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 Girls division crowned three 2x champions and nine additional first timers. Additionally, one wrestler earned a rare fourth state medal, eleven earned number three, and twenty-two more earning their second. Without a doubt, the level of competition continues to increase each and every year and with the grass roots level gaining traction, I expect the Girls division to get even more competitive in the near future. The team race crowned a new champion in Thunder Ridge since becoming a sanctioned sport (w/boy’s division) in 2022, knocking off two-time champions, Eagle.

This year’s event crowned three 2x State Champions. They include All-Americans Elise Twait of Meridian, Clare Waite (Boise), and Amie Hartman of Mountain Home. Earning a total of three trips to the state finals, Waite is committed to compete for North Central College in Illinois. A total of nine wrestlers earned their first respective state title. They include Salmon’s Raelynn O’Connor, Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge), Courtney Hunt (American Falls), two-time finalist Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge) in addition to freshman standouts Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome), Roxy Sheen (Buhl), and Keanna Conrad of Blackfoot, who finished the season unbeaten with a solid 47-0 record. Also stepping on the top of the podium were Nia Avelino (Caldwell), a 3x placer and Eastern Oregon commit and Rocky Mountain’s sophomore All-American Talea Nichols, who defeated defending champion and Joely Slyter of Lewiston.

The lone wrestler to join the 4x State Placer Club was Holland Weiber of Eagle. Placing in the top three the past two seasons, Weiber is committed to compete at the next level at Southern Oregon. A total of thirty-three wrestlers earned two to three career state medals. Earning a third medal this year includes 2023 State Champion and All-American Joely Slyter (Lewiston), 2023 Champion Jordyn LeBeau (Eagle), Zoe Fries (Kuna), Audrey Deleon (Weiser), and 2022 State Champion Allister Dillow of American Falls. The list of 2x State Placers reached twenty-two in 2024. Highlighting a few on this list include state finalists Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge), Kaisa Hanks (Burley), Hayley McNeal (Potlatch), and Bonneville’s Zoe Ortiz.

Producing one individual State Champion and five placers overall, Thunder Ridge became the second school in the Girl’s Division to win a team title since 2022. With a total of seven state qualifiers, the following Thunder Ridge wrestlers earned state medals, Gracie Price (100 – 2^nd), Mia Ragan (107 – 2^nd), Shauna Anderson (185 – Champion), Ashley Barnes (235 – 2^nd), and Olivia Silvester (235 – 4^th). The remaining top five schools in order include American Falls, Bonners Ferry, Eagle, and Jerome.

I have stated on many occasions that this year’s freshman class is among the best to compete at the state level since the first official state tournament in 2022. This year, a total of thirty-six freshman qualified to state within the twelve weight groups representing approximately 19% of the total qualifiers. Additionally, twelve freshmen placed in the top six (17%) with three earning individual titles (25%). Unquestionably, the grassroots level is producing stronger and more advanced incoming freshman progressively each year.

Taking a closer look at the Girls state results, I list all 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: 1 (1.4%)

Returning State Placers – Did not place: 10

School w/Most State Placers – Thunder Ridge (District V-VI): 5

District w/Most State Placers – Districts III/V-I: 21

GRADE STATISTICS

Frosh. State Placers: 12 (17%)

Soph. State Placers: 9 (13%)

Junior State Placers: 24 (33%)

Senior State Placers: 27 (38%)

Frosh. State Champions: 3 (25%)

Soph. State Champions: 3 (25%)

Junior State Champions: 4 (33%)

Senior State Champions: 2 (17%)

SEEDING STATISTICS

No. 1 seeds placing 1st: 6 (50%)

No. 2 seeds placing 2^nd: 1 (8%)

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

No. 4 seeds placing 4^th: 0 (0%)

No. 5 seeds placing 5^th: 3 (25%)

No. 6 seeds placing 6^th: 1 (8%)

State Placers – Top 6 seeds: 55 (76%)

State Placers – 7^th/8^th seeds: 7 (29%)

State Placers – Non-seeded (NS): 10 (14%)

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

100 – Raelynn O’Connor (Salmon, 11)

107 – Nia Avelino (Caldwell, 12)

114 – Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 10)

120 – Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome, 9)

126 – Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot, 9)

132 – Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 10)

138 – Roxy Sheen (Buhl, 9)

145 – Clare Waite (Boise, 12) 2x

152 – Elise Twait (Meridian, 11) 2x

165 – Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge, 11)

185 – Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 10)

235 – Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11) 2x

2X STATE CHAMPIONS (3)

Elise Twait (Meridian, 11)

Claire Waite (Boise, 12)

Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11)

4X STATE PLACER (1)

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

3X STATE PLACERS (11)

Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 11), 6^th, 1^st, 2^nd

Nia Avelino (Caldwell, 12), 4^th, 4^th, 1^st

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

Allister Dillow (American Falls, 12), 1^st, 5^th, 3^rd

Audrey Deleon (Weiser, 12), 3^rd, 6^th, 2^nd

Claire Waite (Boise, 12), 1^st., 2^nd, 1^st

Zoe Fries (Kuna, 11), 3^rd, 3^rd, 2^nd

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

Jordyn LeBeau (Eagle, 12), 2^nd, 1^st, 4^th

Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry, 12), 3^rd, 4^th, 6^th

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

2X STATE PLACERS (22)

Raelynn O’Conner (Salmon, 11), 3^rd, 1^st

Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley, 10), 4^th, 3^rd

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

Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge, 12), 5^th, 2^nd

Keira Zimmerman (Moscow, 11), 3^rd, 4^th

Rihanna Mora (Vallivue, 11), 6^th, 4^th

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

Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 10), 2^nd, 1^st

Kaisa Hanks (Burley, 11), 6^th, 2^nd

Madi Cook (Lake City, 12), 3^rd, 6^th

Zoe Ortiz (Bonneville, 12), 4^th, 2^nd

Elise Twait (Meridian, 11), 1^st, 1^st

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

Abby Wegner (Skyline, 12), 5^th, 4^th

Hayley McNeal (Potlatch, 11), 4^th, 2^nd

Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d’ Alene, 10), 5^th, 3^rd

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

Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge, 11), 3^rd, 1^st

Annika Thompson (Lakeland, 12), 6^th, 3^rd

Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 10), 2^nd, 1^st

Cossette Desrosiers (Columbia, 12), 4^th, 3^rd

TOP FIVE TEAMS

1 – Thunder Ridge: 130.5 (1 Champion/5 placers)

2 – American Falls: 83.0 (1 Champion/4 Placers)

3 – Bonners Ferry: 73.5 (4 Placers)

4 – Eagle: 67.0 (3 Placers)

5 – Jerome: 61.0 (1 Champion/3 Placers)

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (TOP 6)

DIVISION WEIGHT

Place – Name (School, Grade) #seed

G 100

1 - Raelynn O`Connor (Salmon, 11) #1

2 - Gracie Price (Thunder Ridge, 9) #7

3 - Brooke Hensley (Skyline, 11) #6

4 - Ava Bui (Centennial, 9) NS

5 - Daniele Holt (Canyon Ridge, 12) #4

6 - Taylor Drake (Kuna, 9) #8

1st Place Match

Raelynn O`Connor (Salmon) 32-4, Jr. over Gracie Price (Thunder Ridge) 30-9, Fr. (Fall 5:54)

3rd Place Match

Brooke Hensley (Skyline) 25-7, Jr. over Ava Bui (Centennial) 23-13, Fr. (Fall 1:48)

5th Place Match

Daniele Holt (Canyon Ridge) 34-13, Sr. over Taylor Drake (Kuna) 31-11, Fr. (SV-1 5-3)

G 107

1 - Nia Avelino (Caldwell, 12) #2

2 - Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge, 12) #4

3 - Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley, 10) #6

4 - Ali Svancara (Buhl, 9) #3

5 - Aly Stewart (Ririe, 11) NR

6 - Vanessa Ortiz (Glenns Ferry, 9) #8

1st Place Match

Nia Avelino (Caldwell) 36-5, Sr. over Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge) 35-9, Sr. (Dec 12-8)

3rd Place Match

Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley) 40-9, So. over Ali Svancara (Buhl) 37-5, Fr. (Dec 4-1)

5th Place Match

Aly Stewart (Ririe) 32-15, Jr. over Vanessa Ortiz (Glenns Ferry) 19-11, Fr. (Dec 8-4)

G 114

1 - Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 10) #3 (All-American)

2 - Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 11) #1 (All-American)

3 - Kinzie Williams (American Falls, 9) #2

4 - Rihanna Mora (Vallivue, 10) #7

5 - Toni Avelino (Caldwell, 12) #4

6 - Shelby Smith (Ririe, 11) NS

1st Place Match

Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain) 33-4, So. over Joely Slyter (Lewiston) 45-2, Jr. (Dec 12-6)

3rd Place Match

Kinzie Williams (American Falls) 29-2, Fr. over Rihanna Mora (Vallivue) 36-10, Jr. (MD 9-1)

5th Place Match

Toni Avelino (Caldwell) 33-9, Sr. over Shelby Smith (Ririe) 30-10, Jr. (Fall 3:40)

G 120

1 - Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome, 9) #2

2 - Audrey Deleon (Weiser, 12) #4

3 - Allister Dillow (American Falls, 12) #1

4 - Alexxis Johnson (Lake City, 11) #3

5 - Jordan Reynolds (Snake River, 12) #5

6 - Emma Garman (Sandpoint, 11) #6

1st Place Match

Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome) 28-0, Fr. over Audrey Deleon (Weiser) 35-6, Sr. (Fall 1:23)

3rd Place Match

Allister Dillow (American Falls) 38-3, Sr. over Alexxis Johnson (Lake City) 28-5, Jr. (Dec 2-1)

5th Place Match

Jordan Reynolds (Snake River) 39-7, Sr. over Emma Garman (Sandpoint) 29-9, Jr. (Dec 2-1)

G 126

1 - Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot, 9) #1

2 - Kasia Hanks (Burley, 11) #2

3 - Mitzie Hunt (Bear Lake, 12) #7

4 - Keira Zimmerman (Moscow, 11) #3

5 - Shelby Prather (Potlatch, 11) #4

6 - Elyse Asaro (Rocky Mountain, 10) NS

1st Place Match

Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot) 43-0, Fr. over Kasia Hanks (Burley) 33-4, Jr. (MD 10-2)

3rd Place Match

Mitzie Hunt (Bear Lake) 44-7, Sr. over Keira Zimmerman (Moscow) 19-5, Jr. (Dec 2-1)

5th Place Match

Shelby Prather (Potlatch) 30-6, Jr. over Elyse Asaro (Rocky Mountain) 26-15, So. (Fall 1:56)

G 132

1 - Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 10) #2

2 - Zoe Ortiz (Bonneville, 12) #4

3 - Kylie Fowler (Middleton, 11) #7

4 - Hallie Esmiol (Centennial, 11) NS

5 - Sofia Brown (Bonners Ferry, 11) NS

6 - Madi Cook (Lake City, 12) #1

1st Place Match

Courtney Hunt (American Falls) 31-6, So. over Zoe Ortiz (Bonneville) 41-3, Sr. (Dec 7-4)

3rd Place Match

Kylie Fowler (Middleton) 28-10, Jr. over Hallie Esmiol (Centennial) 28-10, Jr. (Dec 11-6)

5th Place Match

Sofia Brown (Bonners Ferry) 36-9, Jr. over Madi Cook (Lake City) 39-7, Sr. (Fall 4:08)

G 138

1 - Roxy Sheen (Buhl, 9) #1

2 - Zoe Fries (Kuna, 11) #3 (All-American)

3 - Kyler Scott (Century, 10) #2

4 - Abby Wegner (Skyline, 12) #5

5 - Taylor Williams (Kimberly, 9) NS

6 - Megan Myers (Clearwater Valley, 10) #4

1st Place Match

Roxy Sheen (Buhl) 45-1, Fr. over Zoe Fries (Kuna) 31-9, Jr. (Fall 1:31)

3rd Place Match

Kyler Scott (Century) 43-5, So. over Abby Wegner (Skyline) 33-12, Sr. (Fall 0:59)

5th Place Match

Taylor Williams (Kimberly) 24-11, Fr. over Megan Myers (Clearwater Valley) 24-11, So. (Fall 0:48)

G 145

1 - Clare Waite (Boise, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Cara Brown (Coeur d’ Alene, 12) #6

3 - Holland Wieber (Eagle, 12) #2

4 - Elena Guerena (Owyhee, 12) #3

5 - Celestial Westover (West Side, 11) #5

6 - Izzy Davis (Kellogg, 11) #4

1st Place Match

Clare Waite (Boise) 37-1, Sr. over Cara Brown (Coeur d Alene) 25-5, Sr. (Dec 4-0)

3rd Place Match

Holland Wieber (Eagle) 30-9, Sr. over Elena Guerena (Owyhee) 34-10, Sr. (Fall 1:40)

5th Place Match

Celestial Westover (West Side) 39-8, Jr. over Izzy Davis (Kellogg) 32-9, Jr. (Dec 2-1)

G 152

1 - Elise Twait (Meridian, 11) #1

2 - Hayley McNeal (Potlatch, 11) #3

3 - Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d’ Alene, 10) #4

4 - Jordyn Kearn (American Falls, 12) #5

5 - Gracin Dennis (Emmett, 11) #6

6 - Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry, 12) #2

1st Place Match

Elise Twait (Meridian) 23-1, Jr. over Hayley McNeal (Potlatch) 30-7, Jr. (Dec 10-3)

3rd Place Match

Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d Alene) 26-4, So. over Jordyn Kearn (American Falls) 26-5, Sr. (Fall 4:07)

5th Place Match

Gracin Dennis (Emmett) 33-9, Jr. over Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry) 27-6, Sr. (Fall 3:35)

G 165

1 - Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge, 11) #3

2 - Aubrey Wells (Bonners Ferry, 12) NS

3 - Annika Thompson (Lakeland, 12) #2

4 - Alysen Palomar (Columbia, 12) #6

5 - Eliza Dugan (Jerome, 12) #4

6 - Paige Cantwell (Eagle, 12) #5

1st Place Match

Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge) 22-4, Jr. over Aubrey Wells (Bonners Ferry) 20-9, Sr. (Fall 4:00)

3rd Place Match

Annika Thompson (Lakeland) 26-6, Sr. over Alysen Palomar (Columbia) 35-13, Sr. (Fall 0:59)

5th Place Match

Eliza Dugan (Jerome) 31-8, Sr. over Paige Cantwell (Eagle) 23-16, Sr. (Fall 1:53)

G 185

1 - Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 10) #4

2 - Eva Wilis (Bonners Ferry, 9) NS

3 - Quinsea Robinson (Minico, 12) #6

4 - Jordynn LeBeau (Eagle, 12) #1

5 - Josslyn Blair (Jerome, 11) #2

6 - Emma Rivera (Lewiston, 11) NS

1st Place Match

Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge) 25-6, So. over Eva Wilis (Bonners Ferry) 21-6, Fr. (Fall 0:22)

3rd Place Match

Quinsea Robinson (Minico) 25-10, Sr. over Jordynn LeBeau (Eagle) 25-6, Sr. (Fall 2:57)

5th Place Match

Josslyn Blair (Jerome) 38-5, Jr. over Emma Rivera (Lewiston) 25-13, Jr. (Fall 2:58)

G 235

1 - Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11) #1 (All-American)

2 - Ashley Barnes (Thunder Ridge, 12) #3

3 - Cosette Desrosiers (Columbia, 12) #4

4 - Olivia Silvester (Thunder Ridge, 9) #5

5 - Cameron Spicer (Rocky Mountain, 12) #5

6 - Lilli Marti (Sandpoint, 10) #2

1st Place Match

Amie Hartman (Mountain Home) 34-1, Jr. over Ashley Barnes (Thunder Ridge) 26-8, Sr. (Fall 0:45)

3rd Place Match

Cosette Desrosiers (Columbia) 27-8, Sr. over Olivia Silvester (Thunder Ridge) 24-12, Fr. (Fall 4:28)

5th Place Match

Cameron Spicer (Rocky Mountain) 17-11, Sr. over Lilli Marti (Sandpoint) 16-6, So. (M. For.)