Arizona State wrestler reaches national champion status

KANSAS CITY, — Arizona State wrestling has its first national champion since 2019 as Richard Figueroa won the 125 lb weight class this afternoon in Kansas City.

Figueroa faced off against Iowa’s Drake Ayala. Figueroa was ranked No. 8 and Ayala No. 3. The two strong wrestlers hadn’t met at the collegiate level before this afternoon, but faced off against each other at the 2021 U20 World Team Trials. Figueroa took a 7-3 win in their last meeting.

Richard Figueroa of ASU wrestling wins national championship

The first period of the match would end scoreless, but it would be Figueroa who snatched momentum first. The Sun Devil scored an incredible takedown to jump out to a lead, and he never looked back.

Arizona State’s Richie Figueroa walked away with a 7-2 decision victory over the higher-ranked Ayala to secure national champion status.

Richard Figueroa is your 125-pound NATIONAL CHAMPION!#NCAAWrestling x @ASUWrestling pic.twitter.com/CRTfwj1B40

— NCAA Wrestling (@NCAAWrestling) March 23, 2024

Figueroa is the first national champion at ASU since Zahid Valencia in 2019. He’s only the second national champion at ASU in the 125 division, joining Anthony Robles.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise to many, as Figueroa was the preseason No. 1 wrestler in the 125 division, but missed time this season due to injury. However, he bounced back and won his final 10 matches of the regular season, four of those being over top-five opponents.

Figueroa is just a redshirt sophomore, and as a freshman, he went 14-0, wrestling behind four-time All-American Brandon Courtney.

Coming out of high school he was the No. 1 pound-for-pound recruit in the nation and won three state championships at Selma High School in California.

Now, Richie Figueroa has etched his name into college wrestling history, representing the Arizona State Sun Devils.

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