South Kitsap’s Phillip Chobot is the most-recent Kitsap County prep star to compete at Arizona State University, following his uncle, former Mariners star Willie Bloomquist, to the desert, but instead to wrestle for the Sun Devils.
“They have a lot of guys who have some talent and won some tournaments,” Chobot said. “They have some good coaches to help me get better.”
Chobot graduated from SKHS in 2023 after capturing a state title at 182 pounds and helping the Wolves finish second in the state’s largest-school 4A classification. Chobot is battling at ASU as a walk-on for the 197 and heavyweight classes.
“They still call you and talk to you and ask if you want to come here,” Chobot said. “It’s not too different from the scholarship guys except you don’t get as much opportunities.”
ASU coach Zeke Jones said, “Once we got him on our radar, we watched him and realized he would be a great fit in the program and could fill our need at the upper weights.”
Chobot went from winning state to not competing in a match as a freshman. “It is a huge ego check but a huge opportunity to grow,” Chobot said. “When I first got there, I had to strip myself down as a wrestler and had to build myself back up in a way that is progressive to your goals.”
Chobot struggled dealing with confidence and balancing school life the first few months.
Even though SK is a premier program in the state, ASU’s intensity is unmatched. The Sun Devils boast top-five teams nearly every season because of their training regiment and working out in the desert atmosphere. The Sun Devils competitiveness is top tier, having NCAA champions and Olympians.
The Sun Devils have one of the top heavyweights, Cohlton Schultz, in the nation. However, the 197 division has been open the last few seasons.
“Phillip is learning a lot and being Cohlton’s workout partner, he has his hands full,” Jones said. “He is getting better every day and his body is changing. He came in as a boy and has turned into a young man.”
Chobot wants to help make Washington more well-known as a wrestling state. Since the closest Division 1 school with wrestling is Oregon State, getting recognized in Washington can be tough. However, Chobot has begun to build a relationship with ASU. “On occasion, they will put out a good wrestler and when we learned about Phil wanting to take a chance at the elite level, I always tend to draw to guys who want to be here than guys who aren’t sure if they can wrestle,” Jones said.
Chobot’s goal is to reach the podium a couple of times and finish his career as an All-American. But he knows he needs to continue to improve to reach that goal. “I need to train my absolute hardest and become a monster on the mat,” Chobot said. “I do not feel overpowered on the mat but I need more speed and technique.”
Jones said, “I have enjoyed his work ethic and getting along with guys and willingness to learn. He likes those cheeseburgers and got to watch his body and grow his muscles. He just has to transform his body because these are grown men.”
Chobot’s future in wrestling will rely on his success after his four years at ASU. If he improves, he will focus on competing after college. Otherwise, Chobot will major in financial planning and focus on his business career. “It was one of the biggest changes in my life,’ Chobot said. “Coming from Washington where it is all green to the desert where it is hot, and it has been toughest first. I have been growing as a person, and it has been enjoyable persevering through it.”
