ORDER GAME PHOTOS

The small school division in Idaho consists of programs with enrollment sizes from just under 100 to 320 students. Despite the small enrollment numbers, the quality of wrestling being produced in the rural areas of the state is exceptional. The 2A/1A division returns a total of 9 individual State Champions and 48 state placers. The team race is expected to be a battle between Malad and Kellogg, but we cannot count out returning champions New Plymouth.

Tucker Bowen of Soda Springs is the leader among the 9 returning State Champions. Competing in the 126 pound weight group, Bowen is a 2x State Champion, All-American and is committed to compete at the University of Wyoming next fall. Only a junior, Glenns Ferry’s Gabe Mullenburg is a 2x State Champion and will have to battle hard for another title in the competitive 120 pound weight group. Other returning State Champions include Carter Kimball (113 – Grace), Wallace Durfee (132 – Declo), Jaeger Hall (145 – Kellogg), Wyatt Cutler (170 – Grace), Colton Gunderson (160 – West Side), and New Plymouth trio Jacob Shaw (152s), Skyler Rodriguez (138s), and Nathan Willoughby at 285s.

Along with Tucker Bowen and Wyatt Cutler, seniors Kolter Wood (132 – Kellogg) and Hiatt Beck of Aberdeen (152s) are each 3x state placers vying for a fourth medal. Other returning state placers with state finals experience include Tayven Kunz (120 – Ririe), Price Thomas (132 – Glenns Ferry), Ches Lee Webb (120 – Ririe), Kaden Schaff (Nezperce), Gavin Peterson (120 – West Side), Jace Waggoner (138 – Tri-Valley) and Caeden McLaimtaig of Priest River at 152s.

The top teams entering this year’s 2A/1A State Championships are Malad, Kellogg, and defending State Champions New Plymouth. All three teams qualified between 15 to 17 wrestlers with Malad and New Plymouth returning the most state placers at 5. Among the returning state placers, New Plymouth returns the most individual State Champions at 3. In a nutshell, I expect this team race to come down to the wire and not disappoint.

The freshman class in the 2A/1A has several wrestlers ranked in the state, but one wrestler in particular is among the top in all divisions. Entering these championships with a 51-1 record (lone loss to a Utah wrestler), Drake Morrison of Malad is a Folkstyle All-American and the top seed at 138s. He will be very difficult to beat. Other top level freshman to watch include district champions Blane Ethington (113 – New Plymouth), Oakley Maddox (145 – Malad), and James Hansen of Ririe at 145s.

Once again, I expect the 2A/1A division to be very competitive not only in the team race, but individually as well. Below is a comprehensive list of top teams, returning Champions, sate placers, All-Americans, college commits, and freshman to watch. Enjoy!

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH

MALAD (17)

Returning State Placers (5)

98 – Jack Willie (Soph.), 4^th. State

113 – Porter Mills (Soph.), 4^th. State

113 – Jace Potter (Sr.), 5^th. State

120 – Tommy Angell (Sr.), 3^rd. State

195 – Blaiz Wright (Sr.), 4^th. State

Returning State Qualifiers (5)

126 – Sam Willie (Soph.), 2^nd. Dist. (2x)

160 – Dylan Moss (Sr.), 2^nd. Dist. (3x)

170 – Hunter Wray (Sr.), 4^th. Dist. (3x)

182 – Lex Driskel (Sr.), 2^nd. Dist. (2x)

220 – Caleb Mathews (Sr.), 2^nd. Dist. (3x)

State Qualifiers (7)

106 – Ayden Potter (Soph.), 5^th. Dist.

126 – Parker Price (Fr.), 3^rd. Dist.

138 – Drake Morrison (Fr.), 1^st. Dist.

145 – Oakley Maddox (Fr.), 1^st. Dist.

152 – Gabe Hooste (Jr.), 2^nd. Dist.

160 – Cam Bingham (Soph.), 3^rd. Dist.

182 – Rydon Montgomery (Soph.), 3^rd. Dist.

KELLOGG (17)

Returning State Placers (4)

120 – Ricky Haralson (Jr.), 4^th, 6^th. State

126 – Chase Scribner (Soph.), 3^rd. State

132 – Kolter Wood (Sr.), 5^th, 6^th, 3^rd. State

145 – Jaeger Hall (Sr.), State Champion

Returning State Qualifiers (7)

98 – Johnny Stovern (Soph.), 1^st. Dist. (2x)

106 – Aiden Figueroa (Soph.), 3^rd. Dist. (2x)

132 – Wyatt Storey (Jr.), 2^nd. Dist. (2x)

138 – Tanner Williams (Jr.), 3^rd. Dist. (2x)

160 – Brady Vergobbi (Jr.), 2^nd. Dist. (3x)

170 – Ramsey Rainio (Sr.), 1^st. Dist. (3x)

220 – Kyle VanVleet (Jr.), 4^th. Dist. (2x)

State Qualifiers (6)

98 – Kevin Watson (Fr.), 3^rd. Dist.

106 – Colton Storey (Fr.), 2^nd. Dist.

120 – Landyn Rollins (Fr.), 3^rd. Dist.

170 – Travis Eixenberger (Sr.), 2^nd. Dist.

195 – A.J. Peak (Soph.), 4^th. Dist.

285 – Russell Fields (Jr.), 2^nd. Dist.

NEW PLYMOUTH (15)

Returning State Placers (5)

126 – Jeremiah Perry (Jr.), 4th. State

138 – Skyler Rodriguez (Sr.), 3^rd., State Champion

152 – Jacob Shaw (Jr.), 6^th., State Champion

182 – Gabriel Cox (Jr.), 5^th. 4^th. State

285 – Nathan Willoughby (Sr.), State Champion

Returning State Qualifiers (2)

120 – Jacob Hartle (Jr.), 2^nd. Dist. (3x)

145 – Zack Vian (Sr.), 1^st. Dist. (3x)

State Qualifiers (8)

106 – Gabe Howard (Fr.), 1^st. Dist.

113 – Blane Ethington (Fr.), 1^st. Dist.

120 – WahNay Say (Fr.), 1^st. Dist.

126 – Ty Sutton (Fr.), 3^rd. Dist.

160 – Christopher Newling (Sr.), 3^rd. Dist.

170 – Wade Bell (Fr.), 3^rd. Dist.

182 – Trevin Mullanix (Soph.), 4^th. Dist.

220 – Nolan Darrough (Fr.), 2^nd. Dist.

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH: Declo (10), Firth (12), North Fremont (12), Ririe (10), and West Side (11).

2X RETURNING STATE CHAMPIONS (2)

Gabe Mullenburg (Glenns Ferry, 11)

Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs, 12)

1X RETURNING STATE CHAMPION (8)

Carter Kimball (Grace, 10)

Wallace Durfee (Declo, 12)

Jaeger Hall (Kellogg, 12)

Jacob Shaw (New Plymouth, 11)

Wyatt Cutler (Grace, 12)

Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth, 12)

Colton Gunderson (West Side, 12)

Skyler Rodriguez (New Plymouth, 12), ’21 

3X RETURNING STATE PLACERS (4)

Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs, 12), 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st

Wyatt Cutler (Grace, 12), 5^th, 4^th, 1^st

Kolter Wood (Kellogg, 12), 5^th, 6^th, 3^rd

Hiatt Beck (Aberdeen, 12), 6^th, 3^rd, 3^rd

2X RETURNING STATE PLACERS (12)

Gabe Mullenburg (Glenns Ferry, 11), 1^st, 1^st

Jacob Shaw (New Plymouth, 11), 6^th, 1^st

Tayven Kunz (Ririe, 11), 2^nd, 4^th

Price Thomas (Glenns Ferry, 12), 3^rd, 2^nd

Ches Lee Webb (Ririe, 11), 5^th, 2^nd

Porter Whipple (Kamiah, 12), 5^th, 3^rd

Colten Gundersen (West Side, 12), 5^th, 1^st

Eston Beck (Aberdeen, 11), 5^th, 4^th

Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth, 11), 5^th, 4^th

Bass Myers (Clearwater Valley, 12), 6^th, 3^rd

Brylee Ganske (Salmon, 11), 6^th, 5^th

Ricky Haralson (Kellogg, 11), 4^th, 6^th

1X STATE PLACERS (32)

Carter Kimball (Grace, 10), State Champion

Kaden Schaff (Nezperce, 10), 2^nd Place

Porter Mills (Malad, 10), 4^th Place

Jack Willie (Malad, 10), 5^th Place

Colter Barzee (West Side, 10), 6^th Place

Gavin Peterson (West Side, 11), 2^nd Place

Chase Scribner (Kellogg, 10), 3^rd Place

Jace Potter (Malad, 12), 5^th Place

Hayden Bond (Bear Lake, 11), 6^th Place

Tommy Angell (Malad, 12), 3^rd Place

Jeremiah Perry (New Plymouth, 11), 4^th Place

Carson Hill (North Fremont, 11), 5^th Place

Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River, 11), 5^th Place ‘22

Stellar Tew (West Side, 11), 6^th Place

Zander Yearsley (Ririe, 11), 4^th Place ‘22

Jack Eddins (Grace, 11), 3^rd Place ‘22

Jaeger Hall (Kellogg, 12), State Champion

Jace Waggoner (Tri-Valley, 10), 2^nd Place

Caeden McLaimtaig (Priest River, 12), 2^nd Place

Bronc Cordingly (North Fremont, 11), 6^th Place

Russell Noah (Tri-Valley, 12), 6^th Place ‘22

Jake Fabbi (Clearwater Valley, 11), 5^th Place ‘22

Bridger Jolley (Firth, 11), 6^th Place

Blaiz Wright (Malad, 12), 4^th Place

Trevor Rhoades (Melba, 12), 6^th Place

Teysen Gunnell (North Fremont, 12), 5^th Place ‘22

Orin Miller (North Fremont, 11), 3^rd Place

Evan Michaelson (Melba, 12), 4^th Place

Elijah Dilworth (Soda Springs, 10), 5^th Place

Matthew Goostrey (Bear Lake, 12), 5^th Place

Ben Jensen (West Side, 12), 6^th Place

Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth, 12), State Champion

FRESHMAN TO WATCH

106 – Gabe Howard (New Plymouth), 1^st. Dist.

113 – Blane Ethington (New Plymouth), 1^st. Dist.

113 – Eian Schwecke (Kendrick), 1^st. Dist.

120 – WahNay Say (New Plymouth), 1^st. Dist.

138 – Drake Morrison (Malad), 1^st. Dist.

145 – Oakley Maddox (Malad), 1^st. Dist.

145 – James Hansen (Ririe), 1^st. Dist.

ALL-AMERICANS (FS/GR/FOLKSTYLE)

Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs, 12)

Drake Morrison (Malad)

COLLEGE COMMITS (3)

Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs), University of Wyoming (DI)

Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth), Maine Maritime Academy (DIII)

Colton Gunderson (West Side), Augustana (DII)