Local College Athletes Earn Championships

Sergio Vega and Carter Dooling add to list of Tucson-area champions

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Former Sunnyside wrestling standout Sergio Vega won the Big 12 championship in the 141-pound division, while ex-Ironwood Ridge swimmer Carter Dooling posted his second NCAA cut time at a last-chance meet. Several other Tucson-area athletes also won college championships in wrestling and swimming.

Why it matters

The success of these local athletes highlights the strength of Tucson's high school sports programs and their ability to produce top collegiate talent across multiple sports. It also demonstrates the continued growth and competitiveness of college athletics in the region.

The details

Vega, who wrestles for Oklahoma State, defeated his former Sunnyside teammate Anthony Echemendia 2-1 in a ride-out match to claim the Big 12 title at 141 pounds. Meanwhile, GCU senior Carter Dooling, a former standout at Ironwood Ridge, posted an NCAA qualifying time of 52.37 seconds in the 100 Breast at a last-chance meet, adding to his previous NCAA cut in the 200 Breast. Several other Tucson-area athletes also won college championships, including Audrey Jimenez (Sunnyside/Lehigh) in NCAA wrestling, Lillian Gradillas-Flores (Mountain View/Southern Oregon) in Cascade Conference wrestling, and Dylan Arvayo (Mountain View/Colorado Springs) in RMAC indoor heptathlon.

  • Sergio Vega won the Big 12 championship on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
  • Carter Dooling posted his second NCAA cut time on Saturday, March 7, 2026.

The players

Sergio Vega

A former wrestling standout at Sunnyside High School who now competes for Oklahoma State University, where he won the Big 12 championship in the 141-pound division.

Carter Dooling

A former swimming standout at Ironwood Ridge High School who now competes for Grand Canyon University, where he posted an NCAA qualifying time in the 100 Breast and previously qualified in the 200 Breast.

Audrey Jimenez

A wrestler from Sunnyside High School who won the NCAA national championship while competing for Lehigh University.

Lillian Gradillas-Flores

A wrestler from Mountain View High School who won the Cascade Conference championship while competing for Southern Oregon University.

Dylan Arvayo

A track and field athlete from Mountain View High School who won the RMAC indoor heptathlon championship while competing for the University of Colorado Springs.

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What they’re saying

“Sergio has worked so hard to get to this point, and I'm thrilled to see him win the Big 12 title. He's really put Tucson wrestling on the map.”

— Anthony Echemendia, Former Teammate (allsportstucson.com)

“Making those NCAA cuts is a huge accomplishment. Carter has been a standout for us all four years, and we're excited to see him compete at the national level.”

— GCU Swim Coach (allsportstucson.com)

What’s next

Vega and the other Tucson-area champions will now prepare for their respective national championship tournaments, while Dooling will compete at the NCAA Swimming & Diving Championships in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The success of these local athletes demonstrates the strength and depth of Tucson's high school sports programs, which continue to produce top collegiate talent across multiple sports. Their achievements highlight the growing competitiveness of college athletics in the region and the city's reputation as a hotbed for developing elite student-athletes.