ORDER GAME PHOTOS

The 2023-’24 season is expected to be an exciting one in the 5A Division. The top three returning teams this year are 2023 state champions Meridian, Post Falls, and Nampa. Again, Meridian returns a strong contingent with six returning state placers, six qualifiers, and a talented group of incoming freshmen. Leading this tough line-up is Jason Mara (Sr.), a Stanford commit who is in position to earn a rare fourth state title and has multiple All-American honors and national titles to his credit. He is joined by Folkstyle National Champ and Oregon State commit Hudson Rogers (Sr.) along with All-Americans Jeremiah Gonzalez (Jr.) and Carson Gooley (Sr.), all returning state champions. Other returning state placers for the Warriors include Logan Shaver (Soph.) and Matthew Papa (Sr.) in addition to frosh standouts Brigg Morrill, Tobias Guillen, and Adam Ostoja.

Challenging for the top spot is traditional power Post Falls, who return eight state placers and seven qualifiers. Leading this northern Idaho powerhouse is two-time state champion and All-American Rider Sequine (Jr.) and Tyson Barnhart (Sr.), a senior that has one title on his resume and is in position to earn a possible fourth state medal. Other returning state placers include Logan Loaiza (Soph.), Tanner Piper (Jr.), Trey Smith (Jr.), Seth Martin (Jr.), Kendell Sage (Jr.), and Ethan Wilson (Jr.).

Never count Nampa out of the team race. As history has shown, they will battle from start to finish and never step down from a good match or competition. At last year’s state championships, the Bulldogs battled both Meridian and Post Falls throughout to finish a strong third in the team standings. This season, expect the same as they also return seven state placers and five qualifiers. Leading Nampa is All-American Carson Exferd, a Wisconsin commit who joins Mara in pursuit of a rare fourth state title. The remaining state placers include sophomore Ryan Hirchert (4A State Champ), IIan Shank (Soph.), Vincent Contreras (Soph.), Aulani Macias (Sr.), Jonathan Seamons (Sr.), and Alijah Macias (Jr.), a state finalist in 2022.

Other teams to watch this season include Coeur d’ Alene, Eagle, Kuna, Madison, Middleton, and Mountain View.

Individually, the 5A returns several talented wrestlers joining those listed above with multiple state titles, medals, and All-American honors to their credit. They include two-time state champions Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, Sr.) and Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, Sr.), a recent Folkstyle National’s finalist and All-American. Other notable wrestlers to watch include returning state champion Sawyer Anderson (Highland, Soph.), three-time placer/All-American Jacob Blandford (Middleton), and three-time state placers Cole Currin (Kuna, Sr.) and Shilo Jones (Mountain View, Sr.), a multiple Fargo and Folkstyle All-American.

Other noteworthy wrestlers to watch with two state medals and finals experience include Kuna’s Zalen White (Sr.) and Cole Currin (Sr.), and Cash Weeks (Middleton, Sr.).

Below is listed top returning teams, state champions, multi-placers, and All-Americans. Once again, the 2023-’24 season is expected to be exciting this year, especially in the 5A team race.

NOTE: All wrestlers in this preview are listed at weight groups previously competed in at the 2023 State Championships (or prior) and is subject to change during the 2023-’24 season. Additionally, all my data is obtained from past state championships, national tournament results, and recent input from coaches, which I was able to make contact with.

FINAL STATE TEAM RESULTS – 2023

1. Meridian – 280.5
2. Post Falls – 261.5
3. Nampa – 243.5
4. Mountain View – 126.0
5. Highland – 111.0

TEAMS TO WATCH IN THE 5A

MERIDIAN

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

113 – Jeremiah Gonzalez (11), 2^nd, State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

120 – Logan Shaver (10), 4^th (ALL-AMERICAN)

126 – Matthew Papa (12), 3^rd, 4^th

152 – Jason Mara (12), 3x State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

170 – Hudson Rogers (12), State Champion, 2^nd (ALL-AMERICAN)

195 – Carson Gooley (12), 2^nd, State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

106 – Daniel Garcia (10)

113 – Ryan Amoureux (10)

120 – Justus Briggs (10)

152 – Bradley Bones (10)

170 – Fabrizio Argana (12), 2x

220 – Michael Warwick (12)

Freshman to watch: Drake Jayne, Brigg Morrill, Tobias Guillen, Adam Ostoja, Ranger Zickgraf, Jackson Beck, Vincent Torrez, Brandon Bennett, Darius Case, Xyler Coleman, Draken Miller, Cayden Cryder, and Brock Shaffer.

NAMPA

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

98 – Ryan Hirchert (10), State Champion (4A)

98 – IIan Shank (10), 2^nd Place

106 – Vincent Contreras (10), 2^nd

113 – Aulani Macias (12), 6^th, 2^nd

132 – Carson Exferd (12), 3x State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

160 – Jonathan Seamons (12), 3^rd, 2^nd 

113 – Alijah Macias (11), 2^nd ‘22

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

98 – Teagan Navarro (10)

126 – Jayden Dodge (10)

132 – Akio Sanders (12), 2x

220 – Joey Duke (12)

220 – Hugo Afamasaga (10)

POST FALLS

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

106 – Rider Sequine (11), 2x State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

106 – Logan Loaiza (10), 4^th

132 – Tyson Barnhart (12), State Champion, 4^th, 2^nd

138 – Tanner Piper (11), 5^th

145 – Trey Smith (11), 5^th, 3^rd

152 – Seth Martin (11), 4^th, 3^rd

195 – Kendell Sage (11), 6^th

120 – Ethan Wilson (11), 4^th ‘22

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

98 – Jared Wallace (11)

126 – Brandon Felix (10)

138 – Kyle Miller (10), 2x

145 – Damion Hamilton (10)

152 – Taycen Genatone (12)

285 – Matt Ludwig (10)

285 – Xander Scholes (10)

FRESHMAN TO WATCH: Matt Hamilton.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: Coeur d’ Alene, Eagle, Kuna, Madison, Middleton, Mountain View, Middleton, and Thunder Ridge.

TOP RETURNING INDIVIDUALS

3x STATE CHAMPIONS

Carson Exferd (Nampa, 12)

Jason Mara (Meridian, 12)

2x STATE CHAMPIONS

Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 11)

Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 12)

Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 12)

1x STATE CHAMPIONS

Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 10)

Ryan Hirchert (Nampa, 10)

Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 11)

Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 12)

Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12)

Carson Gooley (Meridian, 12)

3x STATE PLACERS

Carson Exferd (Nampa, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 1^st

Jason Mara (Meridian, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 1^st

Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 2^nd

Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 12), 1^st, 4^th, 2^nd

Cole Currin (Kuna, 12), 2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd

Jacob Blandford (Middleton, 12), 6^th, 2^nd, 2^nd

Shilo Jones (Mountain View, 12), 6^th, 5^th, 2^nd

2x STATE PLACERS

Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 11), 1^st, 1^st

Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 12), 1^st, 1^st

Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 11), 2^nd, 1^st

Carson Gooley (Meridian, 12), 2^nd, 1^st

Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12), 1^st, 2^nd

Zalen White (Kuna, 12), 3^rd, 2^nd

Jonathan Seamons (Nampa, 12), 3^rd, 2^nd

Cash Weeks (Middleton, 12), 3^rd, 2^nd

Jabyn Kemble (Middleton, 11), 4^th, 3^rd

Seth Martin (Post Falls, 11), 4^th, 3^rd

Matthew Papa (Meridian, 12), 3^rd, 4^th

Cael Bullock (Rocky Mountain, 12), 3^rd, 4^th

Seth Brock (Eagle, 12), 4^th, 4^th

Trey Smith (Post Falls, 11), 5^th, 3^rd

Aulani Macias (Nampa, 12), 6^th, 2^nd

Wylie Stone (Eagle, 12), 6^th, 4^th

Colton George (Highland, 12), 4^th, 6^th

Hunter Lowe (Kuna, 12), 5^th, 5^th

Chase Jensen (Rocky Mountain, 12), 6^th, 5^th

Parker Reeves (Thunder Ridge, 12), 5^th, 6^th

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Jason Mara (Meridian, 12)

Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12)

ALL-AMERICANS

Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 11)

Hunter Anderson (Rigby, 11)

Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 11)

Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 12)

Logan Shaver (Meridian, 10)

Cael Bullock (Rocky Mountain, 12)

Damion Hamilton (Post Falls, 10)

Jason Mara (Meridian, 12)

Jacob Blandford (Middleton, 12)

Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12)

Carson Gooley (Meridian, 12)

Hyrum Heindel (Kuna, 10)

Shilo Jones (Mountain view, 12)

Dallyn Grimes (Middleton, 11)

Aiden McGinnis (Mountain View, 12)

RETURNING STATE PLACERS (Previous State Tournament Weights)

98

Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 10), STATE CHAMPION

Ryan Hirchert (Nampa, 10), STATE CHAMPION (4A)

IIan Shank (Nampa, 10), 2^nd Place

Dylan Frothinger (Eagle, 10), 4^th Place

Greyson Peterson (Madison, 10), 5^th Place

Rocco White (Coeur d’ Alene, 10), 6^th Place

Bode Alexander (Coeur d’ Alene, 12), 4^th Place ‘22

106

Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 11), STATE CHAMPION (1, 1)

Vincent Contreras (Nampa, 10), 2^nd Place

Logan Loaiza (Post Falls, 10), 4^th Place

Chase Jensen (Rocky Mountain, 12), 5^th Place (6, 5)

Teague Jensen (Madison, 11), 6^th Place

Hunter Anderson (Rigby, 11), 5^th Place ‘22

113

Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 11), STATE CHAMPION (2, 1)

Aulani Macias (Nampa, 12), 2^nd Place (6, 2)

Braeten Jorgensen (Centennial, 12), 6^th Place

Alijah Macias (Nampa, 11), 2^nd Place ‘22

Noyd Monroe (Kuna, 11), 6^th Place ‘22

Brady Carwood (Madison, 12), 4^th Place ‘21

120

Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 12), 2^nd Place (1, 1)

Jabyn Kemble (Middleton, 11), 3^rd Place (4, 3)

Logan Shaver (Meridian, 10), 4^th Place

Ethan Wilson (Post Falls, 11), 4^th Place ‘22

Will Rossi (Coeur d’ Alene, 12), 6^th Place ‘22

126

Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 12), STATE CHAMPION (1, 1)

Cole Currin (Kuna, 12), 2^nd Place (2, 2, 2)

Matthew Papa (Meridian, 12), 4^th Place (3, 4)

Nate Galloway (Rocky Mountain, 11), 5^th Place

Cael Bullock (Rocky Mountain, 12), 4^th Place ’22 (3, 4)

Zanlen White (Kuna, 12), 2^nd Place ’22 (3, 2)

132

Carson Exferd (Nampa, 12), STATE CHAMPIOIN (1, 1, 1)

Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 12), 2^nd Place (1, 4, 2)

Wylie Stone (Eagle, 12), 4^th Place (6, 4)

Trever Clemens (Capital, 12), 5^th Place

Parker Reeves (Thunder Ridge, 12), 6^th Place (5, 6)

138

Gabriel Brown (Capital, 12), 3^rd Place

Tanner Piper (Post Falls, 11), 5^th Place

Hunter Lowe (Kuna, 12), 5^th Place ’22 (5, 5)

145

Trey Smith (Post Falls, 11), 3^rd Place (5, 3)

Patrick Lakey (Centennial, 12), 5^th Place

152

Jason Mara (Meridian, 12), STATE CHAMPION (1, 1, 1)

Jacob Blandford (Middleton, 12), 2^nd Place (6, 2, 2)

Seth Martin (Post Falls, 11), 3^rd Place (4, 3)

Jean-Luc Guerra (Mountain View, 11), 4^th Place

160

Jonathan Seamons (Nampa, 12), 2^nd Place (3, 2)

Cole Nelson (Madison, 12), 4^th Place

170

Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12), 2^nd Place (1, 2)

Treven Hokland (Middleton, 12), 4^th Place

182

Garrett Leonard (Lake City, 10), 5^th Place

Colton George (Highland, 12), 6^th Place (4, 6)

195

Carson Gooley (Meridian, 12), STATE CHAMPION (2, 1)

Kody Biggs (Kuna, 12), 3^rd Place

Maxim Osmond (Owyhee, 12), 4^th Place

Troy Grizzle (Mountain View, 12), 5^th Place

Kendell Sage (Post Falls, 11), 6^th Place

220

Cash Weeks (Middleton, 12), 2^nd Place (3, 2)

Seth Brock (Eagle, 12), 4^th Place (4, 4)

285

Shilo Jones (Mountain View, 12), 2^nd Place (6, 5, 2)

Rex Salas (Madison, 11), 6^th Place