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ACTION PHOTO GALLERIES
This is the first in my series of “The Gems of Idaho Prep Wrestling.” This series will focus on the top 20 wrestlers entering the new prep season from the four state divisions (5A, 4A, 3A, and 2A/1A). There are several more top-level wrestlers not listed, but worthy of recognition, but I have limited my list to the top 20. Prior to 2020, I coached and promoted wrestling at all levels in the Golden State of California for several decades. Retiring in 2020, I moved my family to the state of Idaho and not too long after began promoting the Gem State. Without a doubt, there is a lot of great things happening throughout Idaho and I am encouraged by the level of talent that is being produced and for the potential young talent that is coming up through the pipeline.
In 2021, I initiated my promotional series with the HIDDEN GEMS, TIER ONE, and PIONEERS of Idaho Prep Wrestling for the girl’s division. Each series highlighting the top level talent being produced at the prep level. I want to thank Jacob Eck for his knowledge and background in Idaho wrestling and assisting me in the preparation of this list.
Below is my list of the Gems of Idaho Prep wrestling in alphabetical order by last name. Each wrestler on this list has an outstanding wrestling resume and great potential to compete at the collegiate level and above. Among the Top 20, there is a combined 32 individual state titles, 12 National level titles, 50 plus All-American honors, and two world medalists.
(Please note, the wrestlers listed below are at weight classes posted on trackwrestling.com and are subject to change during the regular and post seasons.)
Aden Attao (Borah): Senior – 285lb
Considered among the top heavyweights to ever come out of the Gem State, Attao enters his senior season ranked #8 by FLO and is committed to compete for Oregon State. Last season, Attao competed in his first prep season for Borah High School in Boise and finished the season with a state title in the 5A division. Since an early age, Attao has competed for coach Ivan Ivanov and Mitko Georgiev of Suples Wresting Club. To date, Attao has won several regional and national accolades, which includes winning double titles at Fargo in 2022, as well as the USAW Folkstyle Nationals. Earning the Triple Crown Award, Attao capped his summer season off by winning the Greco title at the US Open in Las Vegas and a Bronze medal at the U20 World Championships. Attao definitely has great potential to compete and achieve at the collegiate and world levels.
ATTAO’S ACCOLADES
Idaho State Champion (5A)
2x Fargo National Champion – FS/GR
3x Fargo All-American – FS/GR
Folkstyle National Champion
Triple Crown Winner
US Open National Champion - GR/2x All-American – FS/GR
U20 World Bronze – GR
Junior Pan American Gold Medalist
Boden Banta (South Fremont): Sophomore – 106lb
Only a sophomore, South Fremont’s Boden Banta has already made a name for himself at the state and national level. Last season, Banta dominated his competition in the 3A division to win his first state title. Additionally, he earned All-American honors at the Folkstyle Nationals in Iowa. Keep an eye on him…Great potential!
BANTA’S ACCOLADES
Idaho State Champion (3A)
Folkstyle Nationals All-American
Hunter Bidelman (Caldwell): Senior – 145lb
A two-time state champion in the 4A division, Bidelman enters his senior season in pursuit of a fourth trip to the state finals and third title overall. A summer wrestler, Bidelman has earned All-American honors at both the NHSCA (Juniors) and Folkstyle Nationals in Iowa. A true competitor that has great potential at the next level.
BIDELMAN’S ACCOLADES
2x Idaho State Champion (4A)
3x State Finalist
NHSCA Junior All-American
USAW Junior Folkstyle All-American
Tucker Bowen (Soda Springs): Junior – 126lb
Rated among the top lightweights in the small school division, Bowen returns in 2023 in pursuit of a second state title and third trip to the finals. During the summer after his freshman season, Bowen earned All-American honors in Junior Freestyle at the Fargo Nationals. Great potential!
BOWEN’S ACCOLADES
Idaho State Champion (2A)
2x State Finalist
Fargo All-American – Junior FS
Bowen Brunson (Buhl): Junior – 126lb
Yet to earn national accolades at the Fargo, NHSCA, or Fargo Nationals, Brunson is a solid collegiate style wrestler. He enters his junior season with two state titles in the 3A division and is on trajectory to win a third and possible fourth title. Keep an eye on him…Solid wrestler with great potential to compete at the next level!
BRUNSON’S ACCOLADE
2x Idaho State Champion (3A)
Kolter Burton (American Falls): Junior – 120lb/126lb
This kid loves to compete. At the last two Fargo Nationals, Burton competed in both styles in the 16U and Junior divisions, compiling twenty plus matches each year. Definitely a large undertaking that only a few wrestlers in history have attempted. A recent commit to Oklahoma State University, Burton has earned numerous state and regional accolades and is a two-time 3A State Champion on trajectory to win four. Winning a Fargo title in 2021, Burton has earned a total of five All-American honors at Fargo, as well as two additional honors at the USAW Folkstyle Nationals, winning a title last year. A true competitor, Burton has great potential at the next level and beyond.
BURTON’S ACCOLADES
2x Idaho State Champion
Fargo National Champion – GR
5x Fargo All-American – FS/GR
USAW Folkstyle National Champion
2x USAW Folkstyle All-American
Jake Castegneto (Bishop Kelly): Junior – 120lb
A two-time 2A division state finalist and champion his freshman season at Glenns Ferry High School, Castegneto enters his junior year at Bishop Kelly and is rated among the top lightweights in the 5A division. In addition to earning several accolades at the state Freestyle and Greco Championships, Castegneto earned All-American honors at the Folkstyle Nationals in 2022.
CASTEGNETO’S ACCOLADES
Idaho State Champion (2A)
2x State Finalist
USAW Folkstyle All-American
Kayd Craig (Gooding): Senior – 145lb
Committed to Utah Valley University, Craig is a two-time 3A State Champion with three trips to the finals. Rated among the top middle weights in Idaho, Craig has earned All-American honors both at the Preseason Nationals and Junior Folkstyle Nationals. He will be tough to beat this season and has great potential at the collegiate level.
CRAIG’S ACCOLADES
2x Idaho State Champion (3A)
3x State Finalist
Preseason Nationals All-American
USAW Junior Folkstyle All-American
Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge): Junior – 120lb
Eck will look to capture his third state title for Thunder Ridge High School. In addition to winning two state titles, Eck has earned multiple state Freestyle and Greco accolades and won the Western Regionals in the junior division in 2021. A true competitor with great potential to compete at the next level.
ECK’S ACCOLADES
2x Idaho State Champion
Western Regional Champion (Junior)
Carson Exferd (Nampa): Junior – 126lb/132lb
Competing since the early age of 5, Exferd is among the top wrestlers in all Idaho divisions entering the 2022-’23 season. Driven by passion and fortitude, Exferd entered the high school ranks with well over twelve state individual titles in Freestyle, Greco, and Folkstyle to his credit. A two-time Idaho State Champion, Exferd is in position to become his school’s first three-time state champion and possibly a four timer. A two-time All-American at the National Recruiting Showcase, Exferd has also won multiple Freestyle and Greco titles at the Junior level. A fierce competitor that exemplifies the growth mindset and continuously bettering himself, Exferd is definitely a Hidden Gem that has great potential to compete at the collegiate level. Keep an eye on him.
EXFERD’S ACCOLADES
2x Idaho State Champion (4A)
2x All-American – Nat. Recruiting Showcase
Tanner Frothinger (Eagle): Senior – 132lb/138lb
Rated among the Top Tier wrestlers in Idaho, Frothinger is a three-time State Champion and in position to become the eighth four time champ in the 5A division and second for Eagle High School. The list of accolades Frothinger has accumulated since the age group level is long. His more recent achievements include reaching the finals of the 16U Fargo Nationals in Greco, earning All-American honors twice at the Folkstyle Nationals, placing at Reno TOC, and reaching the finals at the UWW Cadet World Team Trials in Greco. A recent commit to the University of Nebraska, Frothinger loves the sport of wrestling and is focused on winning a fourth state title and a national title in the years to come.
FROTHINGER’S ACCOLADES
3x Idaho State Champion (5A)
2x USAW Folkstyle All-American
Fargo All-American – GR finalist (16U)
Hunter Hobbs (South Fremont): Senior – 182lb
Hobbs has made three trips to the state 3A finals and has come home with three State Championships to his credit. He enters the 2022-’23 season rated among the top upper weights in the state (all divisions) and is in position to earn a rare fourth title. This past summer, Hobbs earned All-American honors and his first national title at the Folkstyle Nationals. Keep an eye of Hobbs. He has great potential to compete at the next level.
HOBB’S ACCOLADES
3x Idaho State Champion (3A)
USAW Folkstyle National Champion
Jason Mara (Meridian): Junior – 152lb
An exceptional student in the classroom and on the mat, Mara recently committed to Stanford University. Entering his junior season, Mara is a two-time State Champion and among the favorites to win a third title. A year round wrestler, Mara is a Fargo All-American in the 16U division and has earned individual titles at the NHSCA and Cadet Folkstyle Nationals (2 All-American honors). A true competitor, Mara is among the top wrestlers in all division of Idaho prep wrestling.
MARA’S ACCOLADES
2x Idaho State Champion (5A)
NHSCA National Champion
USAW Cadet Folkstyle National Champion
2x USAW Folkstyle All-American
Fargo All-American – 16U
Matthew Martino (Bishop Kelly): Sophomore – 126lb
Martino is a household name in the Idaho wrestling circles. 2022 Bishop Kelly (BK) graduate and Princeton recruit, Christopher Martino earned four Idaho State titles and multiple All-American honors in Freestyle and Greco while competing for BK. His younger brother, Matthew is on the same trajectory and among the top underclassman in the Gem State. He entered his freshman season with an All-American honor at the Fargo Nationals in the 16U division (finalist – GR) and a Gold medal from the Cadet Pan American Championships. Additionally, Matthew has earned All-American honors at the Folkstyle Nationals and is strong favorite to win a second title this season.
MARTINO’S ACCOLADES
Idaho State Champion (4A)
USAW Folkstyle All-American
Fargo All-American – 16U
Cadet PAN AM Gold medalist
Mack Mauger (Blackfoot): Junior – 120lb
Without a doubt, Mack Mauger is among the top lightweights to have ever competed in the Gem State. Only a junior, Mauger is a two-time 4A State Champion and on trajectory to win a third and possibly a fourth. Since 2021, Mauger has won double titles (Freestyle/Greco) in both the 16U and Junior divisions. Additionally, he has two Folkstyle National titles to his credit and as a result is a two-time Triple Crown winner. Moreover, Mauger won the prestigious Clovis “Doc Buchanan” Invitational in California last year and was awarded the top lightweight in the competition. Committed to compete for the University of Missouri, Mauger has also earned three medals at the United World Wrestling World Team trials in Freestyle and Greco. He’s definitely among the Top Tier in Idaho.
MAUGER’S ACCOLADES
2x ID State Champion (4A)
4x Fargo National Champion (16U/JR)
2x Folkstyle National Champion
2x Triple Crown Winner
3x UWW World Trials Placer (FS/GR)
Dedrick Navarro (Nampa): Senior – 126lb
Navarro will look to win another state title this season. Winning a state title his freshman season, Navarro has finished runner-up the following two years to state rival Mack Mauger of Blackfoot. With Nampa moving up to the 5A division, Navarro is among the favorites to win a title in 2023. Competing since an early age, Navarro has earned numerous state, regional, and national accolades. More recently, he has earned two All-American honors at the Fargo Nationals (16U/JR), Folkstyle Nationals twice, and National Recruiting Showcase. A tough competitor, Navarro has great potential to compete at the collegiate level and more.
NAVARRO’S ACCOLADES
Idaho State Champion (4A)
3x Idaho State finalist (1, 2, 2)
National Recruiting Showcase All-American
2x USAW Folkstyle All-American
2x Fargo All-American (16U/JR)
Hudson Rogers (Meridian): Junior – 170lb
A junior this season, Hudson Rogers is rated among the top middleweights in the 5A division and state overall. Winning a state title as a freshman, Rogers did not compete at state last season due to an injury, but is among the favorites to win in 2023. A full time wrestler, Rogers is a two-time Fargo All-American (FS/GR) in the 16U division and has All-American honors from the Folkstyle Nationals and National Recruiting Showcase. Definitely a tough competitor with great potential to compete at the collegiate level.
ROGER’S ACCOLADES
Idaho State Champion
2x Fargo All-American – FS/GR (16U)
USAW Folkstyle All-American (16U)
National Recruiting Showcase AA (finalist)
Rider Sequine (Post Falls): Sophomore – 106lb
Winning a state title as a freshman, Sequine is among the top lightweight underclassman in the state and is among the favorites to challenge for a title in 2023. Earning All-American honors at the Fargo Nationals in the 16U division (GR), Sequine has an international accolade to his credit, earning a silver (FS) and gold (GR) at the Tallin Open in Estonia.
SEQUINE’S ACCOLADES
Idaho State Champion (5A)
Fargo All-American – GR (16U)
Tallin Open (Estonia) FS Silver/GR Gold
Jadon Skellenger (Bishop Kelly): Junior – 160lb
This season will be the first for Jadon Skellenger to compete at the high school prep level. A junior at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise, Skellenger has been a student of the sport since an early age. Competing for Ivan Ivanov and Mitko Georgiev of Suples Wrestling Club in Boise, Skellenger has produced a multitude of state, regional, national, and international accolades. Rated among the top Greco and Freestyle wrestlers in the country, Skellenger was a 15U World Greco-Roman Champion, UWW Cadet World Trials Champion, Fargo Nationals finalist, and silver medalist in both styles at the Cadet Pan American Championships. Additionally, he has competed at several international age group competitions and has earned Gold at the Tallin Open held in Estonia. Recently, Skellenger won the title at the Freakshow Nationals and will be among the favorites to win a title in the 4A division.
SKELLENGER’S ACCOLADES
Fargo Junior GR All-American/Finalist
15U World Greco-Roman Champion
UWW Cadet GR World Trials Champion – GR
UWW Cadet FS World Trials Finalist – FS
Cadet Pan Am Silver Medalist – FS/GR
Tallin Open – Estonia Gold
Cade White (Meridian): Senior – 160lb
A tough competitor on the mat, Meridian’s Cade White is very difficult to score on and will be tough to beat this season. He enters his senior season with two state titles to his credit, three finals appearances, and is rated among the top middle weights in the 5A division. Committed to Oregon State University, White earned All-American honors at the Fargo Nationals in the 16U division (GR) and has great potential at the collegiate level.
WHITE’S ACCOLADES
2x Idaho State Champion (5A)
3x State Finalist (1, 1, 2)
Fargo All-American – 16U GR
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