The No. 8 ranked 125-pounder, Figueroa toppled top-ranked Braeden Davis (Penn State) in the Friday morning quarterfinals at NCAA Wrestling Championships in a tight 3-2 decision, causing the 15,000-plus in attendance at the T-Mobile Center to erupt. Down 1-0 in the final two minutes, Figueroa picked up two crucial points on a reversal then gained the additional riding time point to hold on for the win.
(8) Richard Figueroa takes out the 1-seed at 125 and is headed to the semifinals!
— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 22, 2024
?? ESPNU#NCAAWrestling x @ASUWrestling pic.twitter.com/wSBxYO5Nsx
In his first NCAA Championships, Figueroa unlocked All-American status while clinching a spot in the semis -- but he wasn't the only Sun Devil to do so. Kyle Parco, Jacori Teemer and Cohlton Schultz have joined him, as all won in the quarterfinals to become four-time All-Americans.
Parco knocked off Pac-12 Conference rival Chance Lamer (Cal Poly/14-4 MD), Teemer beat Jared Franek (Iowa/Dec 5-2) and Schultz won in sudden victory against Nathan Taylor (Lehigh/SV-1 4-1).
UPDATED TEAM STANDINGS
1) Penn State, 86.5
2) Michigan, 50.5
3) Arizona State, 44.5
4) Iowa State, 42
5) Iowa, 41.5
In Sun Devil team history, there's now been 11 three-time All-Americans and eight four-time AAs with the additions of Parco, Teemer and Schultz. The trio further cemented their legacies this weekend by joining the team's four-time AA club among legends Shawn Charles, Brandon Courtney, Eric Larkin, Ray Miller and Markus Mollica.
FRIDAY EVENING CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
125 | #8 Richard Figueroa (ASU) vs. #12 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven)
149 | #2 Kyle Parco (ASU) vs. #6 Austin Gomez (Michigan)
157 | #2 Jacori Teemer (ASU) vs. #6 Daniel Cardenas (Stanford)
HWT | #4 Cohlton Schultz (ASU) vs. #1 Greg Kerkvliet (Penn State)
Brackets | NCAA Championship Tournament Central | Sun Devil National Champions | KC-You There! Eight Sun Devils to Compete at NCAA Wrestling Championships
FULL NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 21 | Session 1 (9 a.m. AZT) / Session 2 (4 p.m. AZT)
Friday, March 22 | Session 3 (9 a.m. AZT) / Session 4 (5 p.m. AZT)
Saturday, March 23 | Session 5 (8 a.m. AZT) / Session 6 (4 p.m. AZT)
POST-MATCH WORDS
Tempe-based Inferno Intel is on-site this weekend in Kansas City and caught up with Figueroa, Teemer, Parco and head coach Zeke Jones on Friday at the T-Mobile Center.
Listen what they had to say here:
@ASUWrestling is in position to finish top 4 at NCAAs (currently third). @ZekeJones is looking for his third top-4 finish in four seasons at the helm of his Alma Mater.
— Jack Bartlett (@Jack_Bartlett24) March 22, 2024
He shared his thoughts about bringing the program back to form, and how close they are to PSU.@InfernoIntel pic.twitter.com/pnPTIrXD7h
@stunnamanrich speaks on becoming an All-American and earning a bid to the semifinals. He will wrestle Anthony Noto out of Lock Haven tonight.@InfernoIntel pic.twitter.com/4OZ6yPAitX
— Jack Bartlett (@Jack_Bartlett24) March 22, 2024
— Jack Bartlett (@Jack_Bartlett24) March 22, 2024
@kyle_ocrap also talked with us after his big quarterfinal win.@InfernoIntel pic.twitter.com/Tk0aDjXFnT
— Jack Bartlett (@Jack_Bartlett24) March 22, 2024
SUN DEVIL WRESTLING INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS (12 TITLES WON BY NINE INDIVIDUALS)
Zahid Valencia, 174 (2019)
Zahid Valencia, 174 (2018)
Anthony Robles, 125 (2011)
Bubba Jenkins, 157 (2011)
Eric Larkin, 149 (2003)
Markus Mollica, 167 (1995)
Markus Mollica, 158 (1993)
Ray Miller, 167 (1993)
Dan St. John, 167 (1990)
Dan St. John, 158 (1989)
Eddie Urbano, 150 (1985)
Curley Culp, HWT (1967)
SUN DEVIL WRESTLING TEAM NATIONAL CHAMPIONS (1)
1988
MOST SINGLE-SEASON ALL-AMERICANS IN SUN DEVIL TEAM HISTORY
8 | 1990
7 | 1988, 2021
5 | 1979, 1985, 1989, 1993, 2021, 2022
4 | 1980, 1991, 1992, 1995, 1997, 2006, 2023
SUN DEVILS IN THE POSTSEASON UNDER HEAD COACH ZEKE JONES
Year | Pac-12s | NCAAs
2023-24 | 1st | TBD
2022-23 | 4th | 7th
2021-22 | 1st | 4th
2020-21 | 1st | 4th
2019-20 | 1st | N/A (Ranked #4 in last poll)
2018-19 | 2nd | 12th
2017-18 | 1st | 10th
2016-17 | 1st | 14th
2015-16 | 2nd | 33rd
2014-15 | 2nd | 29th
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