ORDER GAME PHOTOS

Traditional 3A power South Fremont of St. Anthony is expected to be in the mix to challenge for another team title this season, but will definitely receive stiff competition from Fruitland, Buhl, and Marsh Valley in the process. To boil it down, it is expected to be an exciting team race in the 3A and for South Fremont to win five in a row will require an “All-Hands on Deck” performance.

Finishing runner-up in 2023, Fruitland has the numbers to reach the top podium in February with seven returning state placers in addition to newcomer Tygren Lopez (Sr.), an Oregon 2x placer and champion in 2022. Earning All-American honors at the Folkstyle Nationals, returning state champion Kaden MacKenzie (Jr.) will be tough to beat this year. He is joined by fellow state placers Braden Griffith (Jr.), Marcus Aleman (Soph.), Max Wescott (Sr.), Coye Coffman (Jr.), Quin Hood (Jr.), and Brett Lee (Sr.). The Grizzlies also return seventeen state qualifiers in addition to freshman to watch, Kysen MacKenzie.

Historically, South Fremont has won a total of five state team titles with the last four since 2020. This season, they return a total of five state placers and fourteen qualifiers overall. They include 2x state champion and All-American Boden Banta (Jr.) and Max Clark (Sr.), a 2x finalist and champion in 2023. Other returning placers include University of Sioux Falls commit, Jaxton Packer, a 3x state placer and multiple All-American, Raiden Whitmore (Sr.) and Traven Bauer (Sr.).

The Eagles of Marsh Valley return a solid contingent this season with six returning placers and six qualifiers. Leading this contingent is returning state champion and All-American Ryker Gibson (Sr.), state finalist Seth Lish (Jr.) and Collin Morris (Jr.), along with placers Rocky Morris (Sr.), Kole Dahlke (Sr.), and Hunter McQuivey (Sr.).

Also in the mix is Buhl, a top three finisher at state in 2023. This season, Buhl returns seven state placers and five qualifiers overall. Leading this group is the Brunson twins, Riley and Bowen. Each returning state champions, Bowen is also a Folkstyle All-American. Other returning placers include Zan Parker (Soph.), Collin Robinson (Sr.), Ryder Sheen (Jr.), Oakley Tennant (Sr.), and Gabe Finley (Jr.).

Other teams to watch include American Falls, McCall-Donnelly, Snake River, Sugar-Salem, Teton, Timberlake, and Weiser.

Individually, the 3A has several exceptional wrestlers that are in position to earn either a third or fourth state medal. They include All-American Ryker Fullmer of Teton, a 3x state placer and champion in 2023 in addition to Payette’s Tyler Freeley, who is in position to earn a possible fourth state medal. Other returning state champions include Max Atchely (Teton, Sr.) and All-American Nathan Gugelman II (Soph.), as well as 2x placers Mason Aiken (American Falls, Jr.), Matthew Daniels (McCall-Donnley, Sr), Kaleb Grove (Weiser, Sr.), and Koy Orr (Filer, Jr.), a Folkstyle All-American in 2022.  

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 3A 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. South Fremont
2. Fruitland
3. Buhl
4. American Falls
5. Snake River

TEAMS TO WATCH IN THE 3A

FRUITLAND

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

98 – Braden Griffith (11), 4^th Place (6, 4)

113 – Marcus Aleman (10), 2^nd Place

126 – Max Wescott (12), 5^th Place (4, 5)

138 – Coye Coffman (11), 4^th Place (6, 4)

145 – Kaden MacKenzie (11), State Champion (2, 1)

182 – Quinn Hood (11), 2^nd Place

195 – Brett Lee (12), 6^th Place

126/132 – Tygren Lopez (12), Oregon State Champion (1, 4)

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

106 – Dillon Praeger (11), 2x

106 – Colbey Quinn (10)

113 – Dawson Clevenger (10)

120 – Ricky Cisneros (11)

126 – Nathaniel Martinez (11), 2x

132 – Ty Webster (12), 3x

138 – Jake Swann (11), 2x

152 – Abraham Marquez (12), 3x

160 – Dylan Stowe (12)

170 – Raymond Florez (11)

170 – KJ Parsons (11)

182 – Josh Griffith (11)

195 – Kolby Holaday (11)

285 – Joel Zamora (12)

285 – Gabe Chapa (11)

106 – Kiana Dullanty (12), SQ ‘21

160 – Brett Hoffman (12), SQ ‘21

FRESHMAN TO WATCH: Kysen MacKenzie.

SOUTH FREMONT

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

106 – Boden Banta (11), State Champion (1, 1)

120 – Jaxton Packer (12), 2^nd Place (2, 3, 2)

152 – Raiden Whitmore (12), 4^th Place

182 – Traven Bauer (12), 6^th Place

220 – Max Clark (12), State Champion (2, 1)

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

98 – Simon Eddins (10)

98 – Nicholas Hansen (10)

106 – Kaiser Purser (10)

113 – Bryson Robles (10)

132 – Emmerson Aleman (12)

152 – Jerome Crichton (11)

170 – Angel Pena (12)

195 – Taycen Gee (12)

220 – Talen Schuldies (11)

285 – Neilsen Glascock (12), 2x

98 – Jace Batton (12), SQ ‘21

106 – Beau Baler (11), SQ ‘22

113 – Jeff Brower (12), SQ ‘21

220 – Colton Bennett (12), SQ ‘22

MARSH VALLEY

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

98 – Seth Lish (11), 2^nd Place

106 – Collin Morris (11), 2^nd Place (3, 2)

132 – Rocky Morris (12), 6^th Place (3, 6)

152 – Kole Dahlke (12), 6^th Place (3, 6)

160 – Ryker Gibson (12), State Champion (3, 1)

220 – Hunter McQuivey (12), 3^rd Place ‘22

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

138 – Gunner Johnson (11)

182 – Kyle Foster (12)

195 – Artzeiz Christiansen (11)

120 – Corbridge Bastian (12), SQ ‘21

138 – Tuff Solomon (12), SQ ‘22

160 – Austin Benson (12), SQ ‘22

BUHL

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

113 – Zan Parker (10), 6^th Place

132 – Bowen Brunson (12), 2^nd Place (1, 1, 2)

138 – Collin Robinson (12), 5^th Place

145 – Riley Brunson (12), 5^th Place (1, 5)

160 – Ryder Sheen (11), 4^th Place

170 – Oakley Tennant (12), 6^th Place

220 – Gabe Finley (11), 4^th Place

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

120 – Walter Olsen (12)

126 – Jaime Dominguez (10)

132 – Dryssen Loos (10)

170 – Jayden Henkelman (11)

285 – Garrett Theurer (12), 2x

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: American Falls, McCall-Donnley, Snake River, Sugar-Salem, Teton, Timberlake, and Weiser.

TOP RETURNING INDIVIDUALS

2x STATE CHAMPION

Bowen Brunson (Buhl, 12)

Boden Banta (South Fremont, 11)

1x STATE CHAMPIONS

Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 10)

Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 11)

Riley Brunson (Buhl, 12)

Ryker Gibson (Marsh Valley, 12)

Ryker Fullmer (Teton, 12)

Max Clark (South Fremont, 12)

Max Atchley (Teton, 12), ‘22

3x STATE PLACERS

Bowen Brunson (Buhl, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 2^nd

Ryker Fullmer (Teton, 12), 6^th, 2^nd, 1^st

Jaxton Packer (South Fremont, 12), 2^nd, 3^rd, 2^nd

Tyler Freeley (Payette, 12), 2^nd, 3^rd, 5^th

2x STATE PLACERS

Boden Banta (South Fremont, 11), 1^st, 1^st

Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 11), 2^nd, 1^st

Max Clark (South Fremont, 12), 2^nd, 1^st

Riley Brunson (Buhl, 12), 1^st, 2^nd 

Ryker Gibson (Marsh Valley, 12), 3^rd, 1^st

Max Atchely (Teton, 12), 6^th, 1^st ‘22

Koy Orr (Filer, 11), 2^nd, 3^rd

Collin Morris (Marsh Valley, 11), 3^rd, 2^nd

Mason Aiken (American Falls, 11), 4^th, 2^nd

Matthew Daniels (McCall-Donnley, 12), 5^th, 2^nd

Kaleb Grove (Weiser, 12), 6^th, 2^nd

Adam Rushton (McCall-Donnley, 12), 5^th, 3^rd

Brandon Williams (Bonners Ferry, 12), 3^rd, 5^th

Rocky Morris (Marsh Valley, 12), 3^rd, 6^th

Jaden Lerwill (Sugar-Salem, 12), 6^th, 3^rd

Kole Dahlke (Marsh Valley, 12), 3^rd, 6^th

Blake Koyle (Gooding, 11), 4^th, 5^th

Max Wescott (Fruitland, 12), 4^th, 5^th

Braden Griffith (Fruitland, 11), 6^th, 4^th

Coye Coffman (Fruitland, 11), 6^th, 4^th

Dax Wood (Sugar-Salem, 12), 6^th, 4^th

Jace Leavitt (Snake River, 11), 5^th, 5^th

ALL-AMERICANS

Boden Banta (South Fremont, 11)

Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 10)

Jaxton Packer (South Fremont, 12)

Koy Orr (Filer, 11)

Bowen Brunson (Buhl, 12)

Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 11)

Ryker Gibson (Marsh Valley, 12)

Ryker Fullmer (Teton, 12)

Cesar Palacios (American Falls, 11)

RETURNING STATE PLACERS (Previous State Tournament Weights)

98

Seth Lish (Marsh Valley, 11), 2^nd Place

Wyatt Carey (Timberlake, 10), 3^rd Place

Braden Griffith (Fruitland, 11), 4^th Place (6, 4)

Jonathan Todd (American Falls, 11), 5^th Place

Max Banta (Sugar-Salem, 11), 6^th Place

106

Boden Banta (South Fremont, 11), STATE CHAMPION (1, 1)

Collin Morris (Marsh Valley, 11), 2^nd Place (3, 2)

Jaden Lerwill (Sugar-Salem, 12), 3^rd Place (6, 3)

Trell McFarlane (Homedale, 10), 4^th Place

Blake Koyle (Gooding, 11), 5^th Place (4, 5)

McKay Stocking (Sugar-Salem, 12), 6^th Place

113

Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 10), STATE CHAMPION

Marcus Aleman (Fruitland, 10), 2^nd Place

Brandon Williams (Bonners Ferry, 12), 3^rd Place (5, 3)

Paul Sundstrom (Timberlake, 11), 4^th Place

Charlie Nevarez (Weiser, 10), 5^th Place

Zan Parker (Buhl, 10), 6^th Place

Max Atchley (Teton, 12), 6^th, STATE CHAMPION ‘22

Brian Benson (Snake River, 11), 3^rd Place ‘22

Jesse Stephens (Parma, 12), 4^th Place ’21

120

Jaxton Packer (South Fremont, 12), 2^nd Place (2,3, 2)

Koy Orr (Filer, 11), 3^rd Place (2, 3)

Jace Leavitt (Snake River, 11), 5^th Place (5, 5)

126

Mason Aiken (American Falls, 11), 2^nd Place (4, 2)

Max Wescott (Fruitland, 12), 5^th Place (4, 5)

Brayden Pirrie (Payette, 11), 6^th Place

132

Bowen Brunson (Buhl, 12), 2^nd Place (1, 1, 2)

Fabian Avalos (American Falls, 11), 3^rd Place

Tyler Feeley (Payette, 12), 5^th Place (2, 3, 5)

Rocky Morris (Marsh Valley, 12), 6^th Place (3, 6)

138

Coye Coffman (Fruitland, 11), 4^th Place (6, 4)

Collin Robinson (Buhl, 12), 5^th Place

145

Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 11), STATE CHAMPION (2, 1)

Riley Brunson (Buhl, 12), 5^th Place (1, 5)

Dax Wood (Sugar-Salem, 12), 4^th Place (6, 4)

Stockton Young (Weiser, 11), 6^th Place

152

Matthew Daniels (McCall-Donnley, 12), 2^nd Place (5, 2)

Kole Dahlke (Marsh Valley, 12), 6^th Place (3, 6)

Raiden Whitmore (South Fremont, 12), 4^th Place

Kash Cobb (Weiser, 11), 5^th Place

160

Ryker Gibson (Marsh Valley, 12), STATE CHAMPION (3, 1)

Ryder Sheen (Buhl, 11), 4^th Place

Lance Hunter (Snake River, 12), 4^th Place ‘22

170

Ryker Fullmer (Teton, 12), STATE CHAMPION (6, 2, 1)

Oakley Tennant (Buhl, 12), 6^th Place

182

Quinn Hood (Fruitland, 11), 2^nd Place

Adam Rushton (McCall-Donnley, 12), 3^rd Place (5, 3)

Luke Schell (Timberlake, 12), 4^th Place

Traven Bauer (South Fremont, 12), 6^th Place

195

Kaleb Grove (Weiser, 12), 2^nd Place (6, 2)

Van Critchfield (McCall-Donnley, 12), 5^th Place

Brett Lee (Fruitland, 12), 6^th Place

220

Max Clark (South Fremont, 12), STATE CHAMPION (2, 1)

Gabe Finley (Buhl, 11), 4^th Place

Hunter McQuivey (Marsh Valley, 12), 3^rd Place ‘22

285

Michael Rose (Homedale, 12), 3^rd Place

Caden Dalling (Sugar-Salem, 12), 4^th Place