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ORDER GAME PHOTOS
As the 2022-’23 season rapidly approaches, the various wrestling publications, such as Wrestling USA Magazine, FLO Wrestling, WIN Magazine, as well as other organizations publish their respective national rankings, highlighting the top prep wrestlers in the country for both the boys and girl’s divisions.
The traditional criteria to gain recognition in these rankings is to not only perform well at one’s state tournament, but to put it on the line against the best of the best at various national level competitions, such as the Fargo USA Nationals, USAW Folkstyle Nationals, Super 32, NHSCA Nationals, Freakshow, Walsh Ironman, and Clovis Doc Buchanan Invitational to name a few.
For the past several of years, the Gem State of Idaho has been performing very well on the national stage at several of these competitions and the number of wrestlers populating the set of rankings presented is gradually increasing, especially in the Girl’s division where nine Gem State wrestlers have been recognized in the preseason rankings. This is a significant number considering that the state of Idaho is in the beginning stages of growing Girl’s Wrestling at both the grassroots and prep levels.
The national voice of wrestling since 1965, Wrestling USA Magazine (WUSA) is owned and operated by the Bryant family and is among the oldest wrestling publications in the country. Only Amateur Wrestling News has been serving the wrestling community longer at 67 years. To date, WUSA has been recognizing the nation’s top prep wrestlers in many formats (i.e., grade level rankings, All-Class rankings, and the annual poster featuring the Dream Team, Academic Team, and All-Americans for top seniors.
For as long as I can remember, contributing editor Dan Fickel has been one of the leading national rankers for WUSA and since has done an outstanding job ranking and recognizing not only the top high school elite, but the multiple divisions at the collegiate level as well.
In the October 2022 preseason All-Class rankings, Idaho is well represented. Leading the Gem State is six-time National Champion Mack Mauger of Blackfoot High School.
A junior, Mauger enters this season ranked #2 in the country and is in pursuit of his third Idaho state title after winning the USA Wrestling Triple Crown award for the second year in a row.
Also ranked #2 is World Bronze medalist Aden Attao of Borah High School in Boise. Winning his first prep title last season, Attao also won double titles (Freestyle/Greco) at Fargo and earned the Triple Crown award for winning national titles in all three styles (Greco, Freestyle, and Folkstyle) in the same year.
Also making the top 10 ranking is two-time State Champion Kolter Burton of American Falls. Additionally, a junior, Burton is ranked #7 and has performed very well on the national stage, winning and earning All-American honors in multiple Folkstyle and Fargo National competitions.
Other outstanding Idaho wrestlers ranked in the top 25 include Fargo All-Americans Dedrick Navarro (Nampa, Sr., #12), Tanner Frothinger (Eagle, 12, #25), Jason Mara (Meridian, 11, #21), and Fargo finalist/U15 World Greco Champion Jadon Skellenger (Bishop Kelly, Jr., #13).
Receiving “Special Mention” include returning State Champion Matthew Martino (Bishop Kelly, Soph., 120s), an age group Pan Am Champion with multiple All-American honors, followed by Folkstyle National Champion Hunter Hobbs (South Fremont, Sr. 182s) and All-Americans Hunter Bidelman (Caldwell, Sr., 145s) and Hudson Rogers (Meridian, Jr., 170s).
Also receiving “Special Mention” is returning State Champion Joshua Curzon (Snake River, Sr., 285s) and Miguel Perez (Caldwell, Sr., 285s), each in position to earn a fourth state medal this season.
Flo Wrestling is perhaps one of the most comprehensive wrestling news outlets in the country that features many daily stories, national rankings (by David Bray), and produces a constant flow of videos highlighting wrestling biographies, tournaments, and special events. Likewise, WIN Magazine is also a very well-respected and comprehensive publication that in addition to many great stories, tournament analysis, and individual profiles, features a strong set of national rankings highlighting the top 25 (All-Class) by longtime national ranker and wrestling expert Rob Sherrill.
Traditionally, the criteria to be recognized in both the FLO and WIN rankings is to put one’s reputation on the line against the best of the best (WUSA Magazine inclusive). That means competing at Fargo, USAW Folkstyle, NHSCA, and several of the top five high school tournaments as listed above. Winning one’s state tournament is usually not enough to enter the national ranking circle (top 20-25).
Entering the 2022-’23 season, the Gem State has four outstanding wrestlers listed in these ranking sets. They include our tough 106 pound contingent with Mack Mauger (#4 FLO/#5 WIN), Kolter Burton (#7 FLO/#7 WIN), and Dedrick Navarro (#12 FLO/#16 WIN). At 285s, Aden Attao of Borah climbed many rungs from his ranking last season, especially after his performance at Fargo and the U20 World Championships. Entering the new season, Attao has entered the top 5 slot for both wrestling publications (#4 FLO/#3 WIN).
The National Girls High School rankings are by sponsored by USA Wrestling, Flo Wrestling, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame and Museum (NWHOF).
Published on October 3rd, the Gem State truly represents very well with 9 girls being recognized. Considering that Idaho is in the early stages of growth at the grassroots and prep levels, to have close to ten recognized is a testament of the hard work and commitment of the wrestlers and the programs they are a part.
Leading this strong contingent is Senior Alyssa Randles of Coeur d’ Alene High School. Ranked #4 at 122s, Randles is a 3x State Champion and has earned 5 All-American honors to date.
In the top 10 at #9 is Rocky Mountain’s Mia Furman (144s). A State Champion in 2021, Furman is a 3x state placer and has 6 All-American honors to her credit.
Rounding out the remaining wrestlers ranked in the top 25 include Joely Slyter (Lewiston, Soph., 106s, #24), Kadence Beck (Highland-C, Sr., 106s #15), Skyla Zimmerman (Moscow, Sr., 112s, #15), Clare Waite (Boise, Jr., 144s, #22), Reece Woods (Eagle, Sr., 180s, #23), Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, Soph., 200s, #21), and Olivia Woods (Eagle, Sr., 225s, #14). Overall, a great representation and a testament of the talent being produced in Idaho.
Once again, congratulations to all Idaho wrestlers that were recognized in the recent national rankings. Their commitment during the regular and post seasons is evident with the recognition that they have received by these wrestling news outlets. Listed below is the group of Idaho wrestlers mentioned in this article.
Please note, there are many other talented wrestlers in Idaho that have not been recognized in these rankings, but are on the leading edge of being ranked. Often, the difference between a kid being ranked #15 or #25 in the nation or just outside the ranking circle is quite minimal.
In my humble opinion, for every kid ranked nationally (around the 15th to 25th range), there are several more not ranked that are just as good, if not better. It’s a matter of getting more national exposure on the mat and putting it on the line against the nation’s best. Good luck to all Idaho wrestlers this season!
WRESTLING USA MAGAZINE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Published – October 2022 (All-Class by Dan Fickel)
106 – Mack Mauger (Blackfoot, 11) #2
106 – Kolter Burton (American Falls, 11) #7
106 – Dedrick Navarro (Nampa, 12) #12
120 – Matthew Martino (Bishop Kelly, 10) Special Mention
132 – Tanner Frothinger (Eagle, 12) #25
145 – Jason Mara (Meridian, 11) #21
145 – Hunter Bidelman (Caldwell, 12) Special Mention
160 – Jadon Skellenger (Bishop Kelly, 11) #13
170 – Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 11) Special Mention
182 – Hunter Hobbs (South Fremont, 12) Special Mention
285 – Aden Attao (Borah, 12) #2
285 – Miguel Perez (Caldwell, 12) Special Mention
285 – Joshua Curzon (Snake River, 12) Special Mention
FLO WRESTLING NATIONAL RANKINGS
Published – September 29, 2022 (All-Class by David Bray)
106 – Mack Mauger (Blackfoot, 11) #4
106 – Kolter Burton (American Falls, 11) #7
106 – Dedrick Navarro (Nampa, 12) #12
285 – Aden Attao (Borah, 12) #4
WIN MAGAZINE/SPARTAN COMBAT PRESEASON HS RANKINGS
Published – October 6, 2022(All-Class by Rob Sherrill)
106 – Mack Mauger (Blackfoot, 11) #5
106 – Kolter Burton (American Falls, 11) #7
106 – Dedrick Navarro (Nampa, 12) #16
285 – Aden Attao (Borah, 12) #3
NATIONAL GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL RANKINGS
Published: October 3, 2022 (All-Class by USA Wrestling, Flo Wrestling, and NWHOF and Museum)
100 – Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 10) #24
106 – Kadence Beck (Highland-C, 12) #15
112 – Skyla Zimmerman (Moscow, 12) #15
122 – Alyssa Randles (Coeur d’ Alene, 12) #4
144 – Mia Furman (Rocky Mountain, 12) #9
144 – Clare Waite (Boise, 11) #22
180 – Reece Woods (Eagle, 12) #23
200 – Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 10) #21
225 – Olivia Woods (Eagle, 12) #14
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