Sunnyside Class of 2025 standout Sergio Vega added to his many accolades a Fargo (N.D.) Junior Freestyle Wrestling National Championship in the 138-pound division in July.
“I kind of just felt it was another match, but after, it was like, ‘Wow, I just won nationals,’” Vega said of his emotions after he defeated No. 1 seed Drew Gorman of Buford, Ga., by a 10-2 decision in the championship match.
Vega, seeded No. 3, won six matches in the bracket before that matchup with Gorman. He won his first four matches by technical fall before beating Hunter Hollingsworth of Newalla, Okla., by a 6-0 decision in the semifinals.
He outscored his seven opponents in the competition by a combined total of 76-11.
For his significant accomplishment, Vega is the Jet Sports Training Male Athlete of the Month for July.
“I was just trying to have fun,” said Vega, who has already committed to attend Cornell of the Ivy League. “The coaches were telling me not to worry too much. After the warmup, we did the parade of champions. I just went and laid down in the back and then when it was my time to warm up, I went and warmed up.
“I just went and wrestled and had fun.”
Vega will go for his fourth state championship at Sunnyside this school year.
He won the state titles in 2022 (113 pounds), 2023 (126) and 2024 (144). He is 98-1 in his career with the Blue Devils.
2024 MALE ATHLETE OF THE MONTH HONORS
January 2024: Sunnyside soccer player Angel Bracamontes-Pulido
February 2024: Salpointe soccer player Leo Gutierrez
March 2024: Sunnyside baseball player Orlando Cobarrubias
April 2024: Bisbee baseball player Bryceton Meyer
May 2024: Marana track and field athlete Jaelen Collins
June 2024: Local youth baseball talent Carlo Rivero
July: Sunnyside wrestler Sergio Vega
FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
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.
Recommended for you
