Figueroa, Lightweights Shine at Cliff Keen Invitational

Dec 3, 2022

LAS VEGAS - Sun Devil Wrestling's lightweights shined at the Cliff Keen Invitational this weekend. Richard Figueroa, a redshirt sophomore, won the 125 weight class, while two-time All-Americans Michael McGee and Kyle Parco both finished as runners-up at 133 and 149, respectively. ASU leaves Las Vegas as the sixth-place team. Nebraska, NC State and South Dakota State finished 1-2-3. Out of 10 ASU wrestlers, five finished on the podium.

Full brackets and results

125 Cliff Keen Champion ?? ?? pic.twitter.com/Av2IWziiNw

— Sun Devil Wrestling (@ASUWrestling) December 3, 2022

"Overall we weren't quite where we wanted to be this weekend," head coach Zeke Jones said. "We're at a place now where it's 'win it or it's a disappointment,' and I don't think that's a bad thing. I think our kids want to compete at the highest level and win."

Figueroa was unranked coming into the tournament but was seeded fifth and went on to sweep a field that included '22 US Open champion and NCAA qualifier No. 8 Matt Ramos (Purdue).

"Richie winning, that's awesome," Jones said. "You get a freshman winning a tournament like Las Vegas, that puts you in position to win a national title. I'm really proud of him. Kyle and Michael ran into some tough guys, and their opponents were some of the top guys in the country. I just think those two have to continue to get better and improve and they'll be in the national champion mix."

McGee blew through his bracket, opening the tournament with a pin before getting back-to-back major decisions. In the 133 championship match, he faced off against two-time All-American Vito Arujau (Cornell) and ultimately fell 3-2. Parco had a similar run, comfortably handling all of his opponents before meeting Ohio State's two-time All-American Sammy Sasso. Sasso took the match 6-2.

Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational
Richard Figueroa - 1st (125)
Michael McGee - 2nd (133)
Kyle Parco - 2nd (149)
Kordell Norfleet - 8th (197)
Cohlton Schultz - 8th (HWT)

125 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) F Blair Orr Charleston, SC (The Citadel), 3:13
125 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) DEC Kurt Mchenry Ann Arbor, MI (Michigan), 7-1 SV
125 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) DEC Brett Ungar ithaca, NY (Cornell), 6-2 TB2
125 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) DEC Tanner Jordan Brookings, SD (SDSU), 6-3
125 Richard Figueroa (Arizona State) DEC Matt Ramos West Lafayette, IN (Purdue), 3-2

133 Michael Mcgee (Arizona State) F Paul Woo Athens, OH (Ohio), 0:47
133 Michael Mcgee (Arizona State) MD Kurtis Phipps Irwin, PA (Bucknell), 8-0
133 Michael Mcgee (Arizona State) MD Kai Orine Raleigh, NC (NC State), 18-4
133 Michael Mcgee (Arizona State) DEC Dylan Ragusin Elk Grove Village, IL (Michigan), 5-1
133 Vitali Arujau Syosset, NY (Cornell) DEC Michael Mcgee (Arizona State), 6-1