Sunnyside Alum Audrey Jimenez Earns First National Championship with Lehigh

Jimenez, a sophomore, wins 110-pound title at inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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Audrey Jimenez, a former standout wrestler at Sunnyside High School in Arizona, has won her first national championship at the collegiate level. Jimenez, now a sophomore at Lehigh University, claimed the 110-pound title at the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships in Coralville, Iowa, defeating Grand Valley State's Sage Mortimer by fall in 1:10.

Why it matters

Jimenez's victory is a significant accomplishment, not only for her personal success but also for the growth and recognition of women's wrestling at the collegiate level. As a high school wrestler, Jimenez made history by becoming the first Arizona girl to win a state wrestling title against boys, and her continued dominance at the collegiate level further highlights the talent and potential of female wrestlers.

The details

Jimenez, who was the No. 1 seed in the tournament, defeated Mortimer, the No. 2 seed, in the championship match. Prior to the final, Jimenez won her semifinal match by technical fall over Iowa's Nyla Valencia. Jimenez's path to the national title included a previous victory over Mortimer at the 2024 U.S. Olympic trials, where she secured a 10-6 win.

  • Jimenez won four state championships with Sunnyside High School in her historic career.
  • Jimenez was a three-time Arizona girls state champion and a one-time boys state champion at Sunnyside.
  • Jimenez was a two-time U17 World Championships team member, winning a bronze medal in 2021, and a two-time U20 World Championships team member, earning silver medals in 2022 and 2023.
  • Jimenez won a silver medal at the U23 World Championships in 2023 and a bronze medal at the Pan-American Championships in 2024.
  • The NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships took place on March 8, 2026 in Coralville, Iowa.

The players

Audrey Jimenez

A sophomore wrestler at Lehigh University who won the 110-pound title at the inaugural NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships. Jimenez was a standout wrestler at Sunnyside High School in Arizona, where she became the first girl to win a state wrestling title against boys.

Sage Mortimer

A wrestler from Grand Valley State University who was the No. 2 seed in the 110-pound championship match at the NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships, where she lost to Audrey Jimenez by fall.

Nyla Valencia

A wrestler from the University of Iowa who faced Audrey Jimenez in the semifinal match of the NCAA Women's Wrestling Championships, where Jimenez won by technical fall.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Audrey Jimenez's national championship victory at the collegiate level is a testament to her exceptional wrestling skills and the growing recognition of women's wrestling in the United States. Her historic achievements, both in high school and now at the NCAA level, serve as an inspiration for aspiring female wrestlers and highlight the progress being made in promoting gender equity in the sport.