Wrestling’s Figueroa Set for Jr. World Championships
TEMPE - Sun Devil Wrestling's No. 1 pound-for-pound freshman Richard Figueroa will compete in Ufa, Russia Aug. 16-18 with Team USA in the United World Wrestling Junior World Championships with over 500 other athletes from 52 nations. Figueroa is one of 31 USA wrestlers. The championships will stream on FloWrestling.
Junior World Championships Entries
USA Wrestling Preview
Draws and Schedule
Figueroa is set to compete in the 57 kg category and enters the week as a two-time Cadet World Team member, with whom he won silver at the 2018 Cadet World games (48 kg). The first-year Sun Devil is a three-time Californian State Champion and has been connected to ASU since his verbal commitment in fall 2018. He'll open Monday against Ali Gholi Zadegan Koloukhi of Iran. Koloukhi won gold at the 2019 Cadet Asian Championships. Competition starts at 11 p.m. MST/ 11 a.m. local on FloWrestling. The full schedule is here.
Ranked as the second overall recruit in the class of 2021 by MatScouts, Figueroa carries a hefty wrestling resume with only two losses during his high school career. He has won the Zinkin Classic, the Doc Buchanan and the Five Counties before his first state championship (106 lbs). Additionally, he won a Super 32 belt against Greg Diakomihalis, previously the top-ranked wrestler at the weight, and a FloNationals title.
The Sun Devils have a strong history of success in world championships. Head coach Zeke Jones, who is making the trip to Russia with Figueroa, won silver in the 1986 Junior Worlds. Redshirt sophomore Cohlton Schulz was a three-time Junior World Team member and won silver in 130 kg at the 2019 Junior World Championships. Redshirt junior Jacori Teemer was a 2017 Cadet World Team member and earned bronze in the freestyle (63 kg). Veteran standout Anthony Valencia wore the Stars and Stripes at the FILA Junior World Champions (74 kg) in high school and qualified for Team Trials his redshirt freshman year at the same weight.
2021 JUNIOR WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
Aug. 16-22 | Ufa, Russia
U.S. men's freestyle roster
57 kg: Richard Figueroa (Sanger, Calif./Sunkist Kids)
61 kg: Jesse Mendez (Crown Point, Ind./Region Wrestling Academy)
65 kg: Beau Bartlett (State College, Pa./Nittany Lion WC)
70 kg: Bryce Andonian (Blacksburg, Va./SERTC)
74 kg: Keegan O'Toole (Hartland, Wisc./Tiger Style WC)
79 kg: Donnell Washington (Portage, Ind./Indiana RTC)
86 kg: Colton Hawks (Wentzville, Mo./Tiger Style WC)
92 kg: Rocky Elam (Kansas City, Mo./Tiger WC)
97 kg: Braxton Amos (Mineral Wells, W.V./Wisconsin RTC)
125 kg: Wyatt Hendrickson (Colorado Springs, Colo./Air Force RTC)
National Men's Freestyle Development Coach: Kevin Jackson (Colorado Springs, Colo.)