Oklahoma State University Athletics
Vega Earns Hammer Award From Amateur Wrestling News
March 30, 2026 | Cowboy Wrestling
STILLWATER – Oklahoma State's 141-pound national champion Sergio Vega earned the 2026 Hammer Award, announced this week by Amateur Wrestling news.
The award is presented to the wrestler who wins the national title at what the writers at AWN determine to be the NCAA's most competitive weight class. Vega is the third Oklahoma State wrestler to win the award, after 174-pounder Dean Hamiti Jr. won last season and Alex Dieringer won in 2016.
The 141-pound weight class at this season's NCAA Championships included All-Americans Jesse Mendez, Brock Hardy, Nassir Bailey, Luke Stanich, Anthony Echemendia, Vance Vombar, CJ Composto and Braeden Davis.
Vega claimed his title against the two-time reigning NCAA champion Jesse Mendez, 4-1, in sudden victory. En route to his national title, Vega toppled All-Americans Nasir Bailey of Iowa and Nebraska's Brock Hardy.
Vega completed a flawless 24-0 season, in which he did not surrender a single takedown. Additionally, Vega and teammate Jax Forrest became the first undefeated true freshman national champions since 1947.
Oklahoma State leads Hammer Award recipients with three and is the only team to have wrestlers win it two years in a row. Last season's winner was Hamiti and Dieringer was the second recipient in the award's eleven-year history.
The award is presented to the wrestler who wins the national title at what the writers at AWN determine to be the NCAA's most competitive weight class. Vega is the third Oklahoma State wrestler to win the award, after 174-pounder Dean Hamiti Jr. won last season and Alex Dieringer won in 2016.
The 141-pound weight class at this season's NCAA Championships included All-Americans Jesse Mendez, Brock Hardy, Nassir Bailey, Luke Stanich, Anthony Echemendia, Vance Vombar, CJ Composto and Braeden Davis.
Vega claimed his title against the two-time reigning NCAA champion Jesse Mendez, 4-1, in sudden victory. En route to his national title, Vega toppled All-Americans Nasir Bailey of Iowa and Nebraska's Brock Hardy.
Vega completed a flawless 24-0 season, in which he did not surrender a single takedown. Additionally, Vega and teammate Jax Forrest became the first undefeated true freshman national champions since 1947.
Oklahoma State leads Hammer Award recipients with three and is the only team to have wrestlers win it two years in a row. Last season's winner was Hamiti and Dieringer was the second recipient in the award's eleven-year history.
Players Mentioned
Title Talk | Sergio Vega Breaks Down His NCAA Championship Win vs. 2x Champ Jesse Mendez (141 lbs)
Monday, March 30
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Friday, March 27
Title Talk | Jax Forrest Breaks Down His 2026 NCAA Championship Win vs. Ben Davino (133 lbs)
Friday, March 27
Cowboy Basketball Media Availability | Oklahoma State Postgame vs. Wichita State (03-22-2026)
Monday, March 23
