Sunnyside graduate Sergio Vega of Oklahoma State made history Saturday by becoming the first freshman since 1947 to go unbeaten with a national title after his 4-1 decision in overtime over two-time defending 141-pound champion Jesse Mendez in the NCAA wrestling championships at Cleveland.
Vega (24-0) also did not allow a takedown all season despite his young age.
The match with Mendez was a stalemate through three rounds with each scoring a point with an escape.
Close to a minute into overtime, Vega successfully executed a takedown of Mendez to earn the sudden victory.
BREAKING: @SSBDwrestling great Sergio Vega is the first true freshman to go unbeaten (24-0) with a national title since 1947!
Vega of Oklahoma State defeated two-time defending NCAA champion at 141 pounds, Ohio State senior Jesse Mendez, with a 4-1 decision in overtime. His dad… pic.twitter.com/5Fj2iwZXAC— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 21, 2026
“You just got to dig deep,” Vega told ESPN postmatch, including after he celebrated with his dad Danny Vega and brother Danny. “I was tired that entire match, but I’ve done hard things all season.
“Since I got to Oklahoma State, (redshirt junior) Casey Swiderski (149 pounds), has helped me so much like all my teammates. But Casey, he got me ready for this moment, and I wouldn’t be here without him.”
Vega said of his father Danny, a three-time state champ at Sunnyside who now owns Cyclones Wrestling and Fitness: “He means so much in my life. I lost so much and he never gave up on me, him or my brother (also a three-time titlist at Ironwood Ridge). It means so much to do it for them.”
SERGIO VEGA!! The undefeated true freshman takes out 2x NCAA champ Jesse Mendez for his first NCAA title!#NCAAs coverage presented by @CKAwrestling pic.twitter.com/DC6O51UUeY
— FloWrestling (@FloWrestling) March 21, 2026
Vega is the third local wrestler to win a national championship, joining fellow Sunnyside graduate Audrey Jimenez and Mountain View alum Lillian Gradillas-Flores.
Jimenez completed a 23-0 record in her first full season of competition at Lehigh with a NCAA title at 110 pounds.
Gradillas-Flores won the NAIA championship in the 207-pound division competing for Southern Oregon. She also was unbeaten at 21-0.
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