ORDER GAME PHOTOS

The 5A division is expected to be a barnburner of an event this year and features 15 returning State Champions, 62 returning state placers, and several top level wrestlers with All-American honors to their credit from competitions at Fargo, Folkstyle Nationals, and the United World Wrestling (UWW) trials. The team race in the 5A will definitely come down to depth, performance, and peaking at the right time. The top three contenders include Meridian, Post Falls, and Nampa coming up from the 4A. I expect the road to the team title to be no different than last year where Meridian won their fifth overall team title with an “all-hands on deck” effort. It came down to bonus points and the extra effort and scoring from the number two wrestlers and those that did not place.

The leader among the 15 returning State Champions is 5x All-American Tanner Frothinger of Eagle High School. Committed to compete at the University of Nebraska, Frothinger enters this year’s state tournament seeded #1 in the 138 pound weight group and is in position to earn a rare fourth title. Four other wrestlers are in position to earn a possible third state title and will be tough to beat. They include Talen Eck (120 – Thunder Ridge), 2x All-American Carson Exferd (132 – Nampa, 4A), All-American Cade White (160 – Meridian), and his teammate Jason Mara (152 – Meridian), a Stanford commit with two national titles and five All-American honors to his credit. The remaining ten State Champions include All-American Rider Sequine (106 – Post Falls), Zach MacDonald (113 – Lake City), 3x All-American Dedrick Navarro (120 – Nampa, 4A ‘20), Simon Alberto-Luna (126 – Nampa, 4A ‘21), Hoyt Hvass (126 – Lewiston), Tyson Barnhart (132 – Post Falls), 3x All-American Hudson Rogers (170 – Meridian, 3A ’21), Eli Anderton (220 – Highland), Payton Gunter (285 – Nampa, 4A), and 5x All-American Aden Attao of Borah. In 2022, Attao won the USA Wrestling Triple Crown (national titles in Freestyle, Greco-Roman, and Folkstyle) and capped the year off with a Bronze medal at the U20 World Championships (GR).

Among the 62 returning state placers are eight wrestlers vying for a fourth state medal and sixteen more in position to earn a third (see list below). The leaders among this group include top seeds Jose Laguna of Post Falls (170s) and Meridian’s Isaiah Twait (182s). Competing in the tough 170 pound weight division, Laguna is a two-time state placer (5^th, 4^th) and is the favorite to win it all this year, but has his hands full with Meridian’s Hudson Rogers and 3x state placer Rustan Cordingley of Highland (3^rd, 3^rd, 4^th), each capable of reaching the top of the podium.  Watching this weight division is worth the price of admission. At 182s, Isaiah Twait is a returning state finalist with three state medals (3^rd, 3^rd, 2^nd) to his credit and the odds on favorite to win it all.

Unquestionably, the team race is expected to be very close again this year between returning champions Meridian, Post Falls, and 4A power Nampa returning to the 5A this season. Winning their last team title in 2020, Post Falls is loaded this year and the odds on favorite. Led by returning State Champions Tyson Barnhart (132) and All-American Rider Sequine (106), the Trojans qualified 23 wrestlers with 13 being returning state placers. Winning this season’s Rollie Lane Invitational with approximately eighteen points over Post Falls, Meridian has the talent to win it all, but will once again need an “all-hands on deck” performance to achieve it. Led by returning State Champions Jason Mara (152), Cade White (160), Hudson Rogers (170), and returning finalist Isaiah Twait, Meridian enters 23 qualifiers overall with 9 returning placers.  The great disruptor in this equation is Nampa High School. A traditional power in the 4A, Nampa placed runner-up in 2021 and 2022 and is expected to battle Post Falls and Meridian for the team title this year. Performing very well at the District III Championships, Nampa enters 22 qualifiers with 8 returning state placers. Leading this strong contingent is returning 4A State Champions Dedrick Navarra (120 – 3x All-American), Simon Alberto-Luna (126), Payton Gunter (285), and 2x All-American Carson Exferd (132) contending for his third state title. 

Overall, I expect the 5A division to be a barnburner of an event. The rubber will definitely meet the road very early in several of the weight groups. Below is a comprehensive list of the top five teams, returning champions, state placers, All-Americans, wrestlers ranked nationally, and the final state rankings. Enjoy!

TOP 5 TEAMS

POST FALLS (23 QUALIFIERS w/13 RETURNING STATE PLACERS)

106 – Rider Sequine (10), State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

120 – Ethan Wilson (10), 4^th State

126 – Zack Campbell (12), 5^th State

132 – Tyson Barnhart (11), State Champion ‘21, 4^TH State

132 – Connor McCarroll (12), 3^rd, 6^th State

145 – Trey Smith (10), 5^th State

152 – Seth Martin (10), 4^th State

160 – John Rudebaugh (12), 3^rd State

170 – Jose Laguna (12), 5^th, 4^th State

182 – Keanyn DeGroat (12), 5^th State

195 – Gentry Smith (12), 3^rd State

220 – Trevor Miller (12), 5^th, 3^rd State

220 – Malcolm Duthie (12), 5^th State

MERIDIAN (23 QUALIFIERS w/9 RETURNING STATE PLACERS)

106 – Gabe Arnold (10), 3^rd State

113 – Jerimiah Gonzalez (10), 2^nd State

126 – Matthew Papa (11), 3^rd State

132 – Kellen Kolka (12), 4^th State ’21

152 – Jason Mara (11), 2x State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

160 – Cade White (12), 2x State Champion 2^ND State (ALL-AMERICAN)

170 – Hudson Rogers (11), State Champion 3A (ALL-AMERICAN)

182 – Isaiah Twait (12), 3^rd, 3^rd, 2^nd State

195 – Carson Gooley (11), 2^nd State (ALL-AMERICAN)

NAMPA (22 QUALIFIERS w/8 RETURNING 4 STATE PLACERS)

113 – Aulani Macias (11), 6^th State ’21

120 – Dedrick Navarro (12), State Champion, 2^nd, 2^nd State (ALL-AMERICAN)

126 – Simon Alberto-Luna (12), 2^nd, State Champion, 2^nd State

132 – Carson Exferd (11), 2x State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

138 – Nikko Gonzalez (12), 2^nd, 4^th, 2^nd State

160 – Jonathan Seamons (11) 3^rd State

195 – Ethan Kincheloe (12), 5^th State

285 – Payton Gunter (12), State Champion

EAGLE (4 Returning State Placers/13 Qualifiers w/4 returning state placers

138 – Tanner Frothinger (12) 3x State Champion (ALL-AMERICAN)

120 – Joey Madden (12), 6^th State

132 – Wylie Stone (11), 6^th State ‘21

220 – Seth Brock (11), 4^th State

MOUNTAIN VIEW (13 Qualifiers w/2 returning state placers)

138 – Adrien Wess (12), 6^th, 4^th State

285 – Shilo Jones (11), 6^th, 5^TH State (ALL-AMERICAN)

RETURNING STATE CHAMPION (3X)

138 – Tanner Frothinger (Eagle, 12)

RETURNING STATE CHAMPIONS (2X)

120 – Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 11)

132 – Carson Exford (Nampa, 11) 4A

152 – Jason Mara (Meridian, 11)

160 – Cade White (Meridian, 12)

RETURNING STATE CHAMPIONS (1X)

106 – Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 10)

113 – Zach MacDonald (Lake City, 12)

120 – Dedrick Navarro (Nampa, 12) 4A

126 – Simon Alberto-Luna (Nampa, 12) 4A

126 – Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 11)

132 – Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 11) ’21

170 – Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 11)

220 – Eli Anderton (Highland, 12)

285 – Payton Gunter (Nampa, 12)

285 – Aden Attao (Borah, 12)

RETURNING STATE PLACERS (3X)

113 – Zach MacDonald (Lake City, 12), 5^th, 2^nd, 1^st

120 – Dedrick Navarro (Nampa, 12), 1^st, 2^nd, 2^nd (4A)

126 – Simon Alberto-Luna (Nampa, 12), 2^nd, 1^st, 2^nd

138 – Tanner Frothinger (Eagle, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 1^st

138 – Nikko Gonzalez (Nampa, 12), 2^nd, 4^th, 2^nd

160 – Cade White (Meridian, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 2^nd

170 – Rustan Cordingley (Highland, 12), 3^rd, 3^rd, 4^th

182 – Isaiah Twait (Meridian, 12), 3^rd, 3^rd, 2^nd

RETURNING STATE PLACERS (2X)

120 – Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 11), 1^st, 1^st

126 – Cole Currin (Kuna, 11), 2^nd, 2^nd

126 – Cael Bullock (Rocky Mountain, 11), 3^rd, 4^th

132 – Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 11), 1^st, 4^th

132 – Carson Exferd (Nampa, 11), 1^st, 1^st

138 – Hunter Lowe (Kuna, 11), 5^th, 5^th

138 – Adrien Wess (Mountain View, 12), 6^th, 4^th

138 – Titus Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 12), 5^th, 4^th

132 – Connor McCarroll (Post Falls, 12), 3^rd, 6^th

152 – Jason Mara (Meridian, 11), 1^st, 1^st

145 – Kody Rich (Kuna, 12), 4^th, 3^rd

152 – Jacob Blanford (Middleton, 11), 6^th, 2^nd

170 – Jose Laguna (Post Falls, 12), 5^th, 4^th

182 – Carson Speelman (Coeur d’ Alene, 11), 6^th, 6^th

220 – Trevor Miller (Post Falls, 12), 5^th, 3^rd

285 – Shilo Jones (Mountain View, 11), 6^th, 5^th

RETURNING STATE PLACERS (1X)

106 – Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 10), 1^st

106 – Gabe Arnold (Meridian, 10), 3^rd

106 – Hunter Anderson (Rigby, 10), 5^th

106 – Chase Jensen (Rocky Mountain, 11), 6^th

113 – Jerimiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 10), 2^nd

113 – Isaac Scott (Thunder Ridge, 12), 3^rd

120 – Ethan Wilson (Post Falls, 10), 4^th

113 – Noyd Monroe (Kuna, 10), 6^th

113 – Aulani Macias (Nampa, 11), 6^th ’21 4A

120 – Jaybn Kemble (Middleton, 10), 4^th 4A

120 – Joey Madden (Eagle, 12), 6^th

120 – Wylie Stone (Eagle, 11), 6^th ‘21

126 – Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 11), 1^st

126 – Matthew Papa (Meridian, 11), 3^rd

126 – Zack Campbell (Post Falls, 12), 5^th

120 – Will Rossi (Coeur d’ Alene, 10), 6^th

132 – Kellen Kolka (Meridian, 12), 4^th ’21

132 – Parker Reeves (Thunder Ridge, 11), 5^th ‘21

138 – Dax Larsen (Coeur d’ Alene, 12), 2^nd

138 – Payson Solomon (Highland, 12), 6^th

145 – Trey Smith (Post Falls, 10), 5^th

152 -  Seth Martin (Post Falls, 10), 4^th

160 – John Rudebaugh (Post Falls, 12), 3^rd

160 – Jonathan Seamons (Nampa, 11) 3^rd 4A

170 – Hudson Rodgers (Meridian, 11), 1^st ‘21

170 – Ashton Peterson (Madison, 12), 6^th

182 – Colton George (Highland, 11), 4^th ‘21

182 – Keanyn DeGroat (Post Falls, 12), 5^th

195 – Carson Gooley (Meridian, 11), 2^nd

195 – Gentry Smith (Post Falls, 12), 3^rd

195 – Ethan Kincheloe (Nampa, 12), 5^th 4A

220 – Eli Anderton (Highland, 12), 1^st

220 – Cash Weeks (Middleton 11), 3^rd 4A

220 – Seth Brock (Eagle, 11), 4^th

220 – Malcolm Duthie (Post Falls, 12), 5^th

285 – Payton Gunter (Nampa, 12), 1^st

285 – Aden Attao (Borah, 12), 1^st

285 – Robert Storm (Lewiston, 12), 3^rd

WORLD MEDALISTS

285 – Aden Attao (Borah), U20 World Bronze (GR)

NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

152 – Jason Mara (Meridian) 2x

285 – Aden Attao (Borah) 3x

ALL-AMERICANS (Fargo/Folkstyle/UWW)

106 – Hunter Anderson (Rigby)

106 – Rider Sequine (Post Falls)

120 – Dedrick Navarro (Nampa) 3x

126 – Cael Bullock (Rocky Mountain)

132 – Carson Exferd (Nampa) 2x

138 – Tanner Frothinger (Eagle) 5x

152 – Jason Mara (Meridian) 5x

152 – Jacob Blanford (Middleton)

160 – Cade White (Meridian)

170 – Hudson Rogers (Meridian) 3x

195 – Carson Gooley (Meridian)

285 – Aden Attao (Borah) 5x

285 – Shilo Jones (Mountain View) 3x

5A DIVISION WRESTLERS RECOGNIZED IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS

120 – Dedrick Navarro (Nampa, 12), #22 (WUSA)

138 – Tanner Frothinger (Eagle, 12), #17 (WUSA)/#16 (FLO)

152 – Jason Mara (Meridian, 11), Special Mention (WUSA)

182 – Isaiah Twait (Meridian, 12), #27 (WUSA)

285 – Aden Attao (Borah, 12), #7/#11 (FLO)