TEMPE, Ariz. – After back-to-back top-five wins over the weekend, 125-pounder Richard Figueroa is your Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week, the conference announced Tuesday.
Figueroa, ranked No. 17 in the country in his class by FloWrestling, defeated both Luke Stanich (Lehigh/No. 2) and Caleb Smith (Nebraska/No. 5) on Feb. 24-25, respectively. It marked the first time in his collegiate career that he's toppled a pair of top-five opponents on back-to-back days.
.@stunnamanrich SETS THE TONE ??
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) February 25, 2024
?? @Pac12Network | #ForksUp pic.twitter.com/NFNsYpGefr
The Sanger, California, native has posted a 7-5 record this season and has caught fire as of late, winning three of his past four matches.
Following Sunday's dual versus the Cornhuskers, Figueroa told members of the media he's finding his groove heading into the most important stretch of the season.
.@stunnamanrich has his mojo back ?? pic.twitter.com/GCMgpdNGMI
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) February 26, 2024
"It feels good," Figueroa said post-match on Sunday. "I had four takedowns I needed to finish. I have to go back in the room and secure those takedowns, just keep doing my thing. Match-by-match. I keep getting better, my style changes for each opponent. They don't know where I'm coming from, left or right or under or above. So I'm just happy with the way I've been performing now."
It's the second time in his career he's earned the award, and Figueroa joins teammates Kyle Parco (Feb. 6) and Tony Negron (Nov. 14) as Sun Devils to also win the award this season.
UP NEXT
That's all for the 2023-24 regular season. The focus now shifts to the postseason at the Pac-12 Championships, an event the Sun Devils have won three of the past four seasons, on Sunday, March 10 in Corvallis, Oregon.
THANK YOU, ART MARTORI!
The Sun Devils paid tribute to a wrestling icon on Sunday afternoon at Mullett Arena prior to the Nebraska dual, celebrating the accomplishments and legacy of Art Martori, who's closing the doors of his legendary Sunkist Wrestling Club this year.
Martori was honored with a pre-match ceremony with friends, family and nearly two dozen Olympic medalists he's shaped throughout this storied career. He was also celebrated during intermission of the dual.
The ASU alum was touched by the outpouring of support he and his family felt throughout the event.
"You don't go off doing this for that, for people who pat you on your back. When you get this kind of support and people coming back and saying thank you, it's overwhelming. It's not expected. We did change lives and for people to say that to your face and give you a hug, it means a lot. In my time here with ASU with all the fellows I wrestled with, we were brothers. To be able to come back to wrestling and then people come back and tell you how you helped us, you can't measure that."
A perfect day to say thank you to Art Martori ?? pic.twitter.com/IEKikG3Orv
— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) February 26, 2024