The small school class (3A/2A/1A) in Idaho consists of programs with enrollment sizes from under 100 to 349 students. Despite the small enrollment numbers, the quality of wrestling being produced in the rural areas of the state is exceptional. This class returns a total of 8 individual State Champions, 50 state placers, and 3 All-Americans. The team race is expected to be a tough battle between Kellogg, returning champions Malad, and Ririe, but we must also keep an eye on New Plymouth and other programs as well.

Wallace Durfee of Declo is the leader among the 8 returning State Champions. With three individual titles to his credit during the regular season, including a fourth district title, Durfee is a Folkstyle All-American and very determined to bring home title number three at 138s. Joining Durfee in their pursuit of a third title are Carter Kimball of Grace (132s) and Colorado State-Pueblo commit Gabe Mullenburg of Glenns Ferry. The remaining returning State Champions are Gavin Peterson (West Side, 138s), Jacob Shaw (New Plymouth, 165s), Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River, 144s), James Hansen (Ririe, 157s), Ashton Allen (Firth, 165s), and Western Colorado commit Gabriel Cox of New Plymouth at 190s.

A total of 20 wrestlers are vying for either a third or fourth state medal. To name a few, the following wrestlers are in position to earn a fourth. They include Ririe’s Ches Lee Webb (120s), Ricky Haralson (Kellogg, 126s), and Eston Beck of Aberdeen at 132s. Going for medal number three are returning state finalist Jack Eddins (Grace, 144s), Orrin Miller (Malad, 285s), Tayven Kunz (Ririe, 126s), Jack Willie (Malad, 106s), Jace Waggoner (Tri-Valley, 150s), and Elijah Dilworth of Soda Springs at 190s. Also keep an eye on returning finalist and All-Americans Oakley Maddox (Malad, 157s) and Drake Morrison (Malad, 150s), as well as top ranked Eli Noah of Tri-Valley at 175s. They will definitely challenge for the top spot.

The top teams entering this year’s small school State Championships are Kellogg, Malad, and Ririe. All three teams qualified between 12 to 17 qualifiers with Kellogg returning the most state placers at 5. In a nutshell, I expect this team race to be very close and come down to the wire and not disappoint. Other teams expected to be in the mix and challenge for a top 5 spot are Declo, Parma, West Side, and Tri-Valley.

Keep an eye on the following freshmen (see list below). Each are ranked in the state and will challenge for a medal this year. Leading this young group is West Side’s Jake Barzee (98s), who enters state with an impressive 39-1 record. Others to watch include Jaxon Hansen (Ririe, 98s), Teran Tracy (Raft River, 113s), Carsun Hinklemann (Kellogg, 120s), and Bill Avery (Tri-Valley, 120s), all District Champions.

Once again, I expect the small school class to be very competitive not only in the team race, but individually as well. Below is a comprehensive list of top teams, returning Champions, state placers, All-Americans, college commits, and freshmen to watch. Enjoy!

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH

KELLOGG (District I-II)

106 - Kevin Watson (Soph.), 5^th State ’24

106 – Johnny Stovern (Jr.), District Champion

113 – Colton Storey (Soph.), 3^rd State ’24

113 - Aiden Figueroa (Jr.), 6^th State ’24

120 – Carsun Hinkelmann (Fr.), District Champion

120 – Lowden White (Fr.), 4^th District

126 – Ricky Haralson (Sr.), 4^th, 5^th, 6^th State

132 – Trevon Bush (Soph.), 2^nd District

132 - Wyatt Storey (Sr.), 3^rd District

138 – Chase Scribner (Jr.), 3^rd, 6^th State

144 – Tanner Williams (Sr.), 3^rd District

150 – Brady Vergobbi (Sr.), District Champion

150 - Jayce Haynes (Jr.), 4^th District

175 – Andrew Lewis (Jr.), 2^nd District

190 – A.J. Peak (Jr.), 2^nd District

285 – Kyle VanVleet (Sr.), 2^nd District

285 - Russell Fields (Sr.), 3^rd District

MALAD (District V)

98 – Jaxson Mills (Fr.), 2^nd District

106 – Jack Willie (Jr.), 5^th, 2^nd State

113 – Ayden Potter (Jr.), District Champion

120 – Wade Clark (Fr.), District Champion

132 – Porter Mills (Jr.), 2^nd District

150 – Drake Morrison (Soph.), 3^rd State ’24 (AA)

150 – Roper Higley (Sr.), 3^rd District

157 – Oakley Maddox (Soph.), 2^nd State ’24 (AA)

175 – Gabe Hooste (Sr.), District Champion

190 – Rydon Montgomery (Jr.), 2^nd District

215 – Cam Bingham (Jr.), 2^nd District

215 – Cam Seamons (Soph.), 3^rd District

285 - Orrin Miller (Sr.): 3^rd, 2^nd State

RIRIE (District VI)

98 – Jack Jones (Jr.), District Champion

98 - Jaxon Hansen (Fr.), 2^nd District 

120 – Ches Lee Webb (Sr.), 5^th, 4^th, 6^th State

126 – Tayven Kunz (Sr.), 2^nd, 4^th State

126 - Breylon Moon (Jr.), 2^nd District

132 – Jack Schwendiman (Jr.), 5^th State ’24

144 – Ashtyn Crapo (Jr.), District Champion

157 – James Hansen (Soph.), State Champion ’24

165 – Treagan Harris (Sr.), 2^nd District

175 – Zander Yearsley (Sr.), 2^nd District

190 – Razden Harris (Fr.), District Champion

190 - Ryker Harris (Sr.), 2^nd District

215 – Logan Trimble (Jr.), 2^nd District

NEW PLYMOUTH (District III)

120 – Gabe Howard (Soph.), 3^rd District

126 – WahNay Say (Soph.), District Champion

126 – Ty Sutton (Soph.), 3^rd District

132 – Jacob Hartle (Sr.), 6^th State ’24 

138 – Charlie Esplin (Jr.), 2^nd District

144 – Samuel Austin (Sr.), District Champion

157 – Jett Williams (Soph.), 3^rd District

165 – Jacob Shaw (Sr.), 6^th, 1^st, 2^nd State

190 – Gabriel Cox (Sr.), 5^th, 4^th, 1^st State

190 – Sean Posey (Fr.), 4^th District

215 – Nolan Darrough (Soph.), District Champion

285 – Marcus Garcia (Sr.), District Champion

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH - Declo (District IV), Parma (District III), West Side (District V), and Tri-Valley (District III).

2X STATE CHAMPIONS 

132 - Carter Kimball (Grace, 11)

126 - Gabe Mullenburg (Glenns Ferry, 12)

138 - Wallace Durfee (Declo, 12) (AA)

1X STATE CHAMPIONS

138 - Gavin Peterson (West Side, 12)

144 - Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River, 12)

157 - James Hansen (Ririe, 10)

165 - Ashton Allen (Firth, 12)

190 - Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth, 12)

3X STATE PLACERS 

126 - Gabe Mullenburg (Glenns Ferry, 12): 1^st, 1^st, 2^nd

138 - Wallace Durfee (Declo, 12): 3^rd, 1^st, 1^st (AA)

190 - Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth, 12): 5^th, 4^th, 1^st

165 - Jacob Shaw (New Plymouth, 12): 6^th, 1^st, 2^nd

120 - Ches Lee Webb (Ririe, 12): 5^th, 4^th, 6^th

126 - Ricky Haralson (Kellogg, 12): 4^th, 5^th, 6^th

132 - Eston Beck (Aberdeen, 12): 5^th, 4^th, 6^th

2X STATE PLACERS 

132 - Carter Kimball (Grace, 11): 1^st, 1^st

138 - Gavin Peterson (West Side, 12): 2^nd, 1^st

144 - Colm McLaimtaig (Priest River, 12): 5^th, 1^st

144 - Jack Eddins (Grace, 12): 3^rd, 2^nd

285 - Orrin Miller (Malad, 12): 3^rd, 2^nd

126 - Tayven Kunz (Ririe, 12): 2^nd, 4^th

106 - Jack Willie (Malad, 11): 5^th, 2^nd

150 - Jace Waggoner (Tri-Valley, 11): 2^nd, 6^th

190 - Elijah Dilworth (Soda Springs, 11): 5^th, 2^nd

132 - Porter Mills (Malad, 11): 4^th, 4^th

138 - Chase Scribner (Kellogg, 11): 3^rd, 6^th

144 - Stellar Tew (West Side, 12): 6^th, 4^th

1X STATE PLACERS 

157 - James Hansen (Ririe, 10): State Champion

165 - Ashton Allen (Firth, 12): State Champion

157 - Oakley Maddox (Malad, 10): 2^nd (AA)

106 - Johnny Stovern (Kellogg, 11): 3^rd

113 - Colton Storey (Kellogg, 10): 3^rd

132 - Carter Brittain (Firth, 12): 3^rd

150 - Drake Morrison (Malad, 10): 3^rd (AA)

165 - Aiden Yearout (St. Maries, 11): 3^rd

175 - Brendan Svetich (Melba, 12): 3^rd

113 - Will Osterhout (Declo, 12): 4^th

120 - Hector Silvas (Firth, 12): 4^th

190 - Kenyon Adams (Declo, 12): 4^th

175 – Eli Noah (Tri-Valley, 11): 4^th

106 - Kevin Watson (Kellogg, 10): 5^th

126 - Cael Newby (Grace, 10): 5^th

132 - Kelby Harvey (St. Maries, 10): 5^th

126 - Blake Tracy (Raft River, 12): 5^th

132 - Jack Schwendiman (Ririe, 11): 5^th

138 - Hunter Gamble (Orofino, 11): 5^th

157 - Zayden Garbett (Soda Springs, 10): 5^th

215 - Rigin Dixon (Challis, 11): 5^th

285 - Caleb Grow (Priest River, 12): 5^th

113 - Peter Fabbi (Clearwater Valley, 10): 6^th

113 - Aiden Figueroa (Kellogg, 11): 6^th

120 - Henry Thomas (Glenns Ferry, 11): 6^th

132 - Jacob Hartle (New Plymouth, 12): 6^th

144 - Jerrett Brebner (St. Maries, 11): 6^th

165 - Mac Hall (West Jefferson, 11): 6^th

215 - Cole Garbett (Soda Springs, 11): 6^th

175 - Wyatt Moura (Tri-Valley, 11): 6^th

FRESHMEN TO WATCH

98 – Jake Barzee (West Side), District Champion

98 – Jaxon Hansen (Ririe), 2^nd District

113 – Teran Tracy (Raft River), District Champion

120 – Carsun Hinklemann (Kellogg), District Champion

120 – Bill Avery (Tri-Valley), District Champion

ALL-AMERICANS

138 - Wallace Durfee (Declo, 12)

150 - Drake Morrison (Malad, 10)

157 - Oakley Maddox (Malad, 10)

COLLEGE COMMITS

126 - Gabe Mullenburg (Glenns Ferry), Colorado St. Pueblo (Division II)

190 - Gabriel Cox (New Plymouth), Western Colorado Univ. (Division II)