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PHOTO CREDIT: REGGIE BACA
The common theme for a large percentage of wrestlers that I have had the opportunity to write about in my three series, HIDDEN GEMS, TIER ONE, and MAT CHAT is their early beginnings in the sport of wrestling. The next wrestler in my HIDDEN GEMS series is senior Jake Castagneto, an exceptional student-athlete, who enters this season rated among the top lightweights in the state of Idaho for Bishop Kelly High School in Boise. In the same manner, Jake also stepped into the wrestling circle at the young age of 8 when his father, Pete, took him to a newly formed youth wrestling club in their then hometown of Glenns Ferry, a small farming community located approximately 70 miles southeast of Boise.
The Pilot Wrestling Club, led by youth and high school coach Cody Fisher, was the start of a strong grassroots effort to improve upon the degree of potential talent that would eventually transition into the prep ranks in the years to come. According to Coach Fisher, the newly established club had approximately 25 kids and proved to be a great addition to the community’s extracurricular activities for their youth. Considering that Glenns Ferry High School had not produced an individual state champion since Adam Mars earned two in the late 1990s, the grassroots effort was paramount for the future of wrestling in Glenns Ferry. Looking back, it was at this moment in time that served as the catalyst which set in motion and contributed a great deal to Jake’s current trajectory in life.
The question arises now and then about whether entering the wrestling circle at an early age equates to long term success or not. This subject matter is extremely difficult to measure for the simple reason that there is an array of factors to consider, such as genetic, lifestyle factors, coaching, skill teaching, and training opportunity to name a few. Regardless, the path towards long term athletic development is a complex trait and in addition to the prescribed factors listed above, it also requires an internal resolve or “passion” by each individual to remain focused on the objective as well as sustain during the long and arduous process of high-level development.
Based on what I have learned about Jake and his perspective to wrestling and in life, it’s not difficult to surmise that he benefited a great deal from several contributing factors, such as exceptional leadership, strong family support, and elite level coaching, but more importantly, it has been his internal resolve and keen ability to navigate through the mental and physical challenges of wrestling, which has been the common denominator of his achievements thus far. In a nutshell, Jake thrives in the midst of the process. Regardless of the outcome, he always presses forward.
First impressions can be the catalyst to propel one towards a new sport or challenge in life. From day one, Coach Fisher was extremely influential in Jake’s early development and love of the sport. Despite playing other youth sports at the time, wrestling was increasingly becoming Jake’s sport of choice and a few years later he took it to another level in the sixth grade when in addition to training under Coach Fisher, he also trained at the Delchev Trained Academy (DTA) in Wendell led by 5x Bulgarian National Champion Ivan Delchev, who introduced Jake to off-season wrestling in the international styles of Freestyle and Greco-Roman. Additionally, DTA provided a highly-structured and advanced training environment for Jake, as well as the opportunity to challenge himself against many of the top youth wrestlers in the region, such as Cade Craig, the Brunson Twins (Bowen and Riley), Hudson Rogers, and Mack Mauger to name a few.
Growing up and working on his family farm in Glenns Ferry coupled by the leadership and premier training he gained from coaches Fisher and Delchev proved positive for Jake and by the time he reached the 8th grade wrestling became a full-time sport for him. His commitment and dedication to advance in wrestling not only showed in his approach to training, but in higher level competition as he began to place more often at the age group and middle school state championships along with earning All-American honors at the USA Nationals Folkstyle and Freestyle Championships in the 15U division.
By the time Jake entered his freshman season at Glenns Ferry High School, he was more than ready to challenge himself at the next level. From the get go, he was a force to reckon with in the state and as a result became the first wrestler in Glenns Ferry history to win a state title as a freshman in 2021 and third overall since Jack Riggs won a title in 2016. He then continued in the off-season by placing in the top three in both styles at the 16U Idaho State Championships.
Continuous improvement, grinding through the process, and always moving forward was Jake’s Modus Operandi at this point. Having earned a state title as a freshman, it was his goal to pursue four individual titles and by the post season he was more than ready to challenge for another title. Despite winning his second IHSAA District IV title in the 2A, he fell short of winning second title by losing by a very close decision of 3-2 to Hans Newby of Grace, who eventually went on to win four titles himself and currently competes for the University of Providence in Montana.
That same state tournament, Jake’s older brother, Wyatt, won his first individual title (third state medal overall) making it a bitter sweet moment for the Castagneto family and a first in Glenns Ferry history to have a set of brothers with state titles to their credit. According to Coach Fisher, “I truly enjoyed coaching Jake over the years and watching him grow as a wrestler and as a person. The success he has attained has not been a surprise and I believe it will only grow due to his desire to improve along with the work ethic he brings. Jake won’t back down from any challenge and because of those traits he will continue on a path of success in wrestling and in life.”
Not too long after falling short of a second state title in the 2A, Jake regrouped and put his nose to the grindstone and went back to work on the mat in preparation for the off-season wrestling circuit. At the 16U Idaho Freestyle/Greco-Roman State Championships, he placed in the top three in both styles and shortly thereafter reached the championship finals of the USMC Folkstyle Nationals in Iowa, earning his first prep level All-American honor in the process.
Later that summer, the Castagneto family moved from their residence in Glenns Ferry to the Treasure Valley area where Jake began his junior year at Bishop Kelly High School in Boise. Similar to his early experiences at DTA, Jake was now in the midst of a wrestling room at Bishop Kelly that had several wrestlers with not only state, but national and world level accolades to their credit. A result of his past training regimen, Jake adapted very well to the intensity of his new setting and it showed with his strong performances at the Sierra Nevada Classic and Rollie Lane Invitational. Having earned two District level titles in the 2A, Jake added another title at the District Championships and then capped his junior year by earning his second state title, now in the 4A division.
There’s the old saying, “SUMMER WRESTLING MAKES WINTER CHAMPIONS.” This philosophy truly applies to Jake and his lifetime commitment to wrestling since an early age as well as his pursuit to reach the pinnacle of our great sport. Once more, Jake spent countless hours during the off-season months training with his teammates at Bishop Kelly, as well as surrounding himself with top tier wrestlers training at the Best-on-Best weekly practices led by Chris Owens. His efforts paid off as he placed in the top three in both styles at the Idaho Junior State Championships and USA Wrestling Western Regionals. Furthermore, he reached the national finals for the second time at the USMC Folkstyle Nationals, adding another prep level All-American honor to his resume.
I had a moment to speak with the Director of Operations for USA Idaho Wrestling, Chris Owens and he stated the following about Jake’s journey thus far, “It has been an absolute pleasure working with Jake, his dedication, preparation and humility is as good as any I have seen! It will be exciting to watch his career in college, it wouldn’t surprise one bit to see him on the podium. So much admiration and respect for the way he does our sport!”
Since my first HIDDEN GEMS article in March of 2022 with Jason Mara of Meridian, the norm for each and every wrestler I have written about thus far is not only exceptional wrestling achievements, but academic excellence as well. For instance, all have made their school’s respective Honor Roll list while nearly half have been members of the National Honors Society. Again, Jake joins this group with exceptional academics and contributions to his community. To date, Jake maintains a 3.89 GPA with dual credit and Advanced Placement courses to his credit. Furthermore, he served on the Student Council his freshman and sophomore years at Glenns Ferry High School in addition to being a member of the National Honors Society, the Business Professionals of America (BPA), and providing well over a hundred hours of community service.
As of this writing, Jake is well into his senior year and more than focused on earning a third individual state title. His journey thus far has been very impressive, but just the beginning.
Currently ranked number one in the 132-pound weight division (4A), Jake is more than ready to meet any challenge that come his way today and into the future. His positive outlook in life and work ethic has been his guiding force that has led him to this point and will continue to do so well into his future. Coach Manny Ybarra of Bishop Kelly describes Jake extremely well by stating, “Jake is the definition of a hidden gem in Idaho. He is the REAL DEAL on and off the mat. His technique is solid. He has all the right skills; quickness, strength, mat awareness and is one of the most humble / respectful wrestlers we have on the team. Jake is going to surprise a lot of people at the next level. I could see him being a top ten guy in nation.”
Before the Christmas break, I had the opportunity to meet with Jake and his family and conduct a Q&A interview. We discussed wrestling, academics, family, this season, and his future in college and life moving forward. Without a doubt, I am very impressed with his work ethic both on the mat, the classroom, and outlook in life. Moving forward, I wish him the best and look forward to watching his journey in the years to come. Below is my Q&A with Jake. Enjoy!
Q&A INTERVIEW WITH JAKE CASTAGNETO
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT OF WRESTLING?
CASTAGNETO – My father first introduced me to the sport when I was 8 years old in the third grade when the Glenns Ferry Wrestling Club started in 2015.
WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN THE SPORT?
CASTAGNETO – I’ve had three extremely influential coaches. First being Glenns Ferry High School head coach, Cody Fisher, was the first coach I ever had. He taught me how to wrestle and really played a key role in the development of my love for the sport. I had a very exponential period of growth my first two years of high school and he played a large part in that.
Coach Fisher helped me with whatever it was I needed, whether that meant drilling the same move hundreds of times a day for multiple months, helping me analyze my film and work on fixing some of my mistakes, or even pulling me out of class early just to talk about wrestling. Coach Fisher has been extremely influential to me not only as a wrestler, but as a person as well, and is someone I really look up to.
In the sixth grade I started training at DTA under coach Ivan Delchev. Coach Delchev introduced me to off-season wrestling, as well as Freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
During 2020 I was introduced to Coach Chris Owens who has been extremely influential to my development throughout high school and in preparing me for the next level of wrestling.
HEADING INTO YOUR SENIOR SEASON, WHAT ARE YOUR SHORT- AND LONG-TERM GOALS AT BISHOP KELLY HIGH SCHOOL?
CASTAGNETO – I like to look at the sport day by day. I keep a list of notes in my phone of the things I want to work on each day in practice. Before practice I look at my notes and set goals on the techniques or positions, I want to improve upon. I would say my long- and short-term goals are to continue to get better every day and to grow in the sport every opportunity I get.
HAVING HAD SOME GREAT SUCCESS AT THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER, DESCRIBE YOUR TRAINING ROUTINE AND YOUR OUTLOOK IN THE YEARS AHEAD.
CASTAGNETO – My training routine differs depending on the time of year. In the off-season I practice 3 times a week with Coach Owens in varying locations around the Treasure Valley and in Wendell. I also practice anywhere from 1-3 times a week at Meridian high school. I strength train a minimum of 5 days per week and do some form of extra cardio a minimum of 3 days per week. During the high school season everything remains the same other than all my practices being with the team.
DESCRIBE YOUR ACADEMIC AND WRESTLING EXPERIENCE AT BISHOP KELLY HIGH SCHOOL.
CASTAGNETO – Bishop Kelly has top tier academics and challenges me to do my best inside and outside of the classroom every day.
WHAT ARE YOUR FUTURE ACADEMIC GOALS AT BISHOP KELLY HIGH SCHOOL AND BEYOND?
CASTAGNETO – At Bishop Kelly I hope to finish out my senior year with straight A’s. In the future I would like to go into kinesiology and then into exercise physiology.
DO YOU HAVE AMBITIONS OF COMPETING IN COLLEGE OR INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION?
CASTAGNETO – I plan to compete in college and internationally in the future.
IS THERE AN OLYMPIAN, COLLEGIATE LEVEL WRESTLER, COACH OR SOMEONE OUTSIDE OF THE SPORT OF WRESTLING THAT YOU WANT TO ASPIRE TO BE SOMEDAY?
CASTAGNETO – I have always looked up to Nick Suriano. He’s always looking for ways to grow in the sport and is willing to do whatever it takes to do so, whether that means changing rooms, weight classes, or training strategies, he’s always striving to get better.
WHAT LIFE LESSONS HAVE YOU LEARNED IN WRESTLING THAT APPLIES IN YOUR DAY-TO-DAY LIFE?
CASTAGNETO – Discipline plays a major role in wrestling, and I use the discipline skills that I have learned through wrestling in my daily life whether it’s at school, home, or anywhere else I might be.
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG WRESTLER WANTING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE SPORT OF WRESTLING OR IN LIFE?
CASTAGNETO – Time moves fast when you’re focused on achieving your goals, every now and then take some time to enjoy the moment and reflect on all the great experiences you’ve had.
WHAT OTHER GOALS DO YOU HAVE IN LIFE?
CASTAGNETO – I want to become a strength and conditioning coach at a college football program or for a professional sports team one day. Most importantly though, I aspire to be a great person and to be a good example to those around me.
DO YOU HAVE A SAYING, MOTTO OR PHILOSOPHY THAT YOU LIVE BY?
CASTAGNETO – I constantly tell myself that I need to work harder. Regardless of what the circumstances or how hard I’m already working I can’t stand the feeling of knowing I could’ve worked harder.
ONCE YOU ARE DONE COMPETING, DO YOU HAVE PLANS TO STAY INVOLVED WITH WRESTLING?
CASTAGNETO – After I’m done competing, I would love to coach or help in the sport of wrestling in any way I can.
OUTSIDE THE SPORT OF WRESTLING, WHAT OTHER HOBBIES, SPORTS, AND FAMILY FUNCTIONS DO YOU ENJOY MOST?
CASTAGNETO – I enjoy spending time with my family, anything that involves food, lifting, learning and reading about nutrition and the different functions of the body, and I really enjoy my trips to Costco.
ACADEMIC AND ATHLETIC PROFILE
SCHOOL: Bishop Kelly High School
GRADE: 12 (Class of 2024)
PROJECTED WEIGHT: 132
ACADEMIC ACCOLADES
WRESTLING ACCOLADES
- USA Wrestling Junior Greco-Roman Western Regional – 2nd Place, ‘23
- USA Wrestling Junior Freestyle Western Regional – 3rd Place, ’23
- Idaho Junior Freestyle State Championships – 2nd Place, ‘23
- Idaho Junior Greco-Roman State Champion – 3rd Place, ’23
- USMC Folkstyle Nationals – 2nd Place ‘23 (ALL-AMERICAN)
- Idaho 4A State Champion, ’23
- IHSAA 4A District III Champion, ‘23
- Rollie Lane Invitational – 2nd Place, ‘23
- Sierra Nevada Classic – 3rd Place, ‘22
- Idaho 16U Freestyle State championships – 2nd Place, ‘22
- Idaho 16U Greco-Roman State Championships – 3rd Place, ‘22
- USMC Folkstyle Nationals – 2nd Place ’22 (ALL-AMERICAN)
- Idaho 2A State Championships – 2nd Place, ‘22
- IHSAA 2A District IV Champion, ‘22
- Idaho 16U Freestyle State Championships – 2nd Place, ‘21
- Idaho 16U Greco-Roman State Championships – 3rd Place, ‘21
- Idaho 2A State Champion, ‘21
- IHSAA 2A District IV Champion, ‘21
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