25 wrestlers, 5 teams to beat at Idaho state wrestling tournament this week
Idaho crowns its wrestling state champions this weekend at the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa. And the event expands to three days to accommodate the sport’s growing numbers.
The tournaments start Thursday before advancing to the semifinals Friday and the championship round at 2 p.m. Saturday.
We broke down the tournament field in all classifications to bring you the teams to beat and the top Boise-area wrestlers to watch.
TOP WRESTLERS TO WATCH
Dedrick Navarro, Nampa (5A 120)
The senior (40-8) with multiple Division I offers has made the state finals every year of his career, but his last title came as a freshman. He’ll need to knock off a two-time defending champ in Thunder Ridge’s Talen Eck (43-5) to climb back atop the podium.
Cole Currin, Kuna 5A (126)
A two-time state runner-up, the junior (36-10) searches for that elusive state championship. He enters as the No. 2 seed to Lewiston’s Hoyt Hvass, a defending champ.
Carson Exferd, Nampa (5A 132)
The junior started the season with just one loss in his high school career. But don’t be fooled by his 39-7 record this year. All seven losses came at elite, out-of-state tournaments. He’s yet to lose to an Idaho opponent in three years.
Tanner Frothinger, Eagle (5A 138)
The Nebraska signee (35-1) is one of just three wrestlers with an opportunity to become a four-time state champ this weekend, and the only one at the 5A level. Only one other Eagle wrestler has ever accomplished that feat.
Jason Mara, Meridian (5A 152)
The Warriors have never had a four-time state champ. The junior (48-4) still has two more years to go. But the Stanford commit and 2021 national folkstyle champ has all the tools to bring back another title and put himself in position for next year.
Cade White, Meridian (5A 160)
A surprise pin in last year’s state finals cost the Oregon State signee a chance at a four-peat this year. But White (37-5) has bounced back with a vengeance and remains the heavy favorite to become Meridian’s first three-time champ since Tanner Hall in 2011.
Isaiah Twait, Meridian (5A 182)
The senior (41-4) has come oh-so-close to a title, finishing second last year and third as a freshman and sophomore. But this appears to be his year. He won his first Rollie Lane title in January and enters as the No. 1 seed.
Carson Gooley, Meridian (5A 195)
The senior (40-6) and defending state runner-up provides the Warriors with their fourth No. 1 seed. He’ll look to get revenge on No. 2 Gentry Smith from Post Falls, who pinned Gooley in the Rollie Lane finals.
Aden Attao, Borah (5A 285)
The Oregon State signee and reigning national triple crown winner enters undefeated (32-0) and hasn’t surrendered a single offensive point all season. The senior can write his name in the record books with back-to-back titles.
Matthew Martino, Bishop Kelly (4A 126)
The sky remains the limit for the sophomore (39-3), already a two-time Rollie Lane champ. His older brother, Christopher Martino, became a four-time state champ last year. All signs point to Matthew continuing the tradition.
Manuel Valdez, Bishop Kelly (4A 138)
After taking third as a freshman, the junior (39-4) did not place last year. He’s made up for that with an impressive season that includes titles at Red Halverson and Muilenburg to earn the No. 1 seed.
Hunter Bidelman, Caldwell (4A 145)
The undefeated senior (44-0) has made the championship round every year of his career, capturing two state titles. A third this weekend would make him just the second three-time champ in Caldwell history.
Jadon Skellenger, Bishop Kelly (4A 152)
The former national and world Greco champ has made a splash in his first high school season. He enters state undefeated (40-0) and leads the most decorated Bishop Kelly team in program history.
Nakoa Fouret, Columbia (4A 170)
The senior (24-3) and defending 160 state champ moved up a weight class. Injuries cost him a shot at No. 2 seed Kyson Anderson of Minico twice this season. If all holds up, they’ll finally get to meet for a state title.
Miguel Perez, Caldwell (4A 285)
The senior (32-3) has taken home the third-place medal from each of the previous three years. But he enters as the top seed and favorite to end that streak this weekend.
Ezra Clemens, Fruitland (3A 132)
The senior (39-6) returned to the mat this season and hasn’t missed a beat, earning the No. 1 seed again. But the 2020 state champ’s and 2021 state runner-up’s toughest competition may come from his own conference.
Tyler Feeley, Payette (3A 132)
The junior (30-3) and Clemens have battled for supremacy all season long. Clemens holds a 2-1 edge in the head-to-head matchup, including a 4-2 decision for the district title. But Feeley has the most impressive accomplishment — a Rollie Lane title.
Kaden MacKenzie, Fruitland (3A 145)
After taking second at 126 pounds last year, the sophomore (22-1) jumped three weight classes. But the move hasn’t slowed him down, and he earned a No. 1 seed. His only loss came against a 5A opponent.
Caleb Shaw, New Plymouth (2A 126)
A broken ankle prevented him from a third straight appearance in the finals last season. But now that he’s healed, the senior (27-1) seeks to make up for lost time. His only loss this year came to 4A’s No. 2 seed at 132.
Grant Svedin, Melba (2A 145)
The senior (47-2) has placed three times at state, including a runner-up finish last year. But with a dominant final season that includes 27 pins, he is the favorite to finally climb to the top of the podium.
Hunter Williams, New Plymouth (2A 220)
A shoulder injury led to a fourth-place finish last year. But after offseason surgery, the former heavyweight slimmed down to 220 and has dominated. The senior is 17-0, finishing all 12 contested matches with a pin. None have made it to the third round.
Mia Furman, Rocky Mountain (Girls 145)
The senior (35-1) was upset in last year’s semifinals. But the No. 6-ranked girl in the country responded with a dominant final season. She’s racked up 32 pins this season and captured a Reno Tournament of Champions title. Her only loss came to an out-of-state opponent at Rollie Lane.
Hallie Campbell, Columbia (Girls 152)
The defending state champ added a Rollie Lane title to her collection in January. The senior (31-3) then pinned everyone she faced at Jaybird, Big Mountain and districts to head into state on fire.
Jordynn LeBeau, Eagle (Girls 165)
The junior (23-2) finished second at state last year. But that’s only because she had to face teammate Reece Woods in the finals. They have since separated weight classes, giving the Mustangs another state title favorite.
Reece Woods, Eagle (Girls 182)
The senior (18-3) and her twin sister, Olivia (235), remain the key to the Mustangs’ powerhouse. Both are back to defend their titles. And Reece enters state ranked No. 24 nationally by USA Wrestling.
5A TEAM TO BEAT
Two-time deafening state champ Meridian enters as the favorite to make it three in a row. The Warriors bring 23 wrestlers to state, including four No. 1 seeds in Mara, White, Twait and Gooley. And Meridian has won every event it’s entered this season — except one.
That lone second-place finish came in Post Falls’ own gym at the River City Duals. The Trojans also bring 23 wrestlers to state, including 10 seeded inside the top four. Expect the Trojans to pounce should Meridian stumble.
Nampa remains a dark horse with 22 wrestlers at state. The Bulldogs skipped Rollie Lane for an out-of-state tournament, so where they rank among Idaho teams in a wide-open tournament remains hard to predict.
4A TEAM TO BEAT
Defending champ Minico may not bring the star power with just a single No. 1 seed, but the Spartans dominate with their depth. They’ll bring a 4A-leading 24 boys to state, including 10 seeded inside the top four.
Bishop Kelly takes the opposite approach. The Knights bring only 15 wrestlers to state, but those include three No. 1 seeds and two No. 2 seeds.
The Knights will need a lot to break their way to dethrone Minico. But watch for their performance in the semifinals and finals. A strong showing there could bring Bishop Kelly its first state title.
3A TEAM TO BEAT
Reigning champ South Fremont remains loaded for another championship banner with 24 headed to state. Those 24 include the No. 1 seeds in the top four weight classes, giving South Fremont the opportunity for points late should they need them.
Fruitland figures to provide the stiffest challenge. The Grizzlies bring 26 wrestlers to state, the most in any classification, and ended Weiser’s seven-year run as district champs last week.
But Fruitland fields just two No. 1 seeds, meaning the team will need a few upsets to knock off South Fremont.
2A TEAM TO BEAT
New Plymouth and Ririe have traded the state trophy the past three years, including Ririe’s one-point victory last season. Expect another heated race between the two powers, with both bringing 14 wrestlers to state.
New Plymouth holds the edge at the top of the bracket with three No. 1 seeds to Ririe’s one. If the Pilgrims can hold the edge there and avoid costly upsets, the championship trophy should return to Southwest Idaho.
GIRLS TEAM TO BEAT
Eagle may not bring the most girls to state (seven), but the Mustangs bring the most decorated ones as they seek a repeat championship.
Eagle figures to dominate the upper weight classes again with LaBeau (165) and Reece Woods (185) taking the No. 1 seeds. And Olivia Woods (235) is seeded second despite two state titles under her belt.
Canyon Ridge and Boise will provide the top challenges, but the Mustangs beat Boise by 54 points for the district title last year. And Canyon Ridge has only one of its 12 wrestlers seeded inside the top four.
This story was originally published February 22, 2023 at 1:13 PM.
