Featured

Sunnyside’s Audrey Jimenez wins U17 & U20 titles at U.S. Women’s World Team nationals

By Javier Morales

Posted on May 7, 2022

*Audrey Jimenez went 6-0 in her competition this weekend during the 2022 US U20 Women’s World Team competition (Jimenez photo)*

Sunnyside High School sophomore Audrey Jimenez claimed the U17 and U20 titles — and was named the Outstanding Wrestler of the U20 competition — in the U.S. Women’s World Team nationals during the weekend at Fort Worth, Texas.

Jimenez won best-of-three championships series in both weight classes — 50 kg (110 pounds) for the U20 title on Saturday and 49 kg (108 pound) for the U17 championship on Sunday.

She earned the Outstanding Wrestler award after sweeping her U20 series against a college freshman Saturday. Jimenez, representing Sunkist Kids Wrestling of Arizona, swept Bristol (Tenn.) King University All-American freshman Sage Mortimer of Team Tornado WC in two matches.

With the victory over Mortimer, Jimenez qualified to compete for Team USA at the U20 World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, from Aug. 15-21.

Her U17 triumph in two matches Sunday was against Ava Ward of Centralia, Mo., who was also representing Sunkist Kids Wrestling.

Jimenez did not allow Ward to score on her in both matches and was able to complete some takedowns, winning bout one 6-0 and bout two 4-0. It was the third time in almost a week that Jimenez stopped Ward, beating her also at the Girls National High School Showcase last week in Las Vegas, 8-0.

Jimenez is ranked No. 1 in the nation on the high school level, and Ward is ranked No. 4.

With the victory, Jimenez qualifies for her second consecutive U17 World Championships. She will compete at the U17 World Championships in Rome, Italy from July 25-31. She was a 2021 Cadet World bronze medalist.

Jimenez told AllSportsTucson.com in December she plans to graduate from Sunnyside in three years (at the end of 2022-23) to train for the Paris Olympics.

*Audrey Jimenez’s Outstanding Wrestler award earned at the US Women’s U20 Nationals (Jimenez photo)*

In the win over Mortimer on Saturday, Jimenez won the first match with an 11-0 technical fall, methodically getting takedowns and turns.

In the second match, Mortimer scored the first takedown and led 2-1 at the break, but Jimenez jumped ahead with a takedown and turn and finished with a 7-2 decision.

Jimenez went 12-0 combined in the U17 and U20 competitions with seven wins by technical fall. She allowed only five points and had nine shutouts.

USMC WOMEN’S U20 NATIONALS
At Fort Worth, Texas,

50 kg (110 pounds)

Championship series (Best of 3)

Audrey Jimenez (Sunkist Kids WC) dec. Sage Mortimer (Titan Mercury WC/Team Tornado WC), 2 bouts to 0
Bout 1 – Jimenez technical fall Mortimer, 11-0, 5:42
Bout 2 – Jimenez dec. Mortimer, 7-2

Quarterfinals

Jimenez technnical fall win over Emilie Gonzalez CA (Somar Wrestling Club), 10-0 1:25

Round of 16

Jimenez technical fall win over Emma Baertlein OR (Southern Oregon Regional Training Center), 13-2 2:40

Round of 32

Jimenez technical fall win over Dianna Holmes GA (Georgia), 10-0 3:22

Round of 64

Jimenez technical fall win over Elizabeth Dollar IN (Warrior Regional Training Center), 10-0 0:22

USMC WOMEN’S U17 NATIONALS
At Fort Worth, Texas

49 kg (108 pounds)

Championship series (Best of 3)

Audrey Jimenez AZ (Sunkist Kids WC) dec. Ava Ward (Sunkist Kids WC), 2 matches to 0
Bout 1 – Jimenez dec. Ward, 6-0
Bout 2 –Jimenez dec. Ward, 4-0