ORDER GAME PHOTOS

The 2024 Idaho State Wrestling Championships held at Holt Arena (ICCU Dome) on the campus of Idaho State University lived up to all my pre-tournament expectations and much more. It was definitely a barnburner of an event from start to finish. This year’s 2A/1A division crowned one 3x champions, five 2x champions, and ten winning their first. Additionally, four wrestlers earned a rare fourth state medal, eleven with number three, and twenty-nine more earning their second. The team race between Meridian, Post Falls, and Nampa lived up to all the pre-tournament hype and in the end finished in the same order as predicted. The team race was a three way battle between Malad, defending champion New Plymouth, and Kellogg.

The small school division produced a significant number of wrestlers with multiple state titles, placings, and All-American honors. Joining the 3x State Champion Club is All-American Tucker Bowen of Soda Springs. Reaching the championship finals four times during his impressive prep career, Bowen is headed to the University of Wyoming to compete at the next level this coming Fall. The 2x State Champions Club had five new wrestlers added this year, which includes sophomore standout Carter Kimball (Grace), Maine Maritime Academy commit Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth), Colton Gunderson (West Side), Wallace Durfee (Declo), and Gabe Mullenburg, a junior from Glenns Ferry who has made three trips to the state finals.

A total of ten wrestlers earned their first respective state title. They include freshman Kole Younger (Grace) and James Hansen (Ririe) in addition to Kaden Scaff (Nezperce), Ashton Allen (Firth), Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River), Evan Michaelson (Melba), 2x finalist Gavin Peterson (West Side), and 3x placers Hiatt Beck (Aberdeen), Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth), and Bass Myers of Clearwater Valley.

A total of forty-four wrestlers earned between two to four state medals this year. Joining the 4x State Placer Club is 2023 State Champion Wyatt Cutler of Grace and Kellogg’s Kolter Wood. In addition to State champions Mullenburg, Durfee, and Gunderson, three other wrestlers entered the 3x Placer Club. They include 2023 State Champion Jacob Shaw of New Plymouth and previous finalists’ Ches Lee Webb (Ririe) and Price Thomas of Glenns Ferry. The largest pool of multi-state placers was twenty-nine in the 2x State Placer Club. Out of the twenty-nine wrestlers, a total of twelve have reached the state finals in their respective prep careers. They include Jaeger Hall (Kellogg), Tayven Kunz (Ririe), Jeremiah Perry (New Plymouth), Jack Willie (Malad), Colter Barzee (West Side), Jack Eddins (Grace), Jace Waggoner (Tri-Valley), Caeden McLaimtaig (Priest River), Russell Noah (Tri-Valley), Orin Miller (North Fremont), and Elijah Dilworth of Soda Springs.

The pre-tournament predictions for the team race was Malad, New Plymouth, and Kellogg. When it was all said and done, these three teams left no doubt that they were the best of the 2A/1A. Finishing the tournament with 183.5 points, Malad secured its third state title since winning their school’s first in 2009 by producing nine placers overall. Defending Champions New Plymouth placed a solid second with 159 points (2 Champions/6 Placers) edging Kellogg (9 Placers) by four points.

Taking a closer look at the 2A/1A state results, I list all 3x Champions, 2x Champions, as well as multiple placers. Additionally, I compiled a list of statistics highlighting number two wrestlers that placed, schools with the most state placers, top districts, number of placers and champions by grade, etc. For more details, see statistics below. Enjoy!

MISC. TOURNAMENT STATISTICS

State Placers – No. 2 wrestlers: 4 (4%)

Returning Placers – Did not place: 7

School w/Most State Placers – Kellogg (District I-II)/Malad (District V): 9

District w/Most State Placers – District V: 27

GRADE STATISTICS

Frosh. State Placers: 12 (13%)

Soph. State Placers: 20 (22%)

Junior State Placers: 26 (29%)

Senior State Placers: 32 (36%)

Frosh. State Champions: 6 (40%)

Soph. State Champions: 5 (33%)

Junior State Champions: 2 (13%)

Senior State Champions: 2 (13%)

SEEDING STATISTICS

No. 1 seeds placing 1^st: 9 (60%)

No. 2 seeds placing 2^nd: 7 (47%)

No. 3 seeds placing 3^rd: 0 (0%)

No. 4 seeds placing 4^th: 2 (13%)

No. 5 seeds placing 5^th: 0 (0%)

No. 6 seeds placing 6^th: 1 (7%)

State Placers – Top 6 seeds: 71 (79%)

State Placers – 7^th/8^th seeds: 7 (23%)

State Placers – Non-Seeded (NS): 12 (13%)

TOP FIVE TEAM SCORES

1. Malad: 183.5 (9 Placers)

2. New Plymouth: 159.0 (2 Champions/6 Placers)

3. Kellogg: 155.0 (9 Placers)

4. West Side: 127.0 (2 Champions/6 Placers)

5. Firth: 122.5 (2 Champions/6 Placers)

INDIVIDUAL STATE CHAMPIONS

98 – Kole Younger (Grace, 9)

106 – Kaden Scaff (Nezperce, 10)

113 – Carter Kimball (Grace, 10) 2x

120 – Gavin Peterson (West Side, 11)

126 – Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs, 12) 3x

132 – Wallace Durfee (Declo, 11) 2x

138 – Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River, 11)

145 – James Hansen (Ririe, 9)

152 – Hiatt Beck (Aberdeen, 12)

160 – Colten Gundersen (West Side, 12) 2x

170 – Ashton Allen (Firth, 11)

182 – Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth, 11)

195 – Bass Myers (Clearwater Valley, 12)

220 – Evan Michaelson (Melba, 12)

285 – Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth, 12) 2x

3X STATE CHAMPIONS (1)

Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs, 12)

2X STATE CHAMPIONS (5)

Gabe Mullenburg (Glenns Ferry, 11)

Carter Kimball (Grace, 10)

Wallace Durfee (Declo, 12)

Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth, 12)

Colton Gunderson (West Side, 12)

4X STATE PLACERS (4)

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

Wyatt Cutler (Grace, 12), 5^th, 4^th, 1^st, 2^nd

Kolter Wood (Kellogg, 12), 5^th, 6^th, 3^rd, 2^nd

Hiatt Beck (Aberdeen, 12), 6^th, 3^rd, 3^rd, 1^st

3X STATE PLACERS (11)

Gabe Mullenburg (Glenns Ferry, 11), 1^st, 1^st, 2^nd

Wallace Durfee (Declo, 12), 3^rd, 1^st, 1^st

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

Jacob Shaw (New Plymouth, 11), 6^th, 1^st, 2^nd

Eston Beck (Aberdeen, 11), 5^th, 4^th, 6^th

Ches Lee Webb (Ririe, 11), 5^th, 2^nd, 3^rd

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

Porter Whipple (Kamiah, 12), 5^th, 3rd, 4^th

Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth, 11), 5^th, 4^th, 1^st

Bass Myers (Clearwater Valley, 12), 6^th, 3^rd, 1^st

Ricky Haralson (Kellogg, 11), 4^th, 6^th, 5^th

2X STATE PLACERS (29)

Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth, 12), 1^st, 1^st

Carter Kimball (Grace, 10), 1^st, 1^st

Jaeger Hall (Kellogg, 12), 1^st, 3^rd

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

Jeremiah Perry (New Plymouth, 11), 4^th, 2^nd

Kaden Schaff (Nezperce, 10), 2^nd, 1^st

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

Jack Willie (Malad, 10), 5^th, 2^nd

Colter Barzee (West Side, 10), 6^th, 2^nd

Gavin Peterson (West Side, 11), 2^nd, 1st

Chase Scribner (Kellogg, 10), 3^rd, 6^th

Jace Potter (Malad, 12), 5^th, 3^rd

Carson Hill (North Fremont, 11), 5^th, 4^th

Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River, 11), 5^th, 1^st

Stellar Tew (West Side, 11), 6^th, 4^th

Jack Eddins (Grace, 11), 3^rd, 2^nd

Jace Waggoner (Tri-Valley, 10), 2^nd, 6^th

Caeden McLaimtaig (Priest River, 12), 2^nd, 3^rd

Bronc Cordingly (North Fremont, 11), 6^th, 4^th

Russell Noah (Tri-Valley, 12), 6^th, 2^nd

Bridger Jolley (Firth, 11), 6^th, 2^nd

Blaiz Wright (Malad, 12), 4^th, 5^th

Trevor Rhoades (Melba, 12), 6^th, 4^th

Teysen Gunnell (North Fremont, 12), 5^th, 5^th

Orin Miller (North Fremont, 11), 3^rd, 2^nd

Evan Michaelson (Melba, 12), 4^th, 1^st

Elijah Dilworth (Soda Springs, 10), 5^th, 2^nd

Matthew Goostrey (Bear Lake, 12), 5^th, 3^rd

Ben Jensen (West Side, 12), 6^th, 5^th

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (TOP 6)

DIVISION WEIGHT

Place – Name (School, Grade) #seed

2A 98

1 - Kole Younger (Grace, 9) #4

2 - Jack Willie (Malad, 10) #3

3 - Johnny Stovern (Kellogg, 10) #1

4 - Michael Roberts (West Side, 9) NS

5 - Kevin Watson (Kellogg, 9) NS

6 - Peter Fabbi (Clearwater Valley, 9) #2

1st Place Match

Kole Younger (Grace) 35-7, Fr. over Jack Willie (Malad) 46-6, So. (Dec 11-7)

3rd Place Match

Johnny Stovern (Kellogg) 42-11, So. over Michael Roberts (West Side) 35-17, Fr. (Fall 2:00)

5th Place Match

Kevin Watson (Kellogg) 41-13, Fr. over Peter Fabbi (Clearwater Valley) 37-10, Fr. (Dec 4-1)

2A 106

1 - Kaden Schaff (Nezperce, 10) #1

2 - Colter Barzee (West Side, 10) #2

3 - Colton Storey (Kellogg, 9) #5

4 - Will Osterhout (Declo, 11) #3

5 - Cael Newby (Grace, 9) #7

6 - Aiden Figueroa (Kellogg, 10) #8

1st Place Match

Kaden Schaff (Nezperce) 20-4, So. over Colter Barzee (West Side) 45-3, So. (Fall 5:13)

3rd Place Match

Colton Storey (Kellogg) 43-10, Fr. over Will Osterhout (Declo) 33-6, Jr. (Dec 9-6)

5th Place Match

Cael Newby (Grace) 36-17, Fr. over Aiden Figueroa (Kellogg) 37-21, So. (MD 9-0)

2A 113

1 - Carter Kimball (Grace, 10) #1

2 - Blane Ethington (New Plymouth, 9) #3

3 - Jace Potter (Malad, 12) #2

4 - Porter Mills (Malad, 10) #7

5 - Kelby Harvey (St. Maries, 9) NS

6 - Henry Thomas (Glenns Ferry, 10) #4

1st Place Match

Carter Kimball (Grace) 45-8, So. over Blane Ethington (New Plymouth) 43-11, Fr. (Fall 5:35)

3rd Place Match

Jace Potter (Malad) 41-8, Sr. over Porter Mills (Malad) 28-17, So. (Fall 4:38)

5th Place Match

Kelby Harvey (St. Maries) 42-14, Fr. over Henry Thomas (Glenns Ferry) 38-13, So. (Dec 8-6)

2A 120

1 - Gavin Peterson (West Side, 11) #1

2 - Gabe Muilenburg (Glenns Ferry, 11) #3

3 - Ches Lee Webb (Ririe, 11) #4

4 - Hector Silvas (Firth, 11) NS

5 - Ricky Haralson (Kellogg, 11) #2

6 - Jacob Hartle (New Plymouth, 11) NS

1st Place Match

Gavin Peterson (West Side) 37-6, Jr. over Gabe Muilenburg (Glenns Ferry) 40-13, Jr. (Dec 5-0)

3rd Place Match

Ches Lee Webb (Ririe) 41-14, Jr. over Hector Silvas (Firth) 32-15, Jr. (Dec 8-3)

5th Place Match

Ricky Haralson (Kellogg) 27-6, Jr. over Jacob Hartle (New Plymouth) 17-16, Jr. (MD 14-0)

2A 126

1 - Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Jeremiah Perry (New Plymouth, 11) #2

3 - Carter Brittain (Firth, 11) #5

4 - Sam Willie (Malad, 10) #4

5 - Blake Tracy (Raft River, 11) #6

6 - Chase Scribner (Kellogg, 10) #3

1st Place Match

Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs) 36-3, Sr. over Jeremiah Perry (New Plymouth) 27-16, Jr. (TF-1.5 4:52 (18-3)

3rd Place Match

Carter Brittain (Firth) 36-8, Jr. over Sam Willie (Malad) 45-11, So. (Dec 2-1)

5th Place Match

Blake Tracy (Raft River) 19-7, Jr. over Chase Scribner (Kellogg) 38-16, So. (Dec 6-2)

2A 132

1 - Wallace Durfee (Declo, 11) #1

2 - Kolter Wood (Kellogg, 12) #2

3 - Price Thomas (Glenns Ferry, 12) #4

4 - Carson Hill (North Fremont, 11) #3

5 - Jack Schwendiman (Ririe, 10) #6

6 - Eston Beck (Aberdeen, 11) #5

1st Place Match

Wallace Durfee (Declo) 40-5, Jr. over Kolter Wood (Kellogg) 54-4, Sr. (Dec 7-1)

3rd Place Match

Price Thomas (Glenns Ferry) 49-13, Sr. over Carson Hill (North Fremont) 46-4, Jr. (Dec 8-2)

5th Place Match

Jack Schwendiman (Ririe) 49-17, So. over Eston Beck (Aberdeen) 22-12, Jr. (Dec 2-1)

2A 138

1 - Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River, 11) #6

2 - Jack Eddins (Grace, 11) #8

3 - Drake Morrison (Malad, 9) #1 (All-American)

4 - Stellar Tew (West Side, 11) #4

5 - Hunter Gamble (Orofino, 10) NS

6 - Jace Waggoner (Tri-Valley, 10) #3

1st Place Match

Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River) 50-10, Jr. over Jack Eddins (Grace) 47-17, Jr. (Dec 8-7)

3rd Place Match

Drake Morrison (Malad) 56-2, Fr. over Stellar Tew (West Side) 48-9, Jr. (Fall 0:40)

5th Place Match

Hunter Gamble (Orofino) 29-11, So. over Jace Waggoner (Tri-Valley) 46-9, So. (Dec 11-7)

2A 145

1 - James Hansen (Ririe, 9) #2

2 - Oakley Maddox (Malad, 9) #4

3 - Jaeger Hall (Kellogg, 12) #1

4 - Bronc Cordingley (North Fremont, 11) #6

5 - Zayden Garbett (Soda Springs, 9) NS

6 - Jerrett Brebner (St. Maries, 11) NS

1st Place Match

James Hansen (Ririe) 52-5, Fr. over Oakley Maddox (Malad) 40-10, Fr. (Fall 5:36)

3rd Place Match

Jaeger Hall (Kellogg) 37-5, Sr. over Bronc Cordingley (North Fremont) 27-8, Jr. (Dec 4-1)

5th Place Match

Zayden Garbett (Soda Springs) 22-16, Fr. over Jerrett Brebner (St. Maries) 19-9, Jr. (Fall 1:27)

2A 152

1 - Hiatt Beck (Aberdeen, 12) #3

2 - Jacob Shaw (New Plymouth, 11) #1

3 - Caeden McLaimtaig (Priest River, 12) #2

4 - Eli Noah (Tri-Valley, 10) NS

5 - Taegan Sessions (North Fremont, 12) #4

6 - Mac Hall (West Jefferson, 10) #8

1st Place Match

Hiatt Beck (Aberdeen) 34-2, Sr. over Jacob Shaw (New Plymouth) 31-3, Jr. (Fall 5:07)

3rd Place Match

Caeden McLaimtaig (Priest River) 59-8, Sr. over Eli Noah (Tri-Valley) 40-10, So. (Fall 2:10)

5th Place Match

Taegan Sessions (North Fremont) 56-6, Sr. over Mac Hall (West Jefferson) 44-17, So. (MD 10-1)

2A 160

1 - Colten Gundersen (West Side, 12) #1

2 - Russell Noah (Tri-Valley, 12) #2

3 - Aiden Yearout (St. Maries, 10) #4

4 - Toby Walker (Tri-Valley, 11) #6

5 - Teysen Gunnell (North Fremont, 12) #3

6 - Dylan Moss (Malad, 12) NS

1st Place Match

Colten Gundersen (West Side) 44-3, Sr. over Russell Noah (Tri-Valley) 46-10, Sr. (Fall 2:59)

3rd Place Match

Aiden Yearout (St. Maries) 50-7, So. over Toby Walker (Tri-Valley) 41-14, Jr. (Dec 7-1)

5th Place Match

Teysen Gunnell (North Fremont) 25-10, Sr. over Dylan Moss (Malad) 24-15, Sr. (Fall 2:04)

2A 170

1 - Ashton Allen (Firth, 11) #3

2 - Wyatt Cutler (Grace, 12) #1

3 - Ramsey Rainio (Kellogg, 12) #4

4 - Hunter Wray (Malad, 12) #5

5 - Gage Warren (Tri-Valley, 12) #2

6 - Cole Garbett (Soda Springs, 10) #7

1st Place Match

Ashton Allen (Firth) 29-9, Jr. over Wyatt Cutler (Grace) 37-6, Sr. (DQ)

3rd Place Match

Ramsey Rainio (Kellogg) 30-13, Sr. over Hunter Wray (Malad) 42-11, Sr. (Dec 9-6)

5th Place Match

Gage Warren (Tri-Valley) 42-10, Sr. over Cole Garbett (Soda Springs) 28-14, So. (MD 15-1)

2A 182

1 - Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth, 11) #1

2 - Bridger Jolley (Firth, 12) #2

3 - Brendan Svetich (Melba, 11) #4

4 - Kenyon Adams (Declo, 11) NS

5 - Rigin Dixon (Challis, 10) #6

6 - Wyatt Moura (Tri-Valley, 10) #3

1st Place Match

Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth) 42-3, Jr. over Bridger Jolley (Firth) 27-3, Sr. (Fall 1:53)

3rd Place Match

Brendan Svetich (Melba) 29-10, Jr. over Kenyon Adams (Declo) 31-16, Jr. (Dec 5-2)

5th Place Match

Rigin Dixon (Challis) 38-11, So. over Wyatt Moura (Tri-Valley) 41-16, So. (Fall 2:53)

2A 195

1 - Bass Myers (Clearwater Valley, 12) #1

2 - Elijah Dilworth (Soda Springs, 10) #2

3 - Trey Gibson (St. Maries, 12) NS

4 - Trevor Rhoades (Melba, 12) #3

5 - Blaiz Wright (Malad, 12) #4

6 - Abraham Orozco (Wendell, 12) #5

1st Place Match

Bass Myers (Clearwater Valley) 35-2, Sr. over Elijah Dilworth (Soda Springs) 35-4, So. (Dec 8-6)

3rd Place Match

Trey Gibson (St. Maries) 49-5, Sr. over Trevor Rhoades (Melba) 34-8, Sr. (Fall 0:20)

5th Place Match

Blaiz Wright (Malad) 45-10, Sr. over Abraham Orozco (Wendell) 33-13, Sr. (Fall 1:09)

2A 220

1 - Evan Michaelson (Melba, 12) #2

2 - Orrin Miller (North Fremont, 11) #1

3 - Matthew Goostrey (Bear Lake, 12) #4

4 - Porter Whipple (Kamiah, 12) #3

5 - Caleb Grow (Priest River, 11) NS

6 - Jonathan Leon (Marsing, 12) #6

1st Place Match

Evan Michaelson (Melba) 38-2, Sr. over Orrin Miller (North Fremont) 50-4, Jr. (SV-1 3-1)

3rd Place Match

Matthew Goostrey (Bear Lake) 23-8, Sr. over Porter Whipple (Kamiah) 44-5, Sr. (Fall 2:04)

5th Place Match

Caleb Grow (Priest River) 28-19, Jr. over Jonathan Leon (Marsing) 19-12, Sr. (Fall 1:51)

2A 285

1 - Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth, 12) #1

2 - Scott Sotin (St. Maries, 12) #2

3 - Jarrek Crandall (Marsing, 12) #5

4 - Will Carter (Challis, 12) #3

5 - Ben Jensen (West Side, 12) #4

6 - Kendale Jones (Firth, 12) #7

1st Place Match

Nathan Willoughby (New Plymouth) 41-6, Sr. over Scott Sotin (St. Maries) 41-12, Sr. (Fall 0:44)

3rd Place Match

Jarrek Crandall (Marsing) 19-7, Sr. over Will Carter (Challis) 33-10, Sr. (Fall 0:26)

5th Place Match

Ben Jensen (West Side) 43-14, Sr. over Kendale Jones (Firth) 19-15, Sr. (Fall 2:44)