate their return to the mat with their teammates and coaches.

Nick Zeller-Singh is a student at Arizona State studying Sports Journalism. In addition to writing for FloWrestling, he appears on his college radio station, does play-by-play, and covers a variety of sports as a beat writer. Follow him on Twitter.