ORDER GAME PHOTOS

The 2023-’24 season marks the third year that the Girls Division is an officially sponsored sport with the boys. Since the first unofficial state open tournament in 2019, the Girls Division has grown at an exponential rate and does not appear to be slowing down anytime soon. In fact, since last year, there has been a 17% increase in participation (has surpassed 800 plus) and is expected to reach a participation level greater than 1,000 in the very near future.

As of this writing, the strong favorites to challenge for the team title include returning champions Eagle followed by Thunder Ridge, Canyon Ridge, and American Falls. A team to watch this season is Rocky Mountain of Meridian. With one returning state placer and qualifier, Rocky has assembled a young team that has already placed in the top 3 in a couple tournaments since the start of the season. Other teams to watch include Bonners Ferry, Emmitt, Jerome, Lewiston, Mountain Home, and Rigby.

The top wrestlers include returning state champions Allister Dillow (American Falls, Sr.), Elise Twait (Meridian, Jr.), Jordyn LeBeau (Eagle, Sr.), All-Americans Joely Slyter (Lewiston, Jr.), Claire Waite (Boise, Sr.), two-time finalist Krya Richards (Nampa, 12), and Amie Hartman of Mountain Home (Jr.), an All-American at the Fargo Nationals this past summer. Other returning state placers to watch include 3x state placer Holland Weiber (Eagle, Sr.), the Avelino Sisters (Seniors), Nia and Toni of Caldwell, Reece Moody (Rocky Mountain, Jr.), Emry Woods (Eagle, Jr.), Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry, Sr.), Makayla Smith (Mountain Home, Jr.), Audrey DeLeon (Weiser, Sr.), Gianna Coburn (Emmitt, Jr.), All-American Josie Newby (Grace, Jr.), Lizzy Hodges (Capital, Jr.), All-American Zoe Fries (Kuna, Jr.), and Jordyn Kearn (American Falls, Sr.). Also keep an eye on Rocky Mountain’s Talea Nichols (Soph.). A U14 National Champion in 2022, Talea will challenge for the top spot in 2024.

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 Girls Division 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. Eagle – 126.0
2. Mountain Home – 71.0
3. Coeur d’ Alene – 64.0
4. Columbia – 59.0
5. Bonners Ferry – 58.0

TEAMS TO WATCH IN THE GIRLS DIVISION

EAGLE

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

126 – Holland Wieber (12), 3^rd (6, 6, 3)

165 – Jordyn LeBeau (12), State Champion (2, 1)

235 – Emry Woods (11), 4^th (5, 4)

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

100 – Tommy Stone (10), SQ

152 – Ella Elordi (10), SQ

THUNDER RIDGE

RETURNING STATE PLACER

100 – Danielle Holt (12), 3^rd ‘21

106 – Mia Ragan (12), 5^th

185 – Shauna Anderson (10), 2^nd

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIER

235 – Ashley Barnes (12)

CANYON RIDGE

RETURNING STATE PLACER

165 – Riana Walter (11), 3^rd

RETURNING STATE QUALIFIERS

100 – Brooklyn Pena (10)

106 – Daniele Holt (12)

106 – Jasmin Fedale (11)

138 – Kadee Haderlie (12)

138 – Charity Limas (12)

145 – La Kya Jackson (11)

152 – Hannah Kriwox (11)

152 – Sophia Bradbury (12)

AMERICAN FALLS

RETURNING STATE PLACERS

114 – Allister Dillow (12), 5^th (State Champ, 5^th)

120 – Courtney Hunt (10), 2^nd

152 – Jordyn Kearn (12), 4^th (5, 4)

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: Bonners Ferry, Canyon Ridge, Emmitt, Jerome, Lewiston, Mountain Home, Rigby, and Rocky Mountain.

TOP RETURNING INDIVIDUALS

STATE CHAMPIONS

Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 11)

Allister Dillow (American Falls, 12), ‘22

Elise Twait (Meridian, 11)

Claire Waite (Boise, 12)

Kyra Richards (Nampa, 12) ‘21

Jordyn LeBeau (Eagle, 12)

Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11)

3x STATE PLACERS

Holland Weiber (Eagle, 12), 6^th, 6^th, 3^rd

2x STATE PLACERS

Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 11), 6^th, 1^st

Nia Avelino (Caldwell, 12), 4^th, 4^th

Toni Avelino (Caldwell, 12), 5^th, 6^th

Allister Dillow (American Falls, 12), 1^st, 5^th

Makayla Smith (Mountain Home, 11), 3^rd, 4^th

Audrey Deleon (Weiser, 12), 3^rd, 6^th

Gianna Coburn (Emmitt, 11), 5^th, 4^th

Josie Newby (Grace, 11), 3^rd, 5^th

Lizzy Hodges (Capital, 11), 6^th, 6^th

Zoe Fries (Kuna, 11), 3^rd, 3^rd

Jordyn Kearn (American Falls, 12), 5^th, 4^th

Kyra Richards (Nampa, 12), 1^st, 2^nd

Jordyn LeBeau (Eagle, 12), 2^nd, 1^st

Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry, 12), 3^rd, 4^th

Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11), 2^nd, 1^st

Emry Woods (Eagle, 11), 5^th, 4^th

ALL-AMERICANS

Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 11)

Claire Waite (Boise, 12)

Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11)

Josie Newby (Grace, 11)

Zoe Fries (Kuna, 11)

Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 10)

Olivia Burciaga (Kuna, 12)

RETURNING STATE PLACERS (Previous State Tournament Weights)

100

Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 11), STATE CHAMPION (6, 1)

Nia Avelino (Caldwell, 12), 4^th Place (4, 4)

Raelynn O’Connor (Salmon, 11), 3^rd Place

Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley, 10), 4^th Place

Aly Stewart (Ririe, 11), 5^th Place

Ryliegh Slocum (Borah, 11), 6^th Place

Danielle Holt (Thunder Ridge, 12), 3^rd Place ‘21

Myriam Riley (Blackfoot, 12), 4^th Place ‘21

Jaycie Hackler (Melba, 12), 5^th Place ‘21

106

Nevaeh Therrien (Bonners Ferry, 10), 2^nd Place

Dahlia Yerby (Emmitt, 11), 4^th Place

Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge, 12), 5^th Place

Toni Avelino (Caldwell, 12), 6^th Place (5, 6)

Keira Zimmerman (Moscow, 11), 3^rd Place ‘22

Rihanna Mora (Vallivue, 11), 6^th Place ‘22

114

Kyler Scott (Century, 10), 3^rd Place

Allister Dillow (American Falls, 12), 5^th Place (1, 5)

120

Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 10), 2^nd Place

Makayla Smith (Mountain Home, 11), 4^th Place (3, 4)

Piper Anderson (Grace, 12), 5^th Place

Audrey DeLeon (Weiser, 12), 6^th Place (3, 6)

Lindi Kessinger (Orofino, 12), STATE CHAMPION ‘22

126

Holland Wieber (Eagle, 12), 3^rd Place (6, 6, 3)

Zion Rushton (McCall-Donnelly), 5^th Place

Kaisa Hanks (Burley, 11), 6^th Place

132

Madi Cook (Lake City, 12), 3^rd Place

Gianna Coburn (Emmitt, 11), 4^th Place (5, 4)

Josie Newby (Grace, 11), 5^th Place (3, 5)

Mariah Skelly (Fruitland, 12), 5^th Place ‘22

Zoe Ortiz (Bonneville, 12), 4^th Place ‘22

138

Elise Twait (Meridian, 11), STATE CHAMPION

Claire Waite (Boise, 12), 2^nd Place (1, 2)

Elena Guerena (Owyhee, 12), 4^th Place

Abby Wegner (Skyline, 12), 5^th Place

Lizzy Hodges (Capital, 11), 6^th Place (6, 6)

145

Zoe Fries (Kuna, 11), 3^rd Place (3, 3)

Hayley McNeal (Potlatch, 11), 4^th Place

Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d’ Alene, 10), 5^th Place

152

Cara Brown (Coeur d’ Alene, 12), 2^nd Place

Jordyn Kearn (American Falls, 12), 4^th Place (5, 4)

Lindsey Onstrott (Bonners Ferry, 12), 6^th Place

165

Jordyn LeBeau (Eagle, 12), STATE CHAMPION (2, 1)

Kyra Richards (Nampa, 12), 2^nd Place (1, 2)

Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge, 11), 3^rd Place

Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry, 12), 4^th Place (3, 4)

Jady Cook (Middleton, 10), 6^th Place

Annika Thompson (Lakeland, 12), 6^th Place ‘22

185

Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 10), 2^nd Place

Riley Bodily (Preston, 12), 4^th Place (2, 4)

Olivia Burciaga (Kuna, 12), 6^th Place

Shayna Henninger (Rigby, 11), 5^th Place ‘22

235

Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11), STATE CHAMPION (2, 1)

Reece Moody (Rocky Mountain, 11), 3^rd Place

Emry Woods (Eagle, 11), 4^th Place (5, 4)

Grace Balch (Sandpoint, 12), 5^th Place

Cosette Desrosiers (Columbia, 12), 4^th Place ‘22

Hildee Foster (Salmon, 11), 6^th Place ‘22