The Sunnyside wrestling dynasty does not only include 37 state team championships — including a current string of seven straight under coach Anthony Leon — it also includes being the state’s top program that develops college-level wrestlers.
The signing Friday of two-time state champion Cristian Rivera with the Air Force Academy and 2024 state champ Sean Archuleta with Arizona Christian gives the Blue Devils 16 wrestlers who have advanced to the college ranks from when Roman Bravo-Young signed with Penn State in 2018.
Sunnyside has at least two more on the way with Class of 2025 champions Sergio Vega committed to Cornell and Carlos Stanton to Iowa State.
Rivera’s brother Jaime advanced to West Point Academy in 2022. Another brother, Gio, will be a freshman at Sunnyside in the upcoming school year.
.@SSBDwrestling two-time state champion Cristian Rivera comments on signing with @AF_Wrestle today. His brother Jaime signed with the West Point Academy two years ago. Little brother Gio will be another wrestling standout for the Blue Devils starting next year when he is a… pic.twitter.com/1wYnIuAS6u
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 17, 2024
.@SSBDwrestling state-champion wrestler at 126 pounds this year Sean Archuleta signed today with @ACUwrestling. He will join former Blue Devil teammates Rico Robles and James Armstrong with ACU. pic.twitter.com/eLfwSKIqKx
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) May 17, 2024
CURRENT LIST OF SUNNYSIDE WRESTLERS ADVANCING TO COLLEGE WRESTLING
2018: Roman Bravo-Young – Penn State (Big10)
2019: Anthony Echemendia – Ohio St/Iowa State
2019: Rico Robles – Arizona Christian (NAIA)
2020: Jesse Ybarra – Iowa (Big10)
2021: Sebastian Robles – Iowa (Big10)
2022: Jaime Rivera Jr – West Point (EIWA/Ivy League)
2022: Rene Fragoso – ASU (Pac12)
2022: Tatiana Hernandez – Northern Iowa Area Community College
2022: Fernando Villaescusa Jr – Iowa State (Big12) (Graduated from Gilbert High School)
2023: Michael Avelar – Air Force Academy (Big12)
2023: James Armstrong Jr – Grandview/Arizona Christian (NAIA)
2023: Job Lee – Northwest Kansas Technical Institute (NAIA)
2024: Audrey Jimenez – Lehigh (EIWA)
2024: Cristian Rivera – Air Force Academy (Big 12)
2024: Rene Bostic – Northwest Kansas Technical Institute (NAIA)
2024: Sean Archuleta – Arizona Christian (NAIA)
COMMITS
2025: Sergio Vega – Cornell (Ivy League)
2025: Carlos Stanton – Iowa State (Big 12)
SUNNYSIDE DYNASTY DATA (CREDIT: JAVIER MORALES/ALLSPORTSTUCSON.COM)
Sunnyside team state championships
State titles by coach:
Robert DeBerry: 15
Don Klostreich: 9
Anthony Leon: 8 (current)
Richard Sanchez: 5
Team titles by year:
1979 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1981 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1982 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1983 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1984 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1985 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1986 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1987 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1988 Sunnyside (Don Klostreich)
1990 Sunnyside (Richard Sanchez)
1991 Sunnyside (Richard Sanchez)
1992 Sunnyside (Richard Sanchez)
1993 Sunnyside (Richard Sanchez)
1994 Sunnyside (Richard Sanchez)
1996 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
1998 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
1999 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2000 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2001 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2002 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2003 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2004 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2005 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2006 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2007 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2008 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2009 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2010 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2011 Sunnyside (Bobby DeBerry)
2013 Sunnyside (Anthony Leon)
2018 Sunnyside (Anthony Leon)
2019 Sunnyside (Anthony Leon)
2020 Sunnyside (Anthony Leon)
2021 Sunnyside (Anthony Leon)
2022 Sunnyside (Anthony Leon)
2023 Sunnyside (Anthony Leon)
2024 Sunnyside (Anthony Leon)
Sunnyside’s four-time state champions
2002-05 Nick Gallick
2002-05 Matt Lopez
2007-07 Mike Moreno
2003-07 Kyle DeBerry
2008-11 Kory DeBerry
2015-18 Roman Bravo-Young
2020-23 James Armstrong Jr.
2021-24 Audrey Jimenez
Sunnyside’s individual state champions
1969
Fred Gomez, 112 pounds
Roger Ball, 145 pounds
1970
Joe Gomez, 123 pounds
1973
George Larrinaga, 135 pounds
1974
Robert Parra, 105 pounds
Dan Palma, 112 pounds
Gilbert Duran, 126 pounds
1975
Raul Samorano, heavyweight
1976
Vince Guerra, 98 pounds
Joe Solorio, 119 pounds
1977
Vince Guerra, 105 pounds
1979
Lupe Peralta, 112 pounds
Fred Cota, 129 pounds
Eddie Urbano, 138 pounds
1980
Eddie Urbano, 138 pounds
1982
Mike Ortega, 158 pounds
1983
Fernando Cota, 108 pounds
Rene Nunez, 115 pounds
Fabian Cota, 129 pounds
John Bracy, heavyweight
1984
Mike Moreno, 101 pounds
George Soto, 115 pounds
Rene Nunez, 122 pounds
Tommy Ortiz, 129 pounds
Fabian Cota, 135 pounds
John Bracy, heavyweight
1985
Rudy Alameda, 101 pounds
Alfonso Cruz, 108 pounds
Fausto Cota, 115 pounds
George Soto, 129 pounds
Tommy Ortiz, 148 pounds
Manny Ruiz, heavyweight
1986
Alfonso Cruz, 108 pounds
Fausto Cota, 115 pounds
Danny Gee, 122 pounds
1987
Fausto Cota, 119 pounds
Raul Chavez, 132 pounds
Mike Cripe, 138 pounds
1988
Cesar Ruiz, 119 pounds
Mark Mejia, 132 pounds
Mike Cripe, 138 pounds
Sherman Moore, 167 pounds
1989
Chris Garcia, 112 pounds
Mark Mejia, 140 pounds
1990
Rene Sanchez, 119 pounds
Micah Fritzinger, 125 pounds
Jose Lopez, 152 pounds
1991
Eric Toraya, 103 pounds
Rene Sanchez, 125 pounds
Micah Fritzinger, 130 pounds
Pey Castillo, 140 pounds
1992
Danny Vega, 103 pounds
Eric Toraya, 112 pounds
Jesus Valdez, 189 pounds
1993
Marco Vasquez, 103 pounds
Danny Vega, 112 pounds
Sergio Lujan, 130 pounds
Joe Moore, 152 pounds
Dago Soto, 171 pounds
1994
Marco Vasquez, 103 pounds
Danny Vega, 112 pounds
Joe Moore, 160 pounds
1995
Marco Vasquez, 103 pounds
Brian Tellez, 112 pounds
1996
Evan Larkin, 103 pounds
Andy Huggins, heavyweight
1997
Eric Larkin, 125 pounds
Andy Huggins, 215 pounds
1998
Willie Bravo, 103 pounds
Ruben Coronado, 112 pounds
Evan Larkin, 119 pounds
Romego Young, 125 pounds
Eric Larkin, 140 pounds
1999
Willie Bravo, 112 pounds
Romego Young, 119 pounds
David Rivera, 125 pounds
Evan Larkin, 130 pounds
2000
Nate Gallick, 119 pounds
Christopher Bravo, 130 pounds
Seabrook Bizzle, 135 pounds
Mike Sallas, 140 pounds
Antonio Sepulveda, 145 pounds
David Coronado, 189 pounds
Matt Montoya, 215 pounds
2001
Eugene Garza, 119 pounds
Nate Gallick, 125 pounds
Toribio Lujan, 160 pounds
David Coronado, 189 pounds
Anthony Rodriguez, 215 pounds
2002
Nick Gallick, 103 pounds
Matt Lopez, 112 pounds
Ricardo Ramirez, 119 pounds
Hector Daza, 125 pounds
Eugene Garza, 130 pounds
Ramses Durazo, 152 pounds
2003
Nick Gallick, 103 pounds
Matt Lopez, 125 pounds
Jaime Martinez, 275 pounds
2004
Johnny Lopez, 103 pounds
Nick Gallick, 119 pounds
Kyle DeBerry, 130 pounds
Eddie Garza, 135 pounds
Matt Lopez, 140 pounds
Ruben “Huero” Quintana, 189 pounds
2005
Johnny Lopez, 103 pounds
Nick Gallick, 125 pounds
Rene Torres, 135 pounds
Kyle DeBerry, 140 pounds
Matt Lopez, 152 pounds
2006
Mike Moreno, 119 pounds
Rene Torres, 140 pounds
Kyle DeBerry, 152 poounds
2007
Paul Garza, 119 pounds
Steven Moreno, 125 pounds
Mike Moreno, 130 pounds
Nathan Vorel, 135 pounds
Raymond Pina, 152 pounds
Kyle DeBerry, 160 pounds
Jerry Ochoa, 171 pounds
2008
Lucio Murillo, 103 pounds
Paul Garza, 119 pounds
Mike Moreno, 125 pounds
Kory DeBerry, 135 pounds
Raymond Pina, 171 pounds
Anthony Pike, 285 pounds
2009
Lucio Murillo, 119 pounds
Kory DeBerry, 140 pounds
Anthony Pike, 189 pounds
2010
Raul Moraga, 127 pounds
Justin Steinebach, 142 pounds
Kory DeBerry, 147 pounds
Manny Aranda, 154 pounds
Diego Bravo, 217 pounds
William Espinoza, 287 pounds
2011
Kory DeBerry, 152 pounds
Cedric Gonzalez, 171 pounds
2013
Juaquin Olivas, 113 pounds
William Olivas, 126 pounds
Gabe Gonzales, 195 pounds
2014
Juaquin Olivas, 120 pounds
William Olivas, 126 pounds
Gabe Gonzales, 195 pounds
2015
Roman Bravo-Young, 106 pounds
Angel Laguna, 120 pounds
Juaquin Olivas, 132 pounds
2016
Roman Bravo-Young, 120 pounds
David Salazar III, 126 pounds
Marco Frias, 170 pounds
2017
Jesse Ybarra, 106 pounds
Manny Garcia, 113 pounds
Roman Bravo-Young, 132 pounds
David Salazar III, 145 pounds
2018
Jesse Ybarra, 113 pounds
Juan Manuel-Garcia, 120 pounds
Vincent Loaiza, 126 pounds
Roman Bravo-Young, 132 pounds
2019
James Brown, 113 pounds
Jaime Rivera, 120 pounds
Rico Robles, 138 pounds
Anthony Echemendia, 152 pounds
Elijah Wyatt, 182 pounds
2020
James Armstrong, 106 pounds
Job Lee, 113 pounds
Jesse Ybarra, 126 pounds
Jaime Rivera, 132 pounds
Sebastian Robles, 145 pounds
Fernando Villascusa, 160 pounds
2021
Audrey Jimenez, 113 pounds (girls champ)
James Armstrong, 113 pounds
Sebastian Robles, 160 pounds
Rene Fragoso, 182 pounds
2022
Audrey Jimenez, 106 pounds (girls champ)
Sergio Vega, 113 pounds
James Armstrong, 120 pounds
Carlos Stanton, 126 pounds
Cristian Rivera, 132 pounds
Jaime Rivera, 150 pounds
Job Lee, 157 pounds
Michael Avelar, 165 pounds
Rene Fragoso, 190 pounds
2023
Audrey Jimenez, 114 pounds (girls champion)
James Armstrong, 120 pounds
Sergio Vega, 126 pounds
Carlos Stanton, 132 pounds
Cristian Rivera, 144 pounds
Job Lee, 157 pounds
Mike Avelar, 165 pounds
Nicholas Pina, 175 pounds
2024
Audrey Jimenez, 106 pounds (boys champion)
Sean Archuleta, 126 pounds
Sergio Vega, 144 pounds
Carlos Stanton, 150 pounds
Victor Gonzalez, 157 pounds
Nicholas Pina, 165 pounds
Lucas Mata, 190 pounds
Zayne Candelaria, 285 pounds
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He is a former Arizona Daily Star beat reporter for the Arizona basketball team, including when the Wildcats won the 1996-97 NCAA title. He has also written articles for CollegeAD.com, Bleacher Report, Lindy’s Sports, TucsonCitizen.com, The Arizona Republic, Sporting News and Baseball America, among many other publications. He has also authored the book “The Highest Form of Living”, which is available at Amazon. He became an educator five years ago and is presently a special education teacher at Gallego Fine Arts Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
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