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The 2024-’25 season marks the fourth season that girl’s prep wrestling in Idaho has been a sanctioned sport along with the boys. Since the first sanctioned state meet in 2022, girl’s participation numbers have exponentially increased by 126% and continue to climb annually (According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, the growth nationally since 2022 has increased by over 100% since 2022). Parallel to that growth is the level of competition that is also improving each and every year, especially at the grass roots where incoming freshman are beating returning state champions and multi-placers. This year’s field returns 11 individual State Champions, 36 returning state placers, and an impressive 12 All-Americans. When it comes to the team race, I expect it to be an epic battle among several teams from start to finish. These teams include Thunder Ridge, Rocky Mountain, Kuna, and Eagle to name a few.
This year’s field returns 12 individual State Champions. Leading this strong group is senior All-Americans Elise Twait (Meridian, 152s) and Amie Hartman of Mountain Home (235s). Entering this year’s tournament with an undefeated 41-0 record and two state titles, Twait is pound-for-pound one of the best wrestlers in this competition. She is determined to win a third state title and will be very difficult to beat. Hartman, also a 2x State Champion/3x finalist is the odds on favorite to win a third state title and fourth medal overall, but will receive some tough competition on the way.
The remaining nine returning State Champions are an impressive group of wrestlers. They include Salmon’s Raelynn O’Connor (100s), All-American Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 138s), Rianna Walter (Canyon Ridge, 165s), and Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 185s) in addition to All-Americans Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 114s), Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 114s), Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome, 126s), Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot, 132s), and Roxy Sheen of Buhl at 145s. All are seeded high and will definitely be in the mix to possibly repeat in 2025. With that in mind, the talk of the tournament is at 114s where returning champions Slyter and Nichols are projected to have a rematch from last year’s final. Seeded 1 and 2, respectively, the anticipated rematch is probable, but for it to come to fruition will require each to navigate through some fierce competition in the preliminary rounds as this weight group is well-balanced and competitive from top to bottom. Buckle up!
Other returning state placers expected to challenge for the top spot include 3x state placer/All-American Zoe Fries of Kuna. Seeded number one at 138s, Fries enters these championships with an impressive 38-0 record and is very determined to win it all. She is joined by 2x placers Hayley McNeal (Potlatch, 152s), Kasia Hanks (Burley, 126s), Kyler Scott (Century, 132s), Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley, 114s), Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d’ Alene, 165s), Emry Woods (Eagle, 185s), and All-Americans Josie Newby (Grace 145s) and Rihanna Mora of Vallivue at 114s.
The road to the team title will definitely be a battle from start to finish, as the moment of truth will arrive upon the first whistle on day one. Returning team champions Thunder Ridge enter these championships the favorite to repeat with 7 qualifiers and 2 returning placers. They will be met with stiff competition from several other programs looking to challenge for the team trophy and top honors as well. They include Rocky Mountain (3 Placers/8 Qual.), Kuna (2 placers/6 Qual.), Eagle (1 Placer/7 Qual.), Meridian (1 Placer/5 Qual.), and Buhl (2 Placers/4 Qual.). Other teams that will definitely be in the mix include American Falls, Bonners Ferry, Grace, Jerome, Middleton, Mountain Home, Sandpoint, Skyline, and Twin Falls. At this point, the team competition is very difficult to predict, but by day two we’ll have a clearer picture. In my humble opinion, this may be the most highly contested team race since the first sanctioned state tournament in 2022. BRACE FOR SHOCK!!
The grassroots level in Idaho is improving each and every year. This is evident with the number of top tier freshman entering these championships. This year is no exception as the top seed at 120s is Charlee Noah of Tri-Valley. With an impressive 34-1 record, Noah has wins over returning state champions Joely Slyter and Talea Nichols. Her lone loss is to Slyter at the Clearwater Classic in January. Other freshmen to watch is listed below in the preview.
Once again, I am encouraged by the growth of girl’s wrestling in the Gem State of Idaho. For the last few years, I have observed the competition level increase in volume, as well as more underclassmen placing at the state meet. I look forward to this state tournament and the future of girl’s wrestling in Idaho. The pioneers of girl’s wrestling have set a strong precedent for future generations to meet or exceed and I am optimistic that Idaho will become a power state in the future years to come. Below is a list of top teams, returning State Champions, state placers, All-Americans, and freshmen to watch. Enjoy!
TOP TEAMS TO WATCH
THUNDER RIDGE (District V-VI)
100 – Tayler Brown (Jr.), District Champion
114 – Anabelle Andrews (Sr.), 4th District
120 – Gracie Price (Soph.), 2nd State ’24
138 – Ava Price (Jr.), 2nd District
152 – Peyton Reeves (Soph.), 5th District
185 – Shauna Anderson (Jr.), 2nd, 1st State
235 – Emry Dabell (Sr.), 5th District
ROCKY MOUNTAIN (District III)
100 – Kiera Hersel (Sr.), 2nd District
114 – Talea Nichols (Jr.), State Champion ’24
120 – Whitney Cawthra (Fr.), 3rd District
126 – Elyse Asaro (Jr.), 6th State ’24
145 – Lexi Sanders (Fr.), 4th District
152 – AJ Moe (Soph.), 3rd District
165 – Gavin Brown (Sr.), District Champion
235 – Reece Moody (Sr.), 3rd State ’23
KUNA (District III)
107 – Taylor Drake (Soph.), 6th State ’24
114 – Aurora Rider (Soph.), 5th District
132 – Emma Stansell (Jr.), 3rd District
138 – Zoe Fries (Sr.), 3rd, 3rd, 2nd (AA)
165 – Abigail Henderson (Soph.), 5th District
185 – Priscilla Garcia (Soph.), 3rd District
EAGLE (District III)
107 – Tommy Stone (Jr.), 5th District
145 – Kate Sanada (Jr.), 5th District
152 – Gemma LeBeau (Fr.), 2nd District
152 - Ellie Davis (Soph.), 4th District
165 – Ella Elordi (Jr.), 2nd District
185 – Emry Woods (Sr.), 5th, 4th State
235 – Keleigh Russell-Smith (Fr.), 3rd District
MERIDIAN (District III)
107 – Amy Twait (Fr.), 7th District
120 – Kiana Trudell (Soph.), 2nd District
126 – Kiera DeLeon (Soph.), 4th District
132 – Meagan Smith (Jr.), 5th District
152 – Elise Twait (Sr.), 1st, 1st State
BUHL (District IV)
100 – Eva Finley (Fr.), District Champion
114 – Ali Svancara (Soph.), 4th State ’24
132 – Jasmine Carpenter (Fr.), 2nd District
145 – Roxy Sheen (Soph.), State Champion ’24 (AA)
OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH - American Falls (District V-VI), Bonners Ferry (District I-II), Grace (District V-VI), Jerome (District IV), Middleton (District III), Mountain Home (District IV), Sandpoint (District I-II), Skyline (District IV), and Twin Falls (District IV).
2X STATE CHAMPIONS
152 - Elise Twait (Meridian, 12) (AA)
235 - Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 12) (AA)
1X STATE CHAMPIONS
100 - Raelynn O’Connor (Salmon, 12)
114 - Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 11) (AA)
114 - Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 12) ’23 (AA)
126 - Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome, 10) (AA)
132 - Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot, 10) (AA)
138 - Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 11) (AA)
145 - Roxy Sheen (Buhl, 10) (AA)
165 - Rianna Walter (Canyon Ridge, 12)
185 - Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 11)
3X STATE PLACERS
235 - Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 12): 2nd, 1st, 1st (AA)
114 - Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 12): 6th, 1st, 2nd (AA)
138 - Zoe Fries (Kuna, 12): 3rd, 3rd, 2nd (AA)
2X STATE PLACERS
152 - Elise Twait (Meridian, 12): 1st, 1st (AA)
138 - Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 11): 2nd, 1st (AA)
185 - Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 11): 2nd, 1st
100 - Raelynn O’Connor (Salem, 12): 3rd, 1st
165 - Rianna Walter (Canyon Ridge, 12): 3rd, 1st
152 - Hayley McNeal (Potlatch, 12): 4th, 2nd
126 - Kasia Hanks (Burley, 12): 6th, 2nd
132 - Kyler Scott (Century, 11): 3rd, 3rd
114 - Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley, 11): 4th, 3rd
145 - Josie Newby (Grace, 12): 3rd, 5th (AA)
165 - Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d’ Alene, 11): 5th, 3rd
185 - Emry Woods (Eagle, 12): 5th, 4th
114 - Rihanna Mora (Vallivue, 12): 6th, 4th (AA)
1X STATE PLACERS
126 - Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome, 10): State Champion (AA)
132 - Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot, 10): State Champion (AA)
145 - Roxy Sheen (Buhl, 10): State Champion (AA)
120 - Gracie Price (Thunder Ridge, 10): 2nd
100 - Brooke Hensley (Skyline, 12): 3rd
114 - Kinzie Williams (American Falls, 10): 3rd (AA)
235 - Reece Moody (Rocky Mountain, Sr.): 3rd ’23
100 - Ava Bui (Centennial, 10): 4th
120 - Alexxis Johnson (Lake City, 12): 4th
114 - Ali Svancara (Buhl, 10): 4th
132 - Shelby Prather (Potlatch, 12): 5th
138 - Sofia Brown (Bonners Ferry, 12): 5th
138 - Celestial Westover (West Side, 12): 5th
145 - Gracin Dennis (Emmett, 12): 5th
138 - Josslyn Blair (Jerome, 12): 5th
107 - Taylor Drake (Kuna, 10): 6th
107 - Vanessa Ortiz (Glenns Ferry, 10): 6th
120 - Emma Garman (Sandpoint, 12): 6th
126 - Elyse Asaro (Rocky Mountain, 11): 6th
235 - Lili Marti (Sandpoint, 11): 6th
FRESHMEN TO WATCH
100 – Maritza Medina (Caldwell), 4th District
107 – Mya Bolander (Idaho Falls), District Champion
114 – Zaiden Espinoza (Mountain Home), 2nd District
120 – Charlee Noah (Tri-Valley), District Champion
120 – Whitney Cawthra (Rocky Mountain), 3rd District
120 – Zuri Tavarez (South Fremont), 2nd District
132 – Kahli Brown (Post Falls), District Champion
132 – Jasmin Carpenter (Buhl), 2nd District
138 – Jesse Rice (Clearwater Valley), 2nd District
ALL-AMERICANS
114 - Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 12)
114 - Rihanna Mora (Vallivue, 12)
145 - Josie Newby (Grace, 12)
138 - Zoe Fries (Kuna, 12)
152 - Elise Twait (Meridian, 12)
235 - Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 12)
114 - Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 11)
138 - Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 11)
145 - Roxy Sheen (Buhl, 10)
114 - Kinzie Williams (American Falls, 10)
126 - Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome, 10)
132 - Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot, 10)
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