Two Idaho wrestlers win national triple crown. They were the only two in the country
Only two high school wrestlers in the country wrapped up their summer as national triple crown winners, USA Wrestling’s most prestigious honor.
And both hail from Idaho.
Borah incoming senior Aden Attao and Blackfoot incoming junior Mack Mauger both completed their triple crowns with junior freestyle and Greco-Roman titles at the U.S. Marine Corps Junior Nationals in Fargo, North Dakota, last week.
The two championships add to their national folkstyle titles in April, making them just the second and third wrestlers in Idaho history to win a national triple crown. Mauger also won a triple crown last year at the 16-and-under level.
The Idaho duo are just the eighth and ninth wrestlers in the country to win triple crowns in the junior age group (18-and-under) since the triple crown began in 2007, according to USA Wrestling.
“It’s awesome for inspiring the youth wrestlers in Idaho around the state,” said Chris Owens, the director of wrestling operations for Idaho USA Wrestling. “It’s awesome that they can reach the highest level within their own state. It’s also representative of the level of competition within Idaho.”
The triple crown continues a breakout year for Attao. After winning the 5A state title in February, the heavyweight added a gold medal at the U-20 Pan American Games earlier this month. He will also represent the U.S. at the 2022 United World Wrestling Championships in Bulgaria on Aug. 15 to 21.
“My wrestling has evolved so much,” Attao told Flowrestling.org. “My wrestling has just become so good, so much better than it was over the past year, when I got second last year.
“I’m gonna be honest, though, it’s mainly my confidence. Just confidence in my technique, confidence in my training, confidence in my coaches. Confidence and knowing that the things that I do at Suples (Wrestling Club) is going to help me out there, which it obviously has.”
Attao specializes in Greco-Roman, only turning out for the Borah high school team at the start of his junior season. But Owens said he showcased how far he’s come with a freestyle title. He trailed 6-0 in the freestyle finals before rallying for a 9-6 victory.
“That was probably the most exciting match at nationals,” Owens said.
Mauger entered Fargo with a target on his back after winning Idaho’s first triple crown a year ago. But Owens said the 106-pounder never let the pressure get to him.
“He really handled being the favorite really well,” Owens said. “I think he widened the gap from his competition this year. His victories were more decisive.”
Mauger topped a fellow Idahoan, American Falls incoming junior Kolter Burton, in the freestyle finals. That 106-pound bracket included three wrestlers from Idaho, as Nampa’s Dedrick Navarro finished fifth, earning All-American honors.
Mauger’s and Attao’s titles led Idaho to a third-place finish as a state in junior Greco-Roman, a state record. They also helped Idaho finish fourth in junior freestyle, which tied the previous record.
The duo also added to a pair of Idaho national triple crown winners at the youth level. Drake Morrison of Malad won Greco, freestyle and folkstyle nationals titles at the 14-and-under level at 125/130 pounds. Austin Armstrong of Idaho Falls also swept 10-and-under titles at 63/67 pounds.
Idaho All-Americans
The state brought home 21 All-American honors from Fargo, three short of last year’s record of 24.
Boys 16U freestyle
5th - Kolter Burton, 106 pounds, American Falls junior
6th - Hudson Rogers, 170, Meridian junior
Girls 16U freestyle
2nd - Joely Slyter, 94, Lewiston sophomore
Boys 16U Greco-Roman
3rd - Saxton Scott, 94, Bonneville sophomore
4th - Boden Banta, 100, South Fremont sophomore
4th - Hudson Rogers, 170, Meridian junior
5th - Rider Seguine, 94, Post Falls sophomore
Boys junior freestyle
1st - Mack Mauger, 106, Blackfoot junior
1st - Aden Attao, 285, Borah senior
2nd - Kolter Burton, 106, American Falls junior
2nd - Rylan Rogers, 195, Coeur d’Alene grad
5th - Dedrick Navarro, 106, Nampa senior
Girls junior freestyle
3rd - Alyssa Randles, 122, Coeur d’Alene senior
3rd - Liv Wieber, 138, Eagle grad
Boys junior Greco-Roman
1st - Mack Mauger, 106, Blackfoot junior
1st - Aden Attao, 285, Borah senior
2nd - Jadon Skellenger, 160, Suples Wrestling Club
5th - Kolter Burton, 113, American Falls junior
5th - Christopher Martino, 138, Bishop Kelly grad
6th - Shilo Jones, 285, Mountain View junior
7th - Kyle Rice, 132, New Plymouth grad
This story was originally published July 26, 2022 at 2:44 PM.
