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 5A division crowned two 4x champions, three 3x champions, six 2x champions, and four winning their first. Additionally, seven wrestlers earned a rare fourth state medal, eighteen with number three, and twenty-three more earning their second. The team race between Meridian, Post Falls, and Nampa lived up to all the pre-tournament hype and in the end finished in the same order as predicted.

The 5A division produced a large contingent of wrestlers with multiple state titles, placings, and All-American honors to their credit. Joining the 4x State Champions Club is two of Idaho’s best that have not only earned impressive state credentials, but national accolades as well. They include All-American and Wisconsin University commit Carson Exferd of Nampa and Meridian’s Jason Mara, a National Folkstyle Champion and multiple All-American who is committed to compete for Stanford University next fall. Earning their third title this year include All-Americans Rider Sequine (Post Falls), Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge), and North Idaho College commit Hoyt Hvass of Lewiston. Joining the 2x State Champions Club is Sawyer Anderson of Highland, Ryan Hirchert (Nampa), 4x placer Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls), and Meridian All-American trio Jeremiah Gonzalez, Hudson Rogers, and Carson Gooley.

A total of four wrestlers earned their first state title. They include Middleton’s 3x finalist Jacob Blandford, Seth Martin (Post Falls), Cash Weeks (Middleton), and 11x All-American Shilo Jones of Mountain View. Between the four, they have a total of 14 state medals and 8 finals appearances. Other notable wrestlers include 4x state finalist Cole Currin of Kuna and Jonathan Seamons of Nampa, who has earned three state medals and has two final appearances to his credit.

In the team race, Meridian dominated the competition and, in the process, brought home their fourth state title in a row producing four individual champions and fourteen placers overall. As discussed, prior, it was an “All-Hands on deck” performance by Meridian to outpace Post Falls and Nampa for the team title. Out of the fourteen that placed for Meridian, seven will be returning next season. Overall, the 5A was an outstanding competition to watch.

Taking a closer look at the 5A state results, I list all 4x Champions, 3x Champions, 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: 5 (6%)

Returning Placers – Did not place: 4

School w/Most State Placers – Meridian (District III): 14

District w/Most State Placers – District III: 51

GRADE STATISTICS

Frosh. State Placers: 10 (11%)

Soph. State Placers: 18 (20%)

Junior State Placers: 26 (29%)

Senior State Placers: 36 (40%)

Frosh. State Champions: 0 (0%)

Soph. State Champions: 2 (13%)

Junior State Champions: 3 (20%)

Senior State Champions: 10 (67%)

SEEDING STATISTICS

No. 1 seeds placing 1st: 12 (80%)

No. 2 seeds placing 2^nd: 9 (60%)

No. 3 seeds placing 3^rd: 5 (33%)

No. 4 seeds placing 4^th: 4 (27%)

No. 5 seeds placing 5^th: 3 (20%)

No. 6 seeds placing 6^th: 2 (13%)

State Placers – Top 6 seeds: 74 (82%)

State Placers – 7^th/8^th seeds: 11 (37%)

State Placers – Non-seeded (NS): 5 (6%)

TOP FIVE TEAM SCORES

1. Meridian: 273.5 (4 Champions/14 Placers)

2. Post Falls: 206.5 (3 Champions/8 Placers)

3. Nampa: 178.0 (2 Champions/8 Placers)

4. Madison: 167.0 (9 Placers)

5. Middleton: 144.5 (2 Champions/6 Placers)

INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS

98 – Ryan Hirchert (Nampa, 10) 2x

106 – Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 10) 2x

113 – Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 11) 2x

120 – Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 11) 3x

126 – Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 12) 3x

132 – Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 12) 3x

138 – Carson Exferd (Nampa, 12) 4x

145 – Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 12) 2x

152 – Jason Mara (Meridian, 12) 4x

160 – Jacob Blandford (Middleton, 12)

170 – Seth Martin (Post Falls, 11)

182 – Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12) 2x

195 – Carson Gooley (Meridian, 12) 2x

220 – Cash Weeks (Middleton, 12)

285 – Shilo Jones (Mountain View, 12)

4X STATE CHAMPIONS (2)

Carson Exferd (Nampa, 12)

Jason Mara (Meridian, 12)

3X STATE CHAMPIONS (3)

Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 11)

Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 12)

Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 12)

2X STATE CHAMPIONS (6)

Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 10)

Ryan Hirchert (Nampa, 10)

Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 11)

Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 12)

Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12)

Carson Gooley (Meridian, 12)

4X STATE PLACERS (7)

Carson Exferd (Nampa, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st.

Jason Mara (Meridian, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 1^st, 1^st

Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 2^nd, 1^st

Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 12), 1^st, 4^th, 2^nd, 1^st

Cole Currin (Kuna, 12), 2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd

Jacob Blandford (Middleton, 12), 6^th, 2^nd, 2^nd, 1^st

Shilo Jones (Mountain View, 12), 6^th, 5^th, 2^nd, 1^st

3X STATE PLACERS (18)

Rider Sequine (Post Falls, 11), 1^st, 1^st, 1^st

Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 12), 1^st, 1^st, 1^st

Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 11), 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st

Carson Gooley (Meridian, 12), 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st

Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12), 1^st, 2^nd, 1^st

Jonathan Seamons (Nampa, 12), 3^rd, 2^nd, 2^nd

Cash Weeks (Middleton, 12), 3^rd, 2^nd, 1^st

Jabyn Kemble (Middleton, 11), 4^th, 3^rd, 6^th

Seth Martin (Post Falls, 11), 4^th, 3^rd, 1^st

Matthew Papa (Meridian, 12), 3^rd, 4^th, 3^rd

Seth Brock (Eagle, 12), 4^th, 4^th, 4^th

Trey Smith (Post Falls, 11), 5^th, 3^rd, 2^nd

Aulani Macias (Nampa, 12), 6^th, 2^nd, 2^nd

Wylie Stone (Eagle, 12), 6^th, 4^th, 2^nd

Colton George (Highland, 12), 4^th, 6^th, 2^nd

Hunter Lowe (Kuna, 12), 5^th, 5^th, 4^th

Chase Jensen (Rocky Mountain, 12), 6^th, 5^th, 4^th

Parker Reeves (Thunder Ridge, 12), 5^th, 6^th, 5^th

2X STATE PLACERS (23)

Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 10), 1^st, 1^st

Ryan Hirchert (Nampa, 10), 1^st, 1^st

IIan Shank (Nampa, 10), 2^nd, 4^th State

Dylan Frothinger (Eagle, 10), 4^th, 2^nd State

Rocco White (Coeur d’ Alene, 10), 6^th, 3^rd State

Vincent Contreras (Nampa, 10), 2^nd, 2^nd State

Teague Jensen (Madison, 11), 6^th, 6^th State

Hunter Anderson (Rigby, 11), 5^th, 5^th State

Alijah Macias (Nampa, 11), 2^nd, 3^rd State

Logan Shaver (Meridian, 10), 4^th, 2^nd State

Will Rossi (Coeur d’ Alene, 12), 6^th, 5^th State

Nate Galloway (Rocky Mountain, 12), 5^th, 6^th State

Gabriel Brown (Capital, 12), 3^rd, 4^th State

Patrick Lakey (Centennial, 12), 5^th, 5^th State

Jean-Luc Guerra (Mountain View, 11), 4^th, 4^th State

Cole Nelson (Madison, 12), 4^th, 3^rd State

Treven Hokland (Middleton, 12), 4^th, 3^rd State

Garrett Leonard (Lake City, 10), 5^th, 3^rd State

Kody Biggs (Kuna, 12), 3^rd, 5^th State

Maxim Osmond (Owyhee, 12), 4^th, 6^th State

Troy Grizzle (Mountain View, 12), 5^th, 2^nd State

Kendell Sage (Post Falls, 11), 6^th, 4^th State

Rex Salas (Madison, 11), 6^th, 4^th State

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (TOP 6)

DIVISION WEIGHT

Place – Name (School, Grade) #seed

5A 98

1 - Ryan Hirchert (Nampa, 10) #1

2 - Brand`n Edstrom (Madison, 9) #2

3 - Rocco White (Coeur d Alene, 10) #3

4 - Gage Loftin (Post Falls, 10) #5

5 - Brigg Morrill (Meridian, 9) #6

6 - Drake Jayne (Meridian, 9) #4

1st Place Match

Ryan Hirchert (Nampa) 49-3, So. over Brand`n Edstrom (Madison) 44-6, Fr. (Dec 5-2)

3rd Place Match

Rocco White (Coeur d Alene) 41-4, So. over Gage Loftin (Post Falls) 40-13, So. (Dec 3-1)

5th Place Match

Brigg Morrill (Meridian) 28-9, Fr. over Drake Jayne (Meridian) 25-11, Fr. (For.)

5A 106

1st Place - Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 10) #1

2nd Place - Dylan Frothinger (Eagle, 10) #2

3rd Place - Matthew Hamilton (Post Falls, 9) #3

4th Place - Ilan Shank (Nampa, 10) #4

5th Place - Tobias Guillen (Meridian, 9) #7

6th Place - Ryker Andreason (Owyhee, 9) NS

1st Place Match

Sawyer Anderson (Highland) 43-4, So. over Dylan Frothinger (Eagle) 43-8, So. (Dec 9-2)

3rd Place Match

Matthew Hamilton (Post Falls) 42-12, Fr. over Ilan Shank (Nampa) 35-10, So. (Fall 2:08)

5th Place Match

Tobias Guillen (Meridian) 22-10, Fr. over Ryker Andreason (Owyhee) 40-20, Fr. (Fall 3:54)

5A 113

1 - Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 11) #1 (All-American)

2 - Vincent Contreras (Nampa, 10) #2

3 - Christian Segali (Middleton, 11) #3

4 - Chase Jensen (Rocky Mountain, 12) #5

5 - Hunter Anderson (Rigby, 11) #4 (All-American)

6 - Teague Jensen (Madison, 11) #6

1st Place Match

Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian) 49-5, Jr. over Vincent Contreras (Nampa) 46-5, So. (Dec 3-2)

3rd Place Match

Christian Segali (Middleton) 34-16, Jr. over Chase Jensen (Rocky Mountain) 29-8, Sr. (MD 11-2)

5th Place Match

Hunter Anderson (Rigby) 44-16, Jr. over Teague Jensen (Madison) 25-22, Jr. (Dec 7-5)

5A 120

1 - Rider Seguine (Post Falls, 11) #1 (All-American)

2 - Aulani Macias (Nampa, 12 #2

3 - Alijah Macias (Nampa, 11) #7

4 - Tanner George (Coeur d’ Alene, 10) #5

5 - Will Rossi (Coeur d’ Alene, 11) #3

6 - Justus Briggs (Meridian, 10) #4

1st Place Match

Rider Seguine (Post Falls) 28-4, Jr. over Aulani Macias (Nampa) 41-8, Sr. (Dec 6-5)

3rd Place Match

Alijah Macias (Nampa) 32-11, Jr. over Tanner George (Coeur d Alene) 30-12, So. (Dec 7-0)

5th Place Match

Will Rossi (Coeur d Alene) 24-14, Jr. over Justus Briggs (Meridian) 33-16, So. (Fall 0:35)

5A 126

1 - Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Ian Avalos (Mountain View, 9) #3

3 - Matthew Papa (Meridian, 12) #4

4 - Tucker Clark (Rigby, 10) #8

5 - Mason Rogers (Coeur d’ Alene, 10) #7

6 - Jabyn Kemble (Middleton, 11) #2

1st Place Match

Talen Eck (Thunder Ridge) 44-3, Sr. over Ian Avalos (Mountain View) 41-16, Fr. (MD 19-5)

3rd Place Match

Matthew Papa (Meridian) 40-11, Sr. over Tucker Clark (Rigby) 44-21, So. (MD 11-1)

5th Place Match

Mason Rogers (Coeur d Alene) 30-18, So. over Jabyn Kemble (Middleton) 39-15, Jr. (For.)

5A 132

1 - Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Cole Currin (Kuna, 12) #2

3 - Jase Hendren (Lewiston, 11) NS

4 - Onyx Kunsaitis (Thunder Ridge, 9) #7

5 - Gunnar Anderson (Highland, 12) #6

6 - Nate Galloway (Rocky Mountain, 11) #4

1st Place Match

Hoyt Hvass (Lewiston) 56-4, Sr. over Cole Currin (Kuna) 46-8, Sr. (Dec 5-1)

3rd Place Match

Jase Hendren (Lewiston) 27-13, Jr. over Onyx Kunsaitis (Thunder Ridge) 44-24, Fr. (SV-1 5-3)

5th Place Match

Gunnar Anderson (Highland) 34-13, Sr. over Nate Galloway (Rocky Mountain) 29-16, Jr. (Dec 3-1)

5A 138

1 - Carson Exferd (Nampa, 12) #1

2 - Wylie Stone (Eagle, 12) #2

3 - Andrae Ramirez (Meridian, 11) #6

4 - Aiden Hernandez (Highland, 9) #5

5 - Ace Ingram (Madison, 10) #8

6 - Gunnar Whitlock (Lewiston, 11) #7

1st Place Match

Carson Exferd (Nampa) 50-4, Sr. over Wylie Stone (Eagle) 43-10, Sr. (MD 12-1)

3rd Place Match

Andrae Ramirez (Meridian) 32-13, Jr. over Aiden Hernandez (Highland) 36-14, Fr. (Dec 4-2)

5th Place Match

Ace Ingram (Madison) 33-16, So. over Gunnar Whitlock (Lewiston) 32-19, Jr. (Dec 10-4)

5A 145

1 - Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls, 12) #1

2 - Logan Shaver (Meridian, 10) #3 (All-American)

3 - Colton Tucker (Coeur d’ Alene, 11) #5

4 - Gabriel Brown (Capital, 12) #2

5 - Spencer Wilcox (Madison, 12) #4

6 - Akio Sanders (Nampa, 12) #6

1st Place Match

Tyson Barnhart (Post Falls) 50-6, Sr. over Logan Shaver (Meridian) 39-11, So. (Dec 9-2)

3rd Place Match

Colton Tucker (Coeur d Alene) 41-11, Jr. over Gabriel Brown (Capital) 55-5, Sr. (Dec 7-0)

5th Place Match

Spencer Wilcox (Madison) 40-16, Sr. over Akio Sanders (Nampa) 41-12, Sr. (Dec 9-8)

5A 152

1 - Jason Mara (Meridian, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Damion Hamilton (Post Falls, 10) #2 (All-American)

3 - Ryan Lewis (Middleton, 10), 10

4 - Braxton Hanna (Madison, 11) #3

5 - Parker Reeves (Thunder Ridge, 12) #4

6 - Ivan Ivanov (Eagle, 9) #5 (All-American)

1st Place Match

Jason Mara (Meridian) 40-1, Sr. over Damion Hamilton (Post Falls) 48-12, So. (Dec 7-1)

3rd Place Match

Ryan Lewis (Middleton) 41-15, So. over Braxton Hanna (Madison) 48-8, Jr. (Dec 6-3)

5th Place Match

Parker Reeves (Thunder Ridge) 31-15, Sr. over Ivan Ivanov (Eagle) 32-12, Fr. (Fall 4:09)

5A 160

1 - Jacob Blandford (Middleton, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Trey Smith (Post Falls, 11) #1

3 - Cole Nelson (Madison, 12) #4

4 - Hunter Lowe (Kuna, 12) #3

5 - Patrick Lakey (Centennial, 12) #7

6 - Chaz Ponton (Mountain View, 11) NS

1st Place Match

Jacob Blandford (Middleton) 41-4, Sr. over Trey Smith (Post Falls) 28-5, Jr. (Dec 2-0)

3rd Place Match

Cole Nelson (Madison) 42-11, Sr. over Hunter Lowe (Kuna) 49-11, Sr. (Dec 6-2)

5th Place Match

Patrick Lakey (Centennial) 37-11, Sr. over Chaz Ponton (Mountain View) 34-20, Jr. (TF-1.5 3:58 (22-5))

5A 170

1 - Seth Martin (Post Falls, 11) #2

2 - Jonathan Seamons (Nampa, 12) #1

3 - Treven Hokland (Middleton, 12) #3

4 - Jean-Luc Guerra (Mountain View, 11) #4

5 - Payson Abrams (Madison, 12) #5

6 - Fabrizio Argana (Meridian, 12) #7

1st Place Match

Seth Martin (Post Falls) 48-3, Jr. over Jonathan Seamons (Nampa) 40-4, Sr. (Dec 3-2)

3rd Place Match

Treven Hokland (Middleton) 48-7, Sr. over Jean-Luc Guerra (Mountain View) 30-6, Jr. (Fall 1:29)

5th Place Match

Payson Abrams (Madison) 31-20, Sr. over Fabrizio Argana (Meridian) 34-16, Sr. (Fall 0:55)

5A 182

1 - Hudson Rogers (Meridian, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Gabe Grassel (Coeur d’ Alene, 12) #2

3 - Tyler Wells (Rocky Mountain, 12) #4

4 - Connor Dixon (Thunder Ridge, 12) #3

5 - Brice Cuthbert (Lewiston, #11) #5

6 - Bradley Bones (Meridian, 10) #7

1st Place Match

Hudson Rogers (Meridian) 45-3, Sr. over Gabe Grassel (Coeur d Alene) 31-16, Sr. (TF-1.5 4:51 (18-3)

3rd Place Match

Tyler Wells (Rocky Mountain) 31-8, Sr. over Connor Dixon (Thunder Ridge) 45-19, Sr. (Dec 5-0)

5th Place Match

Brice Cuthbert (Lewiston) 38-15, Jr. over Bradley Bones (Meridian) 28-12, So. (M. For.)

5A 195

1 - Carson Gooley (Meridian, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Colton George (Highland, 12) #3

3 - Garrett Leonard (Lake City, 11) #2

4 - Kendall Sage (Post Falls, 11) #6

5 - Kody Biggs (Kuna, 12) #5

6 - Maxim Osmond (Owyhee, 12) #4

1st Place Match

Carson Gooley (Meridian) 39-8, Sr. over Colton George (Highland) 37-4, Sr. (Dec 6-5)

3rd Place Match

Garrett Leonard (Lake City) 45-3, Jr. over Kendall Sage (Post Falls) 34-13, Jr. (Dec 4-3)

5th Place Match

Kody Biggs (Kuna) 42-13, Sr. over Maxim Osmond (Owyhee) 45-8, Sr. (M. For.)

5A 220

1 - Cash Weeks (Middleton, 12) #3

2 - Troy Grizzle (Mountain View, 12) #1

3 - Porter Cottle (Madison, 11) #5

4 - Seth Brock (Eagle, 12) #4

5 - Sebastian Mosman (Lake City, 11) #2

6 - Abdullah Joe Abdulhameed (Meridian, 11) #7

1st Place Match

Cash Weeks (Middleton) 37-7, Sr. over Troy Grizzle (Mountain View) 40-7, Sr. (M. For.)

3rd Place Match

Porter Cottle (Madison) 30-13, Jr. over Seth Brock (Eagle) 33-11, Sr. (Dec 3-0)

5th Place Match

Sebastian Mosman (Lake City) 27-10, Jr. over Abdullah Joe Abdulhameed (Meridian) 28-15, Jr. (Dec 5-2)

5A 285

1 - Shilo Jones (Mountain View, 12) #1 (All-American)

2 - Aiden McGinnis (Mountain View, 12) #2 (All-American)

3 - Anthony Toomey (Eagle, 11) #3

4 - Rex Salas (Madison, 11) #4

5 - Hyrum Heindel (Kuna, 10) NS (All-American)

6 - Kollin Bailey (Rocky Mountain, 10) NS

1st Place Match

Shilo Jones (Mountain View) 45-3, Sr. over Aiden McGinnis (Mountain View) 36-6, Sr. (Dec 5-0)

3rd Place Match

Anthony Toomey (Eagle) 46-8, Jr. over Rex Salas (Madison) 34-12, Jr. (Fall 1:28)

5th Place Match

Hyrum Heindel (Kuna) 31-17, So. over Kollin Bailey (Rocky Mountain) 11-10, So. (Fall 1:49)