The Class 4A (formerly 3A) traditionally produces several top level teams and individuals and this year is no exception. Once again, the field is loaded with a lot of talent throughout the fifteen weight groups and return a total of 10 individual State Champions, 52 returning state placers, and 7 wrestlers with All-American honors to their credit. The favorite for the overall team race is returning team champions Fruitland, but they will receive a strong challenge for the top spot from American Falls and Snake River.

The leader among the ten returning State Champions is South Fremont’s All-American Boden Banta. Boden is a 3x State Champion and is in strong position to earn a rare forth. Historically, there has been a total of 14 4x Champions in this classification with former teammate Hunter Hobbs being the last in 2023. Only a junior, Utah Valley commit Nathan Gugelman II of American Falls is an All-American and enters these championships with two titles to his credit, as well as two-timer/All-American Kaden MacKenzie of Fruitland (Providence commit). Other returning state champions include 3x placer Braden Griffith (Fruitland, 106s), Trevor Paynter (Homedale, 113s), Kelton Reynolds (Snake River, 126s), 3x placer Mason Aiken (American Falls, 144s), 2x placer Kash Cobb (Weiser, 175s), 3x placer Gabe Finley (Buhl, 285s), and Quinn Hood of Fruitland (215s), a 2x state finalist.

Other top tier wrestlers vying for a third or fourth state medal include returning state finalists Wyatt Carey (Timberlake, 106s), Fruitland’s Marcus Aleman (120s) and Jeremiah Perry (132s), All-American Koy Orr (Filer, 132s), Blake Koyle (Gooding, 120s), Coye Hoffman (Fruitland, 150s), and Ryder Sheen of Buhl at 190s. Furthermore, Max Banta (Sugar-Salem, 120s), Brian Bensen (Snake River, 138s), Fabian Avalos (American Falls, 165s), and Weiser’s Charlie Nevarez (132s) and Stockton Young (157s) will challenge as well. Moreover, Chance Povey (American Falls, 106s), Kysen MacKenzie (Fruitland, 138s, Raidyn Pugsley (Buhl, 138s), Fabi Pierce (Buhl, 157s), and McGregor Miller of South Fremont (215) all are returning finalist and will challenge for the top spot as well.

In the team race, Fruitland is the pre-tournament favorite with American Falls and Snake River challenging. Without question, Fruitland dominated the field last year producing 3 individual champions and 17 placers overall. On top of that, they broke the previous scoring record of 309.5 (South Fremont, 2023) by scoring 318 points. Can they repeat or exceed? With 11 returning state placers and 23 qualifiers overall, it’s possible, but will not be easy. Among the large contingent of returning placers, they are led by three returning state champions, which includes two-timer/All-American Kaden MacKenzie (157s), 3x placer Braden Griffith (106s), and 2x finalist Quinn Hood at 215s.

With a total of 20 qualifiers and 7 returning placers, American Falls will definitely challenge Fruitland for the top spot. They are led by 2x State Champion/All-American Nathan Gugelman II (150s), returning champion Maisen Aiken (144s), and 2024 finalist Chance Povey at 106s. Next is Snake River, who in 2024 placed fifth in the team standings with 1 state champion and 7 placers overall. This year, the Panthers bring back 4 returning placers and 18 qualifiers overall. They are led by returning state champion Kelton Reynolds (126s) and placers Jace Leavitt (132s), Brian Benson (138s), and Clancy Howell at 157s.

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 South Fremont’s Greyson Packer, who enters this tournament with a solid 56-0 record at 113s. He is followed by Jakobe Valle (Homedale, 98s), Gus Packer (Snake River, 98s), Morris Heib (Snake River, 98s), Zane Fabrizius (American Falls, 106s), Porter Swan (Homedale, 106s), Colt Thompson (Snake River, 120s), Braelyn Arredondo (Homedale, 126s), and Asa Black (Homedale, 126s).

In summary, the 4A division is loaded with a lot of individual talent and the team race is expected to be a barnburner of an event with Fruitland battling American Falls and Snake River for the top spot. Below is a comprehensive list of top teams, returning champions, state placers, All-Americans, freshmen to watch, and college commits. Enjoy!

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH

FRUITLAND (District III)

106 – Braden Griffith (Sr.), 6^th, 4^th, 1^st State

106 – Mason Butler (Jr.), District Champion

120 – Marcus Aleman (Jr.), 2^nd, 3^rd State

120 – Wyatt Griffith (Soph.), 2^nd District

126 – Logan Vaughn (Fr.), 3^rd District

126 - Dawson Clevenger (Jr.), 4^th District

132 – Jeremiah Perry (Sr.), 4^th, 2^nd State

132 – Jayden Bixby (Fr.), 5^th District

138 – Kysen MacKenzie (Soph.), 2^nd State ’24

144 – Jake Swann (Sr.), 6^th State ’24

144 - Kobie Baxter (Soph.), 4^th District

150 – Coye Coffman (Sr.), 6^th, 4^th, 2^nd State

150 – Cooper Owens (Fr.), 4^th District

157 – Kaden MacKenzie (Sr.), 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st State (AA)

157 - KJ Parsons (Sr.), 3^rd District

165 – Nathaniel Martinez (Sr.), 6^th State ’24

175 – Will Phillips (Sr.), 3^rd State ’24

190 – Raymond Florez (Sr.), 5^th State ’24

190 – Vann Warner (Fr.), 5^th District   

215 – Quinn Hood (Sr.), 2^nd, 1^st State

215 - Sam Mahler (Sr.), 2^nd District

285 – Levi Morales (Soph.), District Champion

285 - Alex Arrendondo (Soph.), 2^nd District

AMERICAN FALLS (District V)

98 – Zane Fabrizius (Fr.), 3^rd District

106 – Chance Povey (Jr.), 2^nd State ’24

113 – Francisco Burrola (Sr.), 2^nd District

120 – Alex Rosales (Sr.), District Champion

120 - Kai Christiansen (Soph.), 2^nd District

126 – Johnny Rosales (Sr.), 6^th District

132 – Evan Simms (Jr.), 4^th State ’24

138 – Wade Williams (Jr.), 3^rd State ’24 (AA)

138 – Brian Lopez (Jr.), 4^th District

144 – Maisen Aiken (Sr.), 4^th, 2^nd, 1^st State

150 – Nathan Gugelman II (Jr.), 1^st, 1^st State (AA)

150 - Aaron Cruces (Fr.), 6^th District

157 - Titus Dillow (Jr.), 2^nd District

165 – Fabian Avalos (Sr.), 3^rd, 4^th State

175 – Deegyn Harris (Sr.), 6^th District

190 – Blaise Turner (Soph.), 4^th State ’24 (AA)

190 - Zach Resendiz (Soph.), 3^rd District

215 – Cesar Palacios (Sr.), 2^nd District

215 - Jesse Jones (Fr.), 3^rd District

285 – Salvador Ortiz (Sr.), 2^nd District

SNAKE RIVER (District V)

98 – Gus Packer (Fr.), District Champion

98 - Morris Heib (Fr.), 2^nd District

113 – Gage Reynolds (Soph.), 3^rd District

120 – Colt Thompson (Fr.), 3^rd District

120 – Joseph West (Jr.), 4^th District

126 – Kelton Reynolds (Jr.), State Champion ’24

132 – Jace Leavitt (Sr.), 5^th, 5^th, 2^nd State

138 – Brian Benson (Sr.), 3^rd, 3^rd State

138 - Mac Belnap (Soph.), 3^rd District

144 – Logan Marshall (Soph.), 2^nd District

157 – Clancey Howell (Jr.), 5^th State ’24

157 – Zed Hancock (Fr.), 4^th District

175 – Ryker Thomas (Soph.) District Champion

175 – Kyle Anderson (Jr.), 4^th District

190 – Jonas Bishop (Soph.), 2^nd District

215 – Garrett Patten (Fr.), 4^th District

285 – Lynden Stone (Jr.), District Champion

285 - Malachi Egbert (Soph.), 3^rd District

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH - Buhl (District IV), Homedale (District III), Marsh Valley (District V), Weiser (District III).

3X STATE CHAMPION 

126 – Boden Banta (South Fremont, 12) (AA)

2X STATE CHAMPIONS 

150 - Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 11) (AA)

157 - Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 12) (AA)

1X STATE CHAMPIONS

106 - Braden Griffith (Fruitland, 12)

113 - Trevor Paynter (Homedale, 10)

126 - Kelton Reynolds (Snake River, 11)

144 - Mason Aiken (American Falls, 12)

175 - Kash Cobb (Weiser, 12)

285 - Gabe Finley (Buhl, 12)

215 - Quinn Hood (Fruitland, 12)

3X STATE PLACERS 

106 - Braden Griffith (Fruitland, 12): 6^th, 4^th, 1^st

120 - Blake Koyle (Gooding, 12): 4^th, 5^th, 3^rd

126 - Boden Banta (South Fremont, 12): 1^st, 1^st, 1^st (AA)

132 - Jace Leavitt (Snake River, 12): 5^th, 5^th, 2^nd

132 - Koy Orr (Filer, 12): 2^nd, 3^rd, 2^nd (AA)

144 - Mason Aiken (American Falls, 12): 4^th, 2^nd, 1^st

150 - Coye Coffman (Fruitland, 12): 6^th, 4^th, 2^nd

157 - Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 12): 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st (AA)

285 - Gabe Finley (Buhl, 12): 2^nd, 4^th, 1^st

2X STATE PLACERS 

106 - Wyatt Carey (Timberlake, 11): 3^rd, 2^nd

120 - Max Banta (Sugar-Salem, 12): 6^th, 4^th

120 - Marcus Aleman (Fruitland, 11): 2^nd, 3^rd

132 - Charlie Nevarez (Weiser, 11): 5^th, 5^th

132 - Jeremiah Perry (Fruitland, 12): 4^th, 2^nd

138 - Brian Bensen (Snake River, 12): 3^rd, 3^rd

150 - Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 11): 1^st, 1^st (AA)

165 - Fabian Avalos (American Falls, 12): 3^rd, 4^th

157 - Stockton Young (Weiser, 12): 6^th, 4^th

175 - Kash Cobb (Weiser, 12): 5^th, 1^st

190 - Ryder Sheen (Buhl, 12): 4^th, 2^nd

215 - Quinn Hood (Fruitland, 12): 2^nd, 1^st

1X STATE PLACERS 

106 - Chance Povey (American Falls, 11): 2^nd

113 - Gage Reynolds (Snake River, 10): 3^rd

113 - Hunter Solomon (Marsh Valley, 10): 4^th

113 - Sawyer Huston (Timberlake, 11): 5^th

113 - Wyatt Black (Weiser, 10): 6^th

113 - Trevor Paynter (Homedale, 10): State Champion

113 - Francisco Burrola (American Falls, 12): 3^rd

120 - Wyatt Griffith (Fruitland, 10): 6^th

126 - Kelton Reynolds (Snake River, 11): State Champion

126 - Paul Sundstrom (Timberlake, 12): 4th

138 - Kysen MacKenzie (Fruitland, 10): 2^nd

126 - Jed Townsend (Marsh Valley, 11): 5^th

132 - Evan Simms (American Falls, 11): 4^th

138 - Raidyn Pugsley (Buhl, 10): 2^nd

144 - Clancy Harris (Marsh Valley, 12): 6^th

138 - Wade Williams (American Falls, 11): 3^rd (AA)

165 - Nathaniel Martinez (Fruitland, 12): 6^th

157 - Fabi Pierce (Buhl, 11): 2^nd

165 - Gunner Johnson (Marsh Valley, 12): 3^rd

165 – Kace Fullmer (Teton, 10): 5^th

144 - Jake Swann (Fruitland, 12): 6^th

165 - Luke Sarich (Weiser, 12): 3^rd

157 - Clancy Howell (Snake River, 11): 5^th

157 - KJ Parsons (Fruitland, 12): 6^th

175 - Lucas Williams (Kimberly, 12): 6^th

175 - Jonathan Hansen (Timberlake, 12): 4^th

190 - Blaise Turner (American Falls, 10): 3^rd (AA)

215 – McGregor Miller (South Fremont, 10): 2^nd

175 - Will Phillips (Fruitland, 12): 3^rd

190 - Raymond Florez (Fruitland, 12): 5^th

285 - Taylor Dodd (Bonners Ferry, 10): 4^th

285 – Finnigan Moon (McCall-Donnelly, 12): 6^th

FRESHMEN TO WATCH

98 – Jakobe Valle (Homedale), District Champion

98 – Gus Packer (Snake River), District Champion

98 – Morris Heib (Snake River), 3^rd District

98 – Zane Fabrizius (American Falls), 3^rd District

106 – Riggs Banta (South Fremont), 2^nd District

106 – Porter Swan (Homedale), 3^rd District

113 – Greyson Packer (South Fremont), District Champion

120 – Colt Thompson (Snake River), 3^rd District

126 – Braelyn Arredondo (Homedale), District Champion

126 – Asa Black (Homedale), 2^nd District

ALL-AMERICANS

132 - Koy Orr (Filer, 12)

126 - Boden Banta (South Fremont, 12)

157 - Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 12)

150 - Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 11)

138 - Wade Williams (American Falls, 11)

190 - Blaise Turner (American Falls, 10)

215 - Cesar Palacios (American Falls, 12)

COLLEGE COMMITS

150 - Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls), Utah Valley Univ. (Division I)

157 - Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland), Providence University (NAIA)