No. 11 Sun Devil Wrestling Splits with Long Island, No. 13 Illinois at Journeymen Duals

Bethlehem, Penn. – No. 11 Sun Devil Wrestling split with Long Island and No. 13 Illinois on Saturday afternoon at the Journeymen Wranglemania duals at Liberty High School in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, to officially open their new campaign.

The Sun Devils opened the day with a 38-3 rout of Long Island, where nine Sun Devils earned victories including four bonus-point victories. In the second bout of the day, ASU couldn't solve No. 13 Illinois, which was relentless in its attack of the Sun Devils. After opening with a pin-fall win from Richard Figueroa, the Sun Devils dropped the next nine bouts to lose, 37-6.

The defending champion Richard Figueroa dazzled in his return to the mat, making his way past Long Island's Robbie Sagaris before pinning Illinois' Caelan Riley (3:55). Figueroa has now won 12 consecutive matches dating back to last season.

Azizbek Fayzullaev, the Sun Devils' new 184-pounder from Uzbekistan, had a debut to remember, as he pinned Long Island's Anthony D'Alesio and turned in a valiant effort against Illinois' No. 7 Edmond Ruth in a tight 11-7 loss.

It's a quick turnaround for the Sun Devils, who will resume competition at the Journeymen Wranglemania weekend with Sunday's Collegiate Classic, beginning at 7 a.m. AZT.

Live updates will be provided by the team's X account (formerly Twitter), @ASUWrestling.

Teams Competing at the Collegiate Classic
Cornell, NC State, Illinois, Lehigh, Arizona State, Pittsburgh, Army West Point, Pennsylvania, Lock Haven, Binghamton, Harvard, VMI, Hofstra, Franklin & Marshall, Sacred Heart, Duke

#11 ASU 38, Long Island 3
125 | #1 Richard Figueroa (ASU) over Robbie Sagaris (LIU) Dec 6-1 (3-0)
133 | #18 Julian Chlebove (ASU) TF over Kaelan Francois (LIU) 17-2/4:51 (8-0)
141 | Emilio Ysaguirre (ASU) over Devin Matthews (LIU) Dec 9-5 (11-0)
149 | #14 Jesse Vasquez (ASU) over Drew Witham (LIU) Dec 11-7 (14-0)=
157 | Brayden Roberts (LIU) over Michael Kilic (ASU) Dec 2-0 (14-3)
165 | #15 Nicco Ruiz (ASU) TF over James Johnston (LIU) 21-5/5:38 (19-3)
174 | Chance McLane (ASU) over Blake Bahna (LIU) MD 12-2 (23-3)
184 | Azizbek Fayzullaev (ASU) by fall over Anthony D'Alesio (LIU) 2:42 (29-3)
197 | Jacob Meissner (ASU) over Gavin Claro (LIU) Dec 9-8 (32-3)
285 | #4 Cohlton Schultz (ASU) DQ Chris Powell 3:48 (38-3)

#13 Illinois 37, #11 ASU 6
125 | #1 Richard Figueroa (ASU) by fall over Caelan Riley (ILL) 3:55 (6-0)
133 |#3 Lucas Byrd (ILL) over #18 Julian Chlebove (ASU) Dec 4-0 (6-3)
141 |  #19 Danny Pucino (ILL) over Emilio Ysaguirre (ASU) Dec 4-1 (6-6)
149 | #10 Kannon Webster (ILL) over #14 Jesse Vasquez (ASU) MD 21-7 (10-6) 
157 | #21 Jason Kraisser (ILL) by fall over Michael Kilic (ASU) 2:22 (16-6)
165 | #33 Braeden Scoles (ILL) by fall over #15 Nicco Ruiz (ASU) 2:53 (22-6)
174 | #19 Danny Braunagel (ILL) over Chance McLane (ASU) Dec 6-3 (25-6)
184 | #7 Edmond Ruth (ILL) over Azizbek Fayzullaev (ASU) Dec 11-7 (28-6)
197 | #10 Zac Braunagel (ILL) by fall over Jacob Meissner (ASU) 3:46 (34-6)
285 | #13 Luke Luffman (ILL) over #4 Cohlton Schultz (ASU) 2-1 SV (37-6)

Sun Devils in the Postseason Under Head Coach Zeke Jones
Year | Conference | NCAAs
2023-24 | 1st | 6th
2022-23 | 4th | 7th
2021-22 | 1st | 4th
2020-21 | 1st | 4th
2019-20 | 1st | N/A (Ranked #4 in last poll)
2018-19 | 2nd | 12th
2017-18 | 1st | 10th
2016-17 | 1st | 14th
2015-16 | 2nd | 33rd
2014-15 | 2nd | 29th

Sun Devil Wrestling Individual National Champions (13 titles won by 10 individuals)
Richard Figueroa, 125 (2024)
Zahid Valencia, 174 (2019)
Zahid Valencia, 174 (2018)
Anthony Robles, 125 (2011)
Bubba Jenkins, 157 (2011)
Eric Larkin, 149 (2003)
Markus Mollica, 167 (1995)
Markus Mollica, 158 (1993)
Ray Miller, 167 (1993)
Dan St. John, 167 (1990)
Dan St. John, 158 (1989)
Eddie Urbano, 150 (1985)
Curley Culp, HWT (1967)

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