ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s birthday isn’t for another three months, but that shouldn’t deter us from celebrating the Old Pueblo and the high-profile athletes the city has produced.
For “520 Day†on Tuesday — May 20 — we’re taking a look at five ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-bred athletes who are impacting their sport of choice, in addition to 20 other athletes/duos who have done the Old Pueblo proud.
One caveat: Our list is limited to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ans, not ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats or local pro athletes who were born and raised elsewhere.
Here’s our list:

Penn State wrestler Roman Bravo-Young, right, answers a question during a news conference at the 2023 NCAA Division I Wrestling National Championships.
The 5
Roman Bravo-Young: Bravo-Young represented Mexico in the Paris Olympic Games last summer. Bravo-Young qualified at the Pan-American Olympic event that features countries from North America (including the Caribbean) and South America. There were just two spots available for each weight class, and Bravo-Young, who has dual citizenship because his grandparents were born in Mexico, secured the final spot for the 125-pound weight class.
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The Olympics were the next milestone in Bravo-Young’s storied wrestling career, which includes four state championships and an unblemished 182-0 record at Sunnyside High School, along with two national championships at Penn State. Bravo-Young lost his opening match in the Olympics to Arsen Harutyunan and didn’t medal.
Earlier this month, Bravo-Young earned a gold medal at the Pan-American Championships.

Coaches Audrey Jimenez, right, and Haille Hernandez demonstrate the move they want about 60 students to work on at Counting Takedowns' week-long wrestling and economics camp at Sunnyside High School, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., June 14, 2022.
Audrey Jimenez: Last year, the Sunnyside wrestler etched her name in the history book when she became the first girl to win an ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ state wrestling championship in the boys division. She won the Division I state championship at 106 pounds and defeated four male competitors. Prior to her historic feat, she won three straight individual titles at the girls level.
Jimenez also competed in the Olympic Trials for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Last spring, the Pima County Board of Supervisors declared April 2 “Audrey Jimenez Day†in Pima County. She recently finished her freshman year at Lehigh University and will be representing Team USA at the U20 World Championships in Bulgaria in August.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥'s Devyn Netz celebrates after securing the final out in the Wildcats' 4-1 victory over GCU in an elimination game in the NCAA Tournament's ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Regional on May 17, 2025, at Hillenbrand Stadium.
Devyn Netz: The Southern California transplant finished her high school career at Ironwood Ridge before her legendary career with the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats. After missing last season due to injuries, Netz became arguably the best two-way college softball player currently playing, which is why she became the eighth UA softball player ever to earn conference Player of the Year honors — the first in the Big 12. In addition to leading ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ softball in home runs, Netz was also the Wildcats’ ace pitcher.

Ohio State safety Lathan Ransom celebrates after their win against Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff national championship game Jan. 20, 2025, in Atlanta.
Lathan Ransom: The former Salpointe Catholic Lancer and Ohio State safety was drafted by the Carolina Panthers at No. 122 overall in the fourth round of the NFL Draft. This year marks the third straight year a ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥an was drafted to the NFL. Last year, the Green Bay Packers drafted former Marana offensive lineman Jordan Morgan in the first round. Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson, Ransom’s teammate at Salpointe Catholic, was drafted eighth overall in the 2023 NFL Draft. In his final season as a Buckeye, Ransom became an All-Big Ten selection and posted a career-high 75 tackles, three forced fumbles and an interception — and led OSU to a national championship.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ native Delaney Schnell of the United States competes in the women’s 10m platform diving prelims at the 2024 Summer Olympics on Aug. 5, in Saint-Denis, France.
Delaney Schnell: The former ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Badger and three-time Pac-12 Diver of the Year competed in her final Olympic games as a member of Team USA. Schnell dove in the 10-meter platform and 10-meter synchronized platform with diving partner Jessica Parratto. After winning a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, Schnell didn’t medal in Paris.

Sunnyside's Angel Bracamontes Pulido (19) makes the sliding stab to poke the ball out of reach of Salpointe's Jose Gutierrez-Pena (10) in the first half of their state open division second round playoff game at Salpointe, Feb. 14, 2025.
Other 20
Angel Bracamontes Pulido: Sunnyside’s quest for a Class 6A state championship fell short in the state quarterfinals, but Bracamontes Pulido ended his high school career as not just one of the top midfielders in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ but nationally. Bracamontes Pulido became ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥’s all-time career leader in total points scored (233), goals (81) and assists (71). Bracamontes Pulido’s 35 assists this past season ranked first in the U.S., per .

Mica Mountain's Nathaniel Bryant (3) forces the turnover on Sabino's punter Eli Valasek (28) following a missed snap in the second quarter of their game at Sabino High School, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Ariz., September 13, 2024.
Nathaniel Bryant: The Mica Mountain defensive back and track star stamped his career at the rising athletic powerhouse in the Vail Unified School District. After helping the Thunderbolts to their first-ever Class 4A football state championship, Bryant won three Division III track and field championships. Bryant won state titles for the 100-meter race (10.84 seconds), long jump (23 feet) and as the anchor on the 4x100 relay team. Bryant is joining the Air Force Academy to play football.

Toronto Argonauts’ Ka’Deem Carey (25) runs the ball during the second half of a CFL game at the 111th Grey Cup in Vancouver, British Columbia, Nov. 17, 2024.
Ka’Deem Carey: In November, the former All-American and Canyon del Oro star led the Toronto Argonauts to their second CFL championship in three seasons — the first for Carey, who spent the previous six seasons with the Calgary Stampeders. Carey, a two-time CFL West All-Star, has 683 rushing attempts for 3,915 yards and 26 touchdowns over his CFL career. This season marked the second time Carey reached over 1,000 yards. Carey was third in the CFL this season with 1,060 yards. Between his career at CDO, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Chicago Bears and the CFL, Carey has rushed for a combined 14,298 yards and 158 touchdowns on 2,076 attempts; he has 18,128 all-purpose yards in that stretch.

Catalina Foothills senior Austin Cohen chases down a drop shot while practicing with ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Herman Hoeyeraal at Himmel Park on April 29.
Austin Cohen: Cohen led Catalina Foothills to its 18th boys tennis state championship and won his second straight individual Division II championship. Cohen held a 30-0 record as an individual player and a 41-1 overall record, according to .

Perth center Amida Brimah, left, sets a pick to trap Denver Nuggets guard Monte Morris as Perth guard Bryce Cotton sets to shoot during the first half of an NBA exhibition basketball game Friday, Oct. 5, 2018, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Bryce Cotton: Cotton received his fifth NBL MVP honor after averaging 28.5 points and 4.6 assists per game for the Perth Wildcats. Cotton is an eight-time scoring champion of the high-end league in Australia. Even though Perth was prepared to make Cotton the highest-paid player in NBL history, the Palo Verde graduate opted not to return to the club after nine seasons. Cotton is currently playing for the Mets de Guaynobo, a professional team in Puerto Rico.

Dominick Cruz speaks with the media during a media day for UFC 207, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, in Las Vegas. Cruz is scheduled to fight Cody Garbrandt in a mixed martial arts bout Saturday in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
Dominick Cruz: The Flowing Wells graduate retired from his UFC and MMA career following a series of shoulder injuries. Cruz was a two-time UFC bantamweight champion and had a 24-4 record as an MMA fighter.

Kendall Freidinger, of Empire High School, pitches in the first inning during a game at Tanque Verde High School on April 21, 2025.
Kendall Freidinger: Empire’s ace pitcher led the Ravens to back-to-back Class 3A state championships. In the 1-0 win over Yuma Catholic in the state title game, Freidinger pitched a complete game in eight innings with 16 strikeouts and a walk. Freidinger’s .

Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey celebrates a last second win with teammates during a game against Illinois on Dec. 14, 2024, in Champaign, IL.
Jordan Gainey: Gainey averaged 11.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game as a reserve guard for the Tennessee Volunteers this season. The Salpointe product scored 17 points in the Elite Eight loss to Houston.

Pittsburgh’s Nick Gonzales hits a two-run home run off Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler during the third inning of the Pirates’ matchup with the Dodgers in Pittsburgh.
Nick Gonzales: The Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman ended the 2024 season with a career-high in at-bats (359), runs (97), hits (97), home runs (7) and RBIs (49).

Salpointe’s Leo Gutierrez signals a teammate after a give-and-go went awry in the first half against Sunnyside in the state’s Open Division second-round playoff game at Salpointe High School on Feb. 14.
Leo Gutierrez: Gutierrez, who led the nation in goals (62) and assists (16), leaves Salpointe as arguably the best soccer player in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ history. Gutierrez, who was named the MaxPreps National Player of the Year, owns the state record with 173 career goals.
Lacey Kaufman: Salpointe’s sophomore tennis standout went 19-3 overall and won a Division II girls tennis state championship as an individual.

Green Bay Packers offensive lineman Jordan Morgan rides a bike to training camp July 22, in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
Jordan Morgan: The Green Bay Packers rookie offensive lineman and 25th overall pick played 196 offensive snaps last season, mostly at right guard.
Vikram Nerendran: The Rincon/University tennis star won his second consecutive Division I individual state championship.

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) celebrates after an NFL football game against the New York Giants in Atlanta, Sunday, Dec. 22, 2024.
Bijan Robinson: The Atlanta Falcons running back finished the 2024 season third — behind Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry — in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns. Robinson led the NFL in missed tackles forced (117) and was third in yards after contact (728), according to Robinson became the first ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥an to receive Pro Bowl honors since former Amphi receiver and returner Michael Bates (Carolina Panthers) in 2000.

A star on offense and defense, Marana’s Dezmen Roebuck jumps for joy after making the game-icing interception in the final seconds of the Tigers’ win over Salpointe Catholic on Aug. 30, 2024, in Marana.
Dezmen Roebuck: The Marana wide receiver became the first ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥an to win the Ed Doherty Award (ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Heisman Trophy) since Robinson in 2019. Roebuck was also named Gatorade Player of the Year in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and MaxPreps Player of the Year in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. The Washington-bound Roebuck led the Tigers to the program’s first-ever spot in the Open Division and set a state record with 352 career receptions for 4,239 yards and 40 touchdowns over four seasons.

Daesiah Varner works on a move with her teammate Mya Williams during wrestling practice at Cienega High School on Jan. 31, 2025.
Daesiah Varner: Varner won her second state championship in as many years at Cienega. The sophomore won the 235-pound girls state championship in February. In two seasons at Cienega, Varner has yet to lose in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and only has one loss on her record.

New York Yankees’ Alex Verdugo celebrates after hitting a RBI single against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fifth inning in Game 5 of the World Series, Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024, in New York.
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the rival New York Yankees, where he got to play against his former team, the L.A. Dodgers, in the World Series. The left fielder and former Sahuaro Cougar tied his career-high with 13 home runs and 61 RBIs last season. Verdugo, who is now with the Atlanta Braves, struck out in the final at-bat of the World Series.

Sergio Vega, right, spars with Adyn Bostick during wresting practice at Sunnyside High School. Vega is ranked No. 1 in the 138-pound weight class and No. 11 in the pound-for-pound class in the United States.
Sergio Vega/Carlos Stanton: Sunnyside’s star wrestling tandem led the Blue Devils to their 38th wrestling state championship. Both Vega (Oklahoma State) and Stanton (Iowa State), who ended their careers with four state championships, are the latest Division I college wrestlers from the renowned Sunnyside pipeline.

ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Mason White (24) comes to the dugout after slashing his second three-run homer against Utah in the ninth inning of their Big 12 game May 9, at Hi Corbett Field.
Mason White: The Salpointe baseball star moved to third place in career home runs (42) at the UA this season, passing Chase Davis. White trails Brad Glenn (43) and Shelley Duncan (55).

Trayvion White-Austin competes for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ at the Willie Williams Classic at Roy P. Drachman Stadium in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ on March 23.
Trayvion White-Austin: In his last season as a sprinter for UA track, the Sahuaro product became the Big 12 200-meter indoor champion and second-team All-American at the indoor level. He also owns ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s 100-meter outdoor record.
Contact Justin Spears, the Star’s ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ football beat reporter, at jspears@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @JustinESports