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Pac-12 announces 2024 wrestling conference honors

by Pac-12 Conference
Mar 28, 2024

The Pac-12 Conference announced today the 2024 Pac-12 Wrestling honors, as voted on by the league's coaches. ARIZONA STATE redshirt sophomore Richard Figueroa (125) was selected Pac-12 Wrestler of the Year, LITTLE ROCK's Nasir Bailey (133) earned Pac-12 Freshman/Newcomer of the Year, and his head coach, LITTLE ROCK's  Neil Erisman, took home the Pac-12 Coach of the Year honors.

WRESTLER OF THE YEAR: Richard Figueroa, R-So., Arizona State (125 - Sanger, Calif.)

  • As the No. 8 seed, won Arizona State's first national championship since 2019 and the 13th title in school history (by 10 different individuals)
  • Defeated No. 3 seed Drake Ayala (Iowa) by a 7-2 decision in the final.  Beat No. 25 Ethan Berginc (Army), No. 9 Patrick McKee (Minnesota), No. 1 Braeden Davis (Penn State) and No. 12 Anthony Noto (Lock Haven) to reach the finals
  • 1 of 4 Sun Devils to earn All-American status as Arizona State finished 6th in the team standings at the national championships
  • Only the 2nd Sun Devil to win a national championship at 125 lbs, joining Anthony Robles who won in 2011
  • Wrapped up the season with 10 straight wins to finish 17-5
  • As the No. 3 seed, won 2023 Pac-12 Championship by beating the No. 1 seed and 2023 Pac-12 Champion Brandon Kaylor (Oregon State) by a 2-1 decision
  • 3rd straight year a Sun Devil has won this award and 2nd straight year by their 125 lb wrestler (Brandon Courtney)

FRESHMAN/NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR: Nasir Bailey, Fr., Little Rock (133 - Park Forest, Ill.)

  • Claimed All-American status with a 4th place finish at the 2024 NCAA Championships
  • Along with teammate Stephen Little, became Little Rock's first ever wrestling All-Americans
  • Knocked off No. 26 seed Kade Moore (Missouri), No. 23 Marlon Yarbrough (Virginia), No. 13 Kurt Phipps (Bucknell), No. 3 Kai Orine (NC State) and No. 5 Dylan Ragusin (Michigan) before falling to No. 2 Ryan Crookham (Lehigh) in the 3rd place match
  • Finished the season 29-4
  • As the No. 1 seed, became the Pac-12 Champion at 133 pounds and Wrestler of the Meet at the 2024 Pac-12 Championships
  • Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week on December 28, 2023 
  • As the primary starter for Little Rock at 133 pounds, wrestled in 15 of 20 duals, winning his match in 14 duals
  • Placed 3rd at the Southern Scuffle tournament
  • 1st Little Rock wrestler to win a Pac-12 annual award

COACH OF THE YEAR: Neil Erisman, Little Rock 

  • Named 2024 NWCA Coach of the Year as well as Coach of the Tournament for the NCAA Championships
  • Program had their first 2 All-American wrestlers in school history (Nasir Bailey, Stephen Little)
  • Finished 19th at the NCAA Championships as a team, their first Top 20 result in program history and the 3rd highest by a Pac-12 school this season
  • 2nd time reaching the NCAA Tournament and 1st time having more than one NCAA qualifier
  • Led Little Rock to a 2nd place finish at the Pac-12 Championships, their highest finish in school history.  Won championships at 3 weight classes after never previously winning one at the Pac-12 Championships
  • First career Pac-12 Wrestling Coach of the Year honor by a Little Rock head coach.  Erisman has led the program since its inception in 2019

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