ASU Wrestling: Richie Figueroa claims first title for ASU since 2019 as Sun Devils take sixth overall

Figueroa conquered the mountain after nearly calling it quits

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Richie Figueroa led Arizona State to sixth place (64.5 points) in the 2024 NCAA National Championships while securing the Sun Devils fourth consecutive top-7 national finish under coach Zeke Jones. Figueroa was joined by Jacori Teemer as the representatives for the maroon and gold.

Figueroa went 5-0 over the weekend en rout to bringing home the first individual title since 2019. The 125-pounder earned three wins over top-10 seeds and a pair over top-5 seeds, including taking down No. 3 Drake Ayala of Iowa by a 7-2 decision for the crown. Teemer finished runner-up in the 157-pound class after falling to undefeated No. 1 Levi Haines of Penn State.

Penn State claimed the team championship with a dominating 172.5 points, which was 100 more than second place (Cornell, 72.5 points).

The last time ASU had multiple finalists was 2011, when Anthony Robles and Bubba Jenkins each secured titles. Oddly enough, both men faced opponents from the same programs as did Figueroa and Teemer (Iowa, Penn State) as well as represent the same weight class (125-and 157-pounds).

However, before Figueroa conquered the mountain, he nearly threw in the towel.

But he pondered what he’d tell his kids later on in life about his wrestling career. Would he tell them how he undefeated as a freshman before suffering an injury his sophomore year that ultimately altered his career and life? Or would he tell them he was a national champion?

Figueroa chose the latter.

Injury sidelined him twice early in the season, and Figueroa struggled to find success on the mat. He had lost his ‘mojo,’ and his confidence.

Once healthy, he notched two top-five wins against Lehigh and Nebraska in February, before stating his mojo was back. He since rattled off 10 straight wins.

“A lot of sacrifice,” Figueroa said, reflecting on his season. “I hate saying it, but I was gonna [quit]. Just like losing just wasn’t for me…But if I was to quit, what am I going to tell kids later on? ‘Oh, how did your wrestling career go?’ ‘Oh, I quit.’ ‘What, you’re a quitter.’ I just didn’t want to go out like that. I wanted to be able to tell my story and I’m glad I’m able to tell a story now.”

While the road to make the tournament was rocky, Figueroa was made for it. Prior to the season, he was the ranked atop the 125-pound class. Figueroa attended Selma High School (California) where he won three state titles and was the No. 1 pound-for-pound recruit in the nation entering ASU.

During his freshman campaign in Tempe, Figueroa went 14-0 but the shadow of four-time All-American Brandon Courtney blocked out the lights of nationals. Now, the spotlight was on him.

Kyle Parco and Cohlton Schultz joined Figueroa and Teemer for earning the All-American nod, setting the fourth consecutive NCAA Championships that the Sun Devils have had at least four All-Americans.

Parco placed fifth in the 149-pound weight class and earned ASU 11 points while Schultz earned sixth place in the heavy weight division and earned ASU nine points. Teemer added 17 points and Figueroa tacked on 22.