Information and media support for this story provided by AllSportsTucson.com’s Andy Morales and Brittany Bowyer at the state wrestling event at Phoenix on Saturday night at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
PHOENIX — The Sunnyside dynasty is alive and well. The Sahuarita wrestling program finally reaped the benefits of its historically strong performances.
Sunnyside achieved its 35th state title since 1979 with its D-I championship at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum at Phoenix. The Blue Devils also earned their fifth straight championship under Anthony Leon, who now has six titles in his tenure.
Sahuarita earned its first wrestling state title by winning the D-III championship. The Mustangs previously finished as the runner-up four times, including in 2020 and 2021.
Sunnyside @SSBDwrestling D1 champs pic.twitter.com/6n3mRkkYna
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) February 20, 2022
Walden Grove D3 runner up pic.twitter.com/lZ3vKxnx4s
— Andy Morales (@AndyMorales8) February 20, 2022
Other noteworthy developments from Saturday’s championship event:
— Sunnyside sophomore Audrey Jimenez earned her second consecutive state championship with a title in the 106-pound class.
— CDO’s Sophia Gilbert earned a state title at 114 pounds and Mountain View’s Ysela Gradillas won the 152-pound title.
— The Sunnyside boys won an astounding eight individual state championships, a program record topping the seven that were achieved in 2000 and 2007 — Sergio Vega (a freshman at 113 pounds), James Armstrong (120), Carlos Stanton (126), Cristian Rivera (132), Jaime Rivera (150), Job Lee (157), Michael Avelar (165) and Rene Fragoso (190).
— Mountain View senior Austin Scott capped a 49-0 season with a state championship in the D-II 157-pound class.
— How good is wrestling in the Sahuarita area? Sahuarita and Walden Grove combined for six individual championships and the Mustangs finished first in the D-III competition while the Red Wolves were second. They were separated by only 15.5 points.
The Walk of Champions at the 2022 AIA State Wrestling Tournament. It’s a packed house! Look how many people turned out today to watch the finals 👀🏆 pic.twitter.com/Rw4tGFwafB
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
GIRLS TEAM RESULTS
- Liberty 93.5
- Westwood 87.0
- Casteel 82.0
- Hamilton 64.0
- Peoria 64.0
7. Sunnyside 59.0
11. CDO 41.0
12. Marana Mountain View 40.0
22. Pueblo 23.0
GIRLS STATE RESULTS (LOCAL WRESTLERS)
100 – Isabella Bocanegra, Liberty, def. Tatiana Hernandez (17-2), Sunnyside (DQ, 1st)
106 – Audrey Jimenez (13-0), Sunnyside, def. Kristina Flores, Canyon View (Fall, 1:16)
114 – Sophia Gilbert (30-3), CDO, def. Miyah Palacios (21-4), Sahuarita (Dec., 4-0)
152 – Ysela Gradillas (26-1), Mountain View, def. Genesis Higuera, Odyssey Institute (Dec., 9-2)
The Sunnyside Blue Devils continue to dominate on the mats. They’ve taken home yet another DI state championship after qualifying more than a dozen kids to state! 👀🏆 pic.twitter.com/JrukoDZ2AL
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
D-I TEAM RESULTS
- Sunnyside 263.0
- Liberty 173.0
- Desert Ridge 144.0
- Desert Vista 130.5
- Corona del Sol 85.0
13. Marana 48.0
D-I INDIVIDUAL STATE RESULTS (LOCAL WRESTLERS)
106 – Damien Moreno, Kofa, def. Sean Archuleta (20-4), Sunnyside (fall, 1:35)
113 – Sergio Vega (36-0), Sunnyside, def. Micah Madson, Horizon (Fall, 1:39)
120 – James Armstrong (33-2), Sunnyside, def. Logan Smith, Desert Vista (Dec., 6-0)
126 – Carlos Stanton (39-3), Sunnyside, def. Hayden Hurd, Mountain Ridge (TF, 4:42, 15-0)
132 – Cristian Rivera (43-3), Sunnyside, def. Jaden Galindo, Cesar Chavez (Fall, 1:07)
150 – Jaime Rivera (41-3), Sunnyside, def. Jeremiah Nyberg, Desert Ridge (Fall, 4:27)
157 – Job Lee (38-4), Sunnyside, def. Arturo Anaya, Kofa (Dec., 11-4)
165 – Michael Avelar (41-4), Sunnyside, def. Wyatt Powell, Red Mountain (Dec., 12-10)
190 – Rene Fragoso (45-1), Sunnyside, def. Gavin Dodge, Liberty (Dec., 6-2)
D-II TEAM RESULTS
- Casteel 267.5
- Canyon View 160.5
- Ironwood 122.0
- Campo Verde 121.5
- Marana Mountain View 116.5
6. Cienega 94.5
9. Ironwood Ridge 63.0
12. Buena 50.0
14. Flowing Wells 44.0
17. Desert View 39.0
D-II INDIVIDUAL STATE RESULTS (LOCAL WRESTLERS)
106 – Gabriel Ramirez, Canyon View, def. Jayden Smith (43-8), Mountain View (Fall, 5:29)
132 – Sergio Ramos, Casteel, def. Daniel Miranda (46-3), Mountain View (Fall, 4:53)
157 – Austin Scott (49-0), Mountain View, def. Alexander Terrian, Campo Verde (MD, 10-2)
165 – Brennan Callison, Casteel, def. Julian Gordin (43-5), Mountain View (Dec., 11-5)
190 – Ritchie McCormack (42-3), Cienega, def. Brayden Hasher, Cactus Shadows (Dec., 4-3)
Sahuarita wins it for the boys and is presented the DIII State Championship trophy by executive director David Hines pic.twitter.com/uT6dHsGLyU
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
Walden Grove wrestling is the DIII runner-ups with a phenomenal weekend pic.twitter.com/0PKx9BXsX5
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
D-III TEAM RESULTS
- Sahuarita 160.5
- Walden Grove 144.0
- ALA – Gilbert North 122.5
- Mingus Union 95.5
- Coconino 85.5
11. CDO 61.0
13. Salpointe 47.0
14. Empire 41.5
19. Rio Rico 32.0
D-III INDIVIDUAL STATE RESULTS (LOCAL WRESTLERS)
106 – Brody Townsend, Mingus Union, def. Che Jenkins (43-6), Salpointe (Dec., 7-2)
113 – Zachary Bates (56-2), Walden Grove, def. Vonn Fenn, Thunderbird (Dec., 9-5)
120 – Pedro Mendoza (29-5), Walden Grove, def. Andru Gomez (53-8), Salpointe (Dec., 6-4)
126 – Sergio Peña (47-3), Sahuarita, def. Sabian Russell, Yuma (MD, 12-3)
138 – David Villarreal (14-3), Walden Grove, def. Shawn Bamba, Peoria (SV-1, 14-9)
144 – Gabriel Gallardo (52-1), Sahuarita, def. Enzo Morales (40-6), Walden Grove (Dec., 6-5)
150 – Cooper French, Coconino, def. Charles Croci (44-4), CDO (Fall, 2:47)
157 – Julian Prieto (46-8), Sahuarita, def. Esteban Carrillo (41-9), Walden Grove (Fall, 1:09)
165 – Payton Wayman, Lee Williams, def. Braden Peglow (43-3), Empire (Dec., 7-3)
215 – Michael Kelley, Bradshaw Mountain, def. Jake Lambert (39-1), Empire (Dec., 5-3)
285 – Jesse Octavio-Callejo (29-3), Rio Rico, def. Joseph Bowen, Yuma (Fall, 2:35)
D-IV TEAM RESULTS
- Morenci 201.5
- Yuma Catholic 175.5
- Mogollon 148.0
- Arizona Lutheran 113.0
- Winslow 110.00
7. Mica Mountain 81.0
12. Santa Cruz 60.0
16. Willcox 43.0
18. San Manuel 34.5
20. Benson 34.0
D-IV INDIVIDUAL STATE RESULTS (LOCAL WRESTLERS)
138 – John Provencio, Morenci, def. Wyatt Ogle (19-3), Santa Cruz (Inj., 3:59)
157 – Cody Torres, Morenci, def. Kash Macumber (51-7), Willcox (Dec., 6-4)
175 – Diego Chavez (31-1), Santa Cruz, def. Gabriel McKenney, Arizona Lutheran (MD, 15-5)
LOCAL GIRLS WRESTLING STATE CHAMPIONS
106 POUNDS
Audrey Jimenez, Sunnyside (two-time state champion)
114
Sophia Gilbert, Canyon del Oro
Sophia Gilbert of Canyon del Oro works her way to a win for the girls 114 pound weight class with a win over Miyah Palacios of Sahuarita. pic.twitter.com/RMtCyxwAnI
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
152
Ysela Gradillas, Mountain View
LOCAL BOYS STATE CHAMPIONS
D-I 113 POUNDS
Sergio Vega, Sunnyside, freshman
D-I 120
James Armstrong, Sunnyside
D-I 126
Carlos Stanton, Sunnyside
Carlos Stanton of Sunnyside defeats Hayden Hurd of Mountain Ridge in the DI boys 126 pound weight class. pic.twitter.com/F44q2YqgO5
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
D-I 132
Cristian Rivera, Sunnyside
D-I 150
Jaime Rivera, Sunnyside
D-I 157
Job Lee, Sunnyside
Job Lee of Sunnyside is able to muscle his way to a win over Arturo Anaya of Kofa to win the gold in the DI Boys 157 pound weight class pic.twitter.com/PPfGc1CyKT
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
D-1 163
Michael Avelar, Sunnyside
D-I 190
Rene Fragoso, Sunnyside
D-II 157
Austin Scott, Mountain View
Austin Scott of Mountain View – Marana picks up an 8-2 win over Alexander Terrian of Campo Verde in the DII 157 pound weight class. pic.twitter.com/VeVfotVtew
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
D-II 190
Ritchie McCormack, Cienega
Cienega multi-sport athlete Ritchie McCormack takes home the gold for the boys DII 190 pound weight class with a big decision win over Brayden Hasher of Cactus Shadows pic.twitter.com/RFaeQ1qPCe
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
D-III 113
Zachary Bates, Walden Grove
Walden Grove’s Zachary Bates works his way to a decision win over Vonn Fenn of Thunderbird to take home the gold for the 113 pound weight class in DIII pic.twitter.com/ObOVmaQtb1
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
D-III 120
Pedro Mendoza, Walden Grove
D-III 126
Sergio Peña, Sahuarita
D-III 138
David Villarreal, Walden Grove
D-III 144
Gabriel Gallardo, Sahuarita
D-III 157
Julian Prieto, Sahuarita
D-III 285
Jesse Octavio-Callejo, Rio Rico
D-IV 175
Diego Chavez, Santa Cruz
Diego Chavez of Santa Cruz takes home the gold for the boys DIV 175 pound weight class by defeating Gabriel McKenny of Arizona Lutheran pic.twitter.com/JFVOgGAOH9
— Brittany Bowyer (@LittWithBritt) February 20, 2022
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