All jokes aside, I think folks really misunderstand how much of a grind he went through that year at NCAAs. He wrestled five (5) Top Ten guys in the highest level of Folkstyle wrestling in the world.
Round 1
Alex Madrigal, FR - Old Dominion, 12W-12L
Result: Win via FFT (Unsure why)
Round 2
#9 Scott Parker, SO - Lehigh, 20W-5L (8th place)
Result: Win via Decision 7-6 (SV-1)
Round 3
#1 Nathan Thomasello, JR - the Ohio State, 24W-1L (3rd place)
Result: Loss via Decision 3-1
Round 4
#10 Mitch McKee, FR - Minnesota, 21W-20L (R12)
Result: Loss via Major 14-6
Round 5
#5 Stevan Micic, FR- Michigan, 29W-7L (4th)
Result: Loss via Decision 6-5
Round 6
#9 Scott Parker, SO - Lehigh, 20W-5L (8th place)
Result: Win via Major 14-4
7th, in that bracket while wrestling those matches is a result. He was on the mat for that tournament actually wrestling for over 35 minutes. With how knock them down, grind them out his matches were I bet he was on a mat in wrestling matches for over an hour getting beat on and beating on them right back.
The 2023 US Open now?
Round 1
Yevier Lopez
Result: Win via Tech 0:27
Round 2
Brandon Meredith, 125lb Backup - South Dakota State University
Result: Win via Decision 6-1 (10-0)
Roudn 3
Mike Tortorice, 3x D3 AA (3, 2, then Favorite in cancelled 2020s)
Result: Win via Tech 2:20 (10-0)
Round 4
Jacob Comacho, 125lb Starter at N State
Result: Win via Decision 8-4
Round 5
Nicky Skeletor, 2x D1 NC, 3x AA, 4x NQ - Penn State, Rutgers, Michigan, Arizona State, Cal Poly, Italy/Croatia?
Result: Win via Decision 3-3 (TD with 27 seconds to go to win via criteria)
A grand total of 20 minutes with only one real 'Top Tier' wrestler and a lot of usual suspects at 57 KG not out.
I am not attempting to belittle his run - it was badass and got the job done.
That said, his NCAA run his 2017 Season was a Grinding as they get and impressive as well.
Add in that over the past three to four years he has grown, seemingly exponentially, every year. He earned the #1 spot on our team last year by taking out the defending WORLD SILVER (2022), who was also WORLD CHAMP the year before (2021) in two straight matches.
It is very difficult to not be a fan of Richards. He is a good guy and he is never one to make excuses in any match - ever.