The Open Mat

richiefigs2024feature
Photo: ASU Athletics

Arizona State topples Lehigh, extends win streak to four

Arizona State Sports Information
Feb 24

The No. 12 Sun Devils won their fourth consecutive dual match, and fifth of their last sixth, in a 24-14 beating of No. 8 Lehigh for their first top-10 win of the season. They captured the first seven bouts of the evening, setting the tone for their third straight win against the Mountain Hawks.

They also improved to a perfect 4-0 in Mullett Arena appearances.

Results:
125: Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) over Luke Stanich (Lehigh) (Dec 5-3)
133: Julian Chlebove (Arizona State) over Sheldon Seymour (Lehigh) (Dec 9-2)
141: Jesse Vasquez (Arizona State) over Malyke Hines (Lehigh) (SV-1 5-2)
149: Kyle Parco (Arizona State) over Drew Munch (Lehigh) (TF 15-0 3:13)
157: Jacori Teemer (Arizona State) over Max Brignola (Lehigh) (Dec 7-2)
165: Chance McLane (Arizona State) over Jake Logan (Lehigh) (Dec 8-1)
174: Cael Valencia (Arizona State) over Connor Herceg (Lehigh) (MD 8-0)
184: Jack Wilt (Lehigh) over Tony Negron (Arizona State) (Dec 6-5)
197: Michael Beard (Lehigh) over Damion Schunke (Arizona State) (TF 21-6 2:52)
285: Nathan Taylor (Lehigh) over Tarik Sutkovic (Arizona State) (FF)

NOTABLES

  • Attendance: 1,415
  • Richard Figueroa had a statement win over No. 2 Luke Stanich, handing the Mountain Hawk just his second loss of his season. It's the second time in Figueroa's career that he's toppled the country's No. 2 125-pounder (Purdue's Matt Ramos/Dec. 2, 2022).
  • With Jesse Vasquez's win over No. 16 Malyke Hines, the Sun Devil is now 4-1 in dual matches this season, including the current three-match winning streak he's riding. His return to the Sun Devil lineup has been a huge boost, as the team is now 3-0 since Feb. 9.
  • Kyle Parco earned career win No. 104 on Friday versus Lehigh's Drew Munch, in a 15-0 tech fall (3:13). It's his 18th victory of the season, tied with Jacori Teemer for the team lead. One more win would tie him with Eddie Urbano (1982-85) for 23rd most career wins in team history.
  • Jacori Teemer won his eighth consecutive dual match against #25 Max Brignola. It's his 18th victory of the season, tied with Kyle Parco for the team lead. He's also won 16 of his last 17 matches dating back to Dec. 1.
  • Chance McLane's 8-1 win against #26 Jake Logan was a big one for plenty of reasons. Not only did it give the Sun Devils their sixth consecutive win to begin the night, it also avenged the loss McLane suffered against Logan back on Nov. 12 at the Journeyman Classic.
  • Got your number: Cael Valencia beat a Lehigh wrestler for the third time in his career on Friday evening, now having victories against the Mountain Hawks' Connor Herceg (Feb. 24, 2024), Jake Logan (Jan. 28, 2023) and Thayne Lawrence (Nov. 13, 2022).
  • The Devils' victory snaps a seven-match winning streak by Lehigh, as they hadn't lost since Dec. 8 at Oklahoma State.


    TEAM HISTORY AT MULLETT ARENA
    vs. Nebraska (TBD), Feb. 25, 2024
    vs. No. 8 Lehigh – W (24-14), Feb. 24, 2024
    vs. No. 21 Stanford - W (18-17), Feb. 17, 2024
    vs. Little Rock - W (31-6), Feb. 3, 2023
    vs. No. 3 Missouri - W (19-17), Nov. 17, 2022

    RECENT HISTORY VS. LEHIGH
    W (24-14), Feb. 24, 2024 – Tempe, Ariz.
    W (20-16), – Jan. 28, 2023 – Bethlehem, Penn.
    W (21-17), Feb. 19, 2022 – Tempe, Ariz.

    QUOTES

    Head Coach Zeke Jones

    On the match:
    "A win is a win. We're happy about that. I thought we came out on fire. It was good. The kids were scoring points. I thought they were having a lot of fun and they fed off each other. Tomorrow we're going to need everything we got."

    On Senior Day coming up:
    "We're excited for them, but sad to let five seniors go. They had tremendous careers. Tony will wrestle tomorrow, so I want to see him end with a win and we're going to miss him."

    125 Richard Figueroa

    On the match and his mindset going into facing the No. 2 ranked wrestler:
    "I was just getting ready for this weekend like any other match. I don't care what the seed is or who I'm facing. I just want to go out there and give my best. I've been doing this for a long time, competing at the highest level, wrestling the highest level of guys. So I'm not afraid to go out there and bang with these guys if they're high ranked or if they're even higher ranked than me. But I felt good. I just know how to control my match and wrestle my match and just get the job done, which I did."

    On what the momentum his win caused throughout the match means:
    "It means a lot, I'm a 125-pounder. That's my goal. My goal is to get the thing started, get the show started. Every time I come out there wrestling in the first match, my goal is to dominate. Get the first win and keep the train rolling."

    UP NEXT
    It's a quick turnaround for the Sun Devils, as they'll host No. 3 Nebraska on Sunday, Feb. 25 (1 p.m. AZT) for the regular season finale and Senior Day.

    In addition to honoring seniors Tony Negron, Tristan Mascarenas, Ricky Roberto, Lou Fincher and Tarik Sutkovic, the team will also pay tribute to Art Martori, legendary owner of the Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, during intermission of the Sun Devils-Cornhuskers dual.