Sunnyside senior Sergio Vega, who recently earned his fourth straight state title, was selected the Most Outstanding Wrestler of the Junior division Saturday after capturing the 150-pound championship of the 2025 Air Force Special Warfare 16U and Junior Folkstyle Nationals in West Des Moines, Iowa.
Vega, representing Tucson Cyclones Wrestling and Fitness, which his father Danny Vega operates, went 6-0 in the event. He won all his matches by either fall or technical fall.
Sergio Vega, who is bound for Oklahoma State, defeated Mustang Wrestling Club’s Gabriel Gallardo — also a four-time state champion at Sahuarita — by fall in 5:48 in the championship match.
Gallardo won two matches by fall, two by major decision and by a 1-0 decision in the semifinals before facing Sergio Vega. Gallardo has also wrestled for Tucson Cyclones Wrestling.
Other wrestlers representing Tucson Cyclones fared well:
Elizabeth Valenzuela Smith, a sophomore who is a two-time state champ at Pueblo, placed second in the 110-pound class of the Junior competition. She won three matches by technical fall before coming up short in 9-1 major decision against Morgan Turner of Lockport, Ill.
Her brother, Jozeph Valenzuela Smith, also a state champion at Pueblo, finished second at 157 pounds.
Che Jenkins, a state champ from Salpointe, finished third at 132 pounds.
Owen Proper, of Marana, was fifth at 138 pounds.
Daniel Guerrero, a two-time state champ at Sahuarita, placed sixth at 132 pounds.
Young wrestling prospect Ernie Perez is in the 120-pound division of the 16U competition. That bracket will be completed Sunday. Perez is competing for a third-place finish.
Recommended for you
