Idaho state wrestling tournament: 20 wrestlers to watch, four stories to follow
More than 1,000 high school wrestlers will descend upon Pocatello’s Holt Arena this weekend as Idaho crowns its state champions.
The tournament starts Friday morning, with the semifinals following at 8:30 a.m. Saturday and the finals planned for 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
We’ve sorted through the full tournament field to bring you the top Boise-area wrestlers to watch and four storylines to keep an eye on.
TOP WRESTLERS TO WATCH
Joshua Mendoza, Timberline (5A 120)
The senior became the first undefeated wrestler in program history last year with a 113-pound state title. He’s faced tougher challenges this year, entering 28-7. But the No. 1 seed can further etch his name into Timberline history as the first two-time state champ.
Tanner Frothinger, Eagle (5A 126)
The junior (42-5) could become the Mustangs’ first three-time state champ since Jaron Hathaway in 2008. He fell once to Kuna’s Zanlen White, the No. 2 seed in his bracket. But he beat him twice to close the year, including a 7-6 decision for the district title.
Jason Mara, Meridian (5A 138)
He followed a banner freshman season with a dominating sophomore campaign. The reigning state champ rolled to a 41-2 record and a No. 1 seed. A reigning folkstyle national champ, he’s poised for a decorated high school career.
Cade White, Meridian (5A 145)
The Oregon State commit and two-time state champ found tougher sledding this year, and enters state at 39-6. But the junior still remains the heavy favorite to have his arm hoisted Saturday evening to take the next step toward becoming Meridian’s first four-time state champ.
Cael Palmer, Kuna (5A 160)
The senior (24-2) returns to defend his 160-pound championship after going 45-1 a year ago. His only two losses came at Rollie Lane. Since then, he’s won every match and the Tiger-Grizz, Red Halverson and district tournament titles.
Aden Attao, Borah (5A 285)
A runner-up finisher at the Reno Tournament of Champions, his only in-state loss came in double overtime to Columbia’s Nico Rodriguez in the Rollie Lane finals. He’s the No. 2 seed in his first appearance at the Idaho state tournament.
Dedrick Navarro, Nampa (4A 106)
One of the state’s top rivalries features Navarro (41-2) and Blackfoot’s Mack Mauger (32-0). The Nampa junior’s only two losses this year came to Mauger, and he’s 1-4 vs. him in his high school career. The two are on a collision course to meet again in the finals.
Matthew Martino, Bishop Kelly (4A 113)
All the records set by his older brother, Christopher Martino, may soon fall at his hands. The freshman (33-3) already has a Rollie Lane title under his belt. And he was a folkstyle national champ before stepping on a high school mat.
Simon Luna, Nampa (4A 113)
The junior (33-4) has made the finals every year of his career so far, including a 113-pound championship last season. But he’s the No. 2 seed to Matthew Martino after a 0-2 performance against him this season, including decisions of 2-1 and 11-1.
Carson Exferd, Nampa (4A 120)
The sophomore followed up an undefeated freshman campaign with a 24-1 record this season, making him 60-1 for his young career. He racked up bonus points in every state match last year. Doing so again will be key for Nampa’s state title hunt.
Simon Graeber, Columbia (4A 126)
A state title has eluded the senior (35-6) so far with two runner-up finishes and a third-place medal. This could finally be the year, as he’s the top seed at 126. He’s 2-1 against his top challenger, Caldwell’s Aidan Go, whom he beat 15-7 for the district title.
Christopher Martino, Bishop Kelly (4A 132)
The Princeton commit and most decorated Bishop Kelly wrestler ever aims to etch his name into Idaho history with a fourth state title. He’s 152-7 throughout his career, including 38-3 this winter, with all three losses coming at a prestigious tournament in Ohio.
Hunter Bidelman, Caldwell (4A 138)
A two-time state finalist, the junior (22-1) seeks his second state title after falling to Christopher Martino in overtime in last year’s 126-pound finals. His top challenger is Blackfoot’s Luke Moore, whom he beat 7-5 in December.
Nico Rodriguez, Columbia (4A 285)
A two-time 220-pound state champ, the senior moved up to the heavyweight division and hasn’t slowed down. Rodriguez (27-2) won every Idaho tournament he’s entered, including Rollie Lane, Tiger-Grizz and Weiser. His only losses came at the Reno Tournament of Champions.
Kyle Rice, New Plymouth (2A 138)
The senior seeks to join his brother, Joe Rice, as a four-time state champ. He remains one of the state’s best pound-for-pound wrestlers, with a 40-3 record. Those three losses came to Christopher Martino (once) and Mara (twice).
Joel Campbell, New Plymouth (2A 152)
A three-time state champ normally enters as the No. 1 seed. But Campbell (55-2) is the No. 2 seed to Malad’s Austin Nalder (43-2) after an overtime loss to him at the Magic Valley Classic. He should get a chance at revenge in the finals.
Trent Myers, New Plymouth (2A 160)
On a team with two potential four-time state champs, Myers (41-3) often goes overlooked. But the senior stands as the heavy favorite for his third consecutive state title. He won every tournament he entered except for Rollie Lane, where he finished fourth.
Liv Wieber, Eagle (girls 132)
The senior has lost to one girl this season. And that was to Coeur d’Alene’s Alyssa Randles, the top seed at 126. Wieber (33-4) has made quick work of everyone else, scoring 28 of her 31 pins in the first round.
Marissa Jimenez, Caldwell (girls 138)
She’s the only undefeated girl in the state, and FloWrestling ranks her as the third-best 132-pounder in the nation. Jimenez (31-0) moved up to 138 looking for a challenge. She hasn’t found much of one, racking up 23 pins, including 15 in the first round.
Mia Furman, Rocky Mountain (girls 138)
The junior (23-4) and two-time Rollie Lane champ stands as Jimenez’s top competitor, and they should deliver one of the tournament’s top matchups. After getting pinned by Jimenez at Jaybird in January, she pushed her to a 16-10 decision last week for the district title.
TOP STORYLINES
Idaho’s first girls state tournament: After years of being pushed, Idaho will crown its first official girls wrestling state champions this week.
The field features 80 girls competing in 10 weight classes and a single classification. Idaho planned to use eight weight classes, but a boost in turnout convinced the state to add two more before the season started in December, IHSAA Executive Director Ty Jones said.
The state saw 388 girls complete their weight certifications this season, up from around 250 each of the past two years. That’s in comparison to the 3,141 boys who went through weight certification this year.
Eagle enters as the favorite for the team title after winning the District Three championship last week and the final unofficial state meet last year. The Mustangs bring a state-leading six qualifiers to the tournament, including the No. 1 seeds at 132 pounds (Wieber), 182 pounds (Reece Woods, 15-3) and in the heavyweight division (Olivia Woods, 19-2).
Idaho girls previously had to compete against boys at the state tournament. Only three ever placed, including Moscow junior Skyla Zimmerman, who finished sixth in 4A’s 106-pound division last year. She’s the top girls seed at 113 pounds this year.
Meridian eyes repeat: The Warriors rolled to their first state title in 33 years last season and even threatened a 5A state tournament scoring record. That kind of dominating performance remains a long shot, but Meridian enters as the heavy favorite to bring home another title.
The Warriors send 24 wrestlers to state, the most in any classification for the second straight year. That includes three No. 1 seeds — Mara (138), White (145) and Brodyn Sunada (152) — as well as three No. 2 seeds: Jerimiah Gonzalez (106), Isaiah Twait (170) and Carson Gooley (195).
That top-level talent combined with Meridian’s depth makes it a threat to rack up points all over the tournament.
Post Falls, with 20 qualifiers and three team championships in the past four years, stands as the top challenger.
Can Nampa break through? Last year, the Bulldogs fell two points shy of their first state title in any sport since 1993. They return eight state placers and bring 17 wrestlers to Pocatello seeking to finally break that streak.
Like Meridian, Nampa will rely on its top-level wrestlers to hang plenty of points on the scoresheet. The Bulldogs have two No. 1 seeds — Exferd (120) and Payton Gunter (220) — as well as three No. 2 seeds: Navarro (106), Luna (113) and Nikko Gonzalez (132).
But Minico (23 qualifiers) and reigning state champ Jerome (18 qualifiers) field deeper rosters, meaning the Bulldogs can’t just rely on overwhelming numbers.
Last ride for New Plymouth coach: Caleb Campbell led the Pilgrims to their first state title last year. He plans to hang up his whistle after the last high school tournament for his youngest son, Joel Campbell.
New Plymouth figures to give him one last shot at another championship banner. The Pilgrims lead the 2A ranks with 17 state qualifiers, and four of those are reigning state champs. And three of them enter as the No. 1 seed.
This story was originally published February 23, 2022 at 4:23 PM.
