Sergio Vega named WIN’s Junior Schalles Award recipient

Editor’s Note: WIN’s recently published Volume 31 Issue 9, the Annual Awards Issue, is available for immediate digital access to subscribers. Subscribe here (Print/Digital/Combo). WIN will announce the remaining award winners over the course of this week. Photo by Sam Janicki.

By Tristan Warner

Few high school wrestlers in the United States had a more eye-opening summer and fall resume of high-level wrestling accomplishments heading into the 2024-25 season than Sergio Vega.

The Tucson, Ariz. native, who won four state titles for Sunnyside High School, preceded his senior campaign by dominating the field in Fargo, tech-falling five of seven opponents to win a Junior freestyle title. He breezed to a dominant victory at FloWrestling’s “Who’s Number One?” event. Then in October, the future Oklahoma State Cowboy steamrolled through his Super 32 Challenge bracket, earning bonus-point victories in six of seven bouts.

Vega kept the momentum rolling throughout the scholastic season, compiling a 31-1 record with 22 falls, which included pins in the state semifinals and finals.

The No. 2 ranked 144-pounder in the nation won the prestigious Doc Buchanan tournament and secured a fall over No. 8 (at 138) Jesse Grajeda of St. John Bosco (Calif.) in the finals. His third-place finish at the Ironman tournament at 138 pounds included a fall over No. 8 Sam Herring of Bishop McCort (Pa.) in the third-place bout. Vega’s only loss of the season came at the hands of No. 1 Seth Mendoza of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago in the Ironman semis.

For his prolific pinning pedigree over the course of his senior season, Vega is now being recognized as the 2024-25 Junior Schalles Award recipient as the nation’s top high school pinner.

The Junior Schalles Award, which is given annually to the nation’s best high school pinner, is named after Wade Schalles, who set the college pin record at Clarion (Pa.) State where he also won two NCAA championships (1972-73). During his career, Schalles defeated 153 of 159 opponents and pinned 109.

“It is awesome,” Vega said. “Every time I go on the mat, I always think pin because I like slapping cradles, and it is the easiest way to get off the mat.”

“Any time that there is time on the clock, there is time to win. Win by points, tech, or pin, it doesn’t matter; I always fight hard for every position. I am looking to get a pin from every position.”

Schalles, who was named a Distinguished Member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame in 1991, commented, “Long, lean, unorthodox, and tenacious. Sergio is every coach’s dream. How do you wrestle and survive someone who’s unpredictable? The answer is, this past season, 68% of his opponents didn’t go the distance. For the rest of his opponents, they often wondered if lasting the entire match was in their best interest. My congratulations to Sergio. Welcome to a very special club.”

Vega’s high school coach, Anthony Leon, was thrilled to learn of his middleweight prodigy’s latest accolade.

“What an incredible honor,” Leon said. “As someone who knows the legend of Wade Schalles, the award is in good hands. If you truly open up and wrestle Sergio, your fate is likely going to be getting pinned.

“He makes you work really hard in the first exchange of the match, which benefits him later on. He has great cardio and melts a lot of guys. That is the reason he pins a lot of guys late in the match. He wears them down.

“He is an extremely hard worker and a real student of the sport. He’ll find different ways to crack the nut and evolve over his career. He is never content to hold on to a win and is always looking to score points and pin their shoulders to the mat.”

In addition to Leon, Vega credited his father, Danny, Sr., and older brother, Danny, Jr., for paving the way for his success. Both his father and brother won three state titles apiece, and Danny Jr., won a Fargo title as younger Sergio was coming up through the ranks.

“My brother is a huge part of my success. He made me enjoy the sport and wanted to see me get better. My dad was able to lean back and enjoy me wrestling but still gets in my corner. Coach Leon, I could trust him and relate to him. He has a great training system.”

The younger Vega, who is thrilled to become an Oklahoma State Cowboy next fall, plans to take the mindset and training tactics that got him to this level with him to Stillwater.

“I always am open to being in weird positions, and I don’t give up points easy. The way I practice is the way I compete; don’t give up anything easy. I always like to be three steps ahead.”