2014-15 wrestler of the year: Danny Vega, Ironwood Ridge. Photo by Ron Medvescek / Arizona Daily Star
Wrestler of the year
Name: Danny Vega
School: Ironwood Ridge
Year in school: Junior
Sport: Wrestling
What he did: The 113-pound junior went 34-0 and repeated as a Division I state champion. Vega, who captured the 106-pound crown as a sophomore, pinned his way to the finals at the state meet and finished off his season by pinning Tucson High's Joseph Delorme in the third period of their title match for his 18th pin of the season. Vega has won 77 straight bouts, with all but three of victories coming by pin or tech fall in that stretch – the remainder were major decisions, wins by eight points of more. He was named most outstanding wrestler at the Las Cruces Invitational, the Las Vegas Holiday Classic and the Flowing Wells Invitational.
Top performance: Vega pinned his first two opponents at the Flowing Wells Invitational and won by tech falls over the next three to win at one of the biggest at most prestigious meets of the season. He was also named the tournament's most outstanding wrestler over undefeated counterparts Roman Bravo-Young of Sunnyside and Travis Howard of Marana.
What's next: Vega will be back with the Nighthawks next winter, trying to win his third straight state championship. Before that, Vega can defend his triple crown this summer by winning the Greico-Roman and free style titles at the Junior and Cadet National Championships this summer. He was Arizona's first wrestler to accomplish the feat when he did it last year and kicked off his quest for a repeat last week by winning a folkstyle national championship in Iowa. Oklahoma State and Missouri have shown interest in Vega, I-Ridge coach Tim Berrier said, but he still remains undecided on where he'll wrestle after next year.
Runner-up: Roman Bravo-Young, Sunnyside. The 106-pound freshman turned in an unreal first season by going 43-0 and winning a Division I state championship. It was the first of likely four straight state titles for one of the nation's best wrestlers and a teammate of Vega's with the Tucson Cyclones.
