2021-22 Wrestling Roster
Sonny Santiago
- Weight:
- 165
- Class:
- Redshirt Freshman
- Hometown:
- Downey, Calif.
- High School:
- St. John Bosco
2024-25: Competed at 157 pounds during fifth season as a Tar Heel • Collected 11 wins during the year • Began the year with three wins at the Southeast Open (11/2) • Opened the dual schedule with back-to-back victories against Drexel and Navy (11/9) • Secured a decision versus Illinois' 20th-ranked Jason Kraisser (11/25) • Collected a technical fall over Duke's Logan Ferrero (1/17) • Ended the regular season with two-consecutive wins over Virginia (2/14) and Stanford (2/21) • Represented the Tar Heels at the 2025 ACC Championships at Duke (3/9) • Earned two wins at the conference tournament, finishing third-place at 157 pounds • Collected the No. 25 seed at the 2025 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia • Went 0-2 at the national tournament
2023-24: Competed at 157 pounds during fourth season in Chapel Hill • Secured 14 victories throughout the year • Had a first period fall over Queens' Suhaib Hatamleh at the Carolina Duals (11/2) • Recorded a major decision over Arizona State's Michael Kilic at WrangleMania (11/11) • Had three major decisions, a fall and decision on way to finishing fourth at Soldier Salute (12/29) • Collected first home dual victory of the year over Brown's Blake Saito (1/13) • Had a sudden victory decision over NC State's No. 6 Ed Scott • Nmaed ACC Wrestler of the Week for first time in career (2/6) • Finished the regular season with three-straight ACC dual victories • Earned the No. 1 seed entering the 2024 ACC Championships • Defeated Pitt's Jared Keslar in the opening round of the ACC Championships en route to a runner-up finish (3/10) • Earned the No. 27 overall seed entering the 2024 NCAA Championships in Kansas City • Went 0-2 in first appearance at the national tournament
2022-23: Competed for the Tar Heels at 157 pounds • Finished the year 9-1 • Collected three decisions on his way to the 157 pound title at the Southeast Open (11/5) • Added five wins at the Reno Tournament of Champions (12/18)
2021-22: Compiled a 9-12 overall record and 3-6 dual record at 165 pounds for the Tar Heels • Earned his first victory of the year against Ashton Habeil from Life University • Picked up three wins to finish third at the Wolfpack Wrestling Club Open • Defeated Duke’s Gabe Dinette for his first ACC dual win • Earned two wins at the Appalachian Open • Qualified and competed at ACC Championships
2020-21: Garnered a 4-1 record for Tar Heels at 149 pounds • Earned his first career win of the season on Jan. 22 with a 6-4 decision over Brandon LaRue and a 5-4 decision over Bryson Neace of Duke • Collected his third win of the season on Feb. 5 with a 3-1 decision over Dallas Bulsak of Pitt • Ended the season with an 18-8 major decision over Lehigh's Tyler Sung
Personal/Prep: Sonny Santiago is the son of Chanai and Eddie Santiago • Born on April 24, 2001 in Downey, California • Coached by Jeff Anderson at St. John Bosco High School • 2019 California state champion • Three-time state placer • Four-time CIF individual champion • Four-time Dream Team Member in Bellflower • Three-time Scholar Athlete of the Year at St. John Bosco • Multiple-time honor roll member
| Year | Overall | Dual | ACC | MD | TF | Fall |
| 20-21 | 4-1 | 1-0 | 1-0 | 1 | - | - |
| 21-22 | 9-12 | 3-6 | 1-1 | - | - | 1 |
| 22-23 | 9-1 | - | - | - | - | - |
| 23-24 | 14-10 | 8-5 | 4-1 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 24-25 | 11-9 | 6-5 | 3-3 | 1 | 1 | - |
| Career | 47-33 | 18-16 | 9-5 | 6 | 2 | 3 |
