The 2025 Idaho State Wrestling Championships in the Class 6A (formerly 5A) is expected to be a highly contested competition, which features a large contingent of wrestlers with notable state, regional, and national accolades to their credit. This contingent includes 5 returning State Champions, 47 returning state placers, and 10 with All-American honors in addition to 4 wrestlers committed to compete at the collegiate level.

The team race is anticipated to be a close and suspenseful contest throughout, keeping everyone on the edge of their seats. From the start to finish it will definitely come down to overall team depth, performance, and peaking at the right time. The top contenders include perennial powers Meridian and Post Falls. Each have what it takes to win the BIG prize. I expect the road to the team title to be no different than last year, which will require an “all-hands on deck” effort where bonus points and big scoring from the number two wrestlers is vitally important.

The leader among the 5 returning State Champions is Post Fall’s Rider Sequine, a 3x State Champion and All-American. To reach his goal of earning a rare fourth state title, it will require him to get past a much anticipated final with Canyon Ridges’ Sean Hall, an All-American with two state medals to his credit. He is joined by four other wrestlers vying for their third individual state title. They include Nampa’s Ryan Hirchert (106s), All-American Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 120s), Southern Oregon commit Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 120s), and Post Fall’s Seth Martin (190s), committed to compete for JUCO power North Idaho College.

Other talented wrestlers to watch include St. Cloud State commit and All-American Draven Johns of Caldwell and Trey Smith (Post Falls). Each have state finals experience and are in pursuit of a rare fourth medal. Nine additional wrestlers have state finals experience and will challenge for the top spot. They include Nampa trio IIan Shank (113s), Vincent Contreras (120s), Alijah Macias (126s) in addition to Jaxson Freeman (Caldwell), Dylan Frothinger (Eagle, 120s), All-American Logan Shaver (Meridian, 157s), Brand’n Edstrom (Madison, 106s), Ian Avalos (Mountain View, 132s), and All-American Damion Hamilton of Post Falls.

Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the team race is expected to be a carbon copy of last season with Meridian and Post Falls battling for the top spot. Coming off a record performance at the District III Championships (scored an incredible record 905.5 points), Meridian brings to the Holt Arena a very large contingent of 28 wrestlers and is in a strong position to challenge for a fifth straight title, but will have to bring their best game to beat Post Falls. They return seven state medalists, which includes Tobias Guillen (106s), Jeremiah Gonzalez (120s), Justus Briggs (120s), Andrae Ramirez (150s), Logan Shaver (157s), Bradley Bones (190s), Abdul Abdulhameed (215s), and many more that are expected to challenge for a medal, including freshman standout Blake Nevills at 126s.

State runner-up in 2024, Post Falls has had a strong tradition for many years and understands what it takes to win it all. Winning their last team title in 2020, the Tigers definitely have the talent and numbers (20 qualifiers) to challenge Meridian. Matching Meridian, they also return seven state medalists, which includes Gage Loftin (106s), Matthew Hamilton (113s), Rider Sequine (138s), Damion Hamilton (165s), Trey Smith (175s), Seth Martin (190s), and Kendall Sage at 215s. Other teams contending for a top five finish include Madison, Coeur d’ Alene in addition to Caldwell, Mountain View, and Nampa.

This season, I had the opportunity to observe a few talented freshmen (see list below) who will definitely impact their respective weight groups at state. They include Bodee Williams (Meridian), Tristen Mendenhall (Post Falls), Cole Jensen (Rock Mountain), Burke Blue (Centennial), Blake Nevills (Meridian), and Camden Harrison (Eagle).

Overall, I expect the Class 6A to be a great competition featuring many of the state’s most talented wrestlers. The rubber will definitely meet the road very early in several of the weight groups. Below is a comprehensive list of top teams, returning champions, state placers, All-Americans, college commits, and freshman to watch. Enjoy!!

TOP TEAMS TO WATCH

MERIDIAN (District III)

98 – Bodee Williams (Fr.), District Champion

106 – Tobias Guillen (Soph.), 5^th State ’24

106 - Jacob Ostoja (Fr.), 4^th District

113 – Adam Ostoja (Soph.), 3^rd District

113 - Tre Hallford (Soph.), 8^th District

120 – Jeremiah Gonzalez (Sr.), 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st State (AA)

120 - Justus Briggs (Jr.), 6^th State ’24

126 – Blake Nevills (Fr.), District Champion

126 - Vincent Torrez (Soph.), 4^th District

132 – Jackson Beck (Soph.), 3^rd District

132 - Cruz Ramirez (Fr.), 4^th District

138 – Darius Case (Soph.), 2^nd District

138 - Draken Miller (Soph.), 4^th District

144 – Ryan Amoureux (Jr.), District Champion

144 - Xyler Coleman (Soph.), 4^th District

150 – Andrae Ramirez (Sr.), 3^rd State ’24

150 - Christian Egginton (Soph.), 8^th District

157 – Logan Shaver (Jr.), 4^th, 2^nd State (AA)

157 - Hayden McDonald (Jr.), 2^nd District

165 – Leo Klinger (Soph.), 6^th District

165 - Conner Hauff (Soph.), 8^th District

175 – Camden Crespi (Sr.), 3^rd District

175 - Hezekiah Suter (Jr.), 9^th District

190 – Bradley Bones (Jr.), 6^th State ’24

190 – LaGary Mitchel (Jr.), 7^th District

215 – Abdul Abdulhameed (Sr.), 6^th State ’24

215 - Tagen Lowe (Jr.), 8^th District

285 – Nicholas Maloff (Sr.), 3^rd District

POST FALLS (District I-II)

98 – Tristan Mendenhall (Fr.), District Champion

98 - Saul Benzinger (Soph.), 2^nd District

106 – Gage Loftin (Jr.), 4^th State ’24 (AA)

113 – Matthew Hamilton (Soph.), 3^rd State ‘24

113 - Ryker Allen (Fr.), 3^rd District

120 – Logan Loaiza (Jr.), District Champion

120 - Jesse Villegas (Soph.), 2^nd District

126 – Sawyer Sage (Fr.), 3^rd District

132 – Brandon Felix (Jr.), District Champion

138 – Rider Sequine (Sr.), 1^st, 1^st, 1^st State (AA)

150 – Tanner Piper (Sr.), 2^nd District

157 – Kyle Miller (Sr.), 2^nd District

157 - Colton Austin (Jr.), 3^rd District

165 – Damion Hamilton (Jr.), 2^nd State ’24 (AA)

175 – Trey Smith (Sr.), 5^th, 3^rd, 2^nd State

190 – Seth Martin (Sr.), 4^th, 1^st, 1^st State

190 - Zane Smith (Jr.), 2^nd District

215 – Kendall Sage (Sr.), 6^th, 4^th State

215 - Kyden Martin (Sr.), 3^rd District

285 – Xander Scholes (Jr.), 2^nd District

MADISON (District IV-V-VI)

98 – Rocky Jensen (Soph.), 2^nd District

106 – Brand’n Edstrom (Soph.), 2^nd State ’24

106 - Rigdon Green (Soph.), 4^th District

126 – Teague Jensen (Sr.), 6^th, 6^th State

132 – Jordan Loya (Soph.), 2^nd District

144 – Ace Ingram (Jr.), 5^th State ’24

150 – Derek Heebner (Sr.), 2^nd District

157 – Braxton Hanna (Sr.), 4^th State ’24

165 – Grant Gugelman (Soph.), District Champion

165 - Mace Mortensen (Soph.), 2^nd District

175 – Colton Munns (Jr.), District Champion

190 – Rowdy Weekes (Sr.), District Champion

190 - Daxx Edstrom (Soph.), 2^nd District

215 – Porter Cottle (Sr.), 3^rd State ‘24

215 - Spencer Mahaffey (Sr.), 2^nd District

285 – Rex Salas (Sr.), 6^th, 4^th State

285 - Sidi Kante (Fr.), 2^nd District

COEUR D’ ALENE (District I-II)

98 – Micah Miller (Fr.), 3^rd District

106 – Nash Larsen (Fr.), 2^nd District

113 – Rocco White (Jr.), 6^th, 3^rd State

120 – Colton Rush (Soph.), 3^rd District

126 – Carter Newby (Soph.), District Champion

132 - Tanner George (Jr.), 4^th State ’24

132 – Logan Nitti (Fr.), 2^nd District

138 – Jordan Schield (Soph.), 2^nd District

138 - Dominic Prangley (Soph), 3^rd District

144 – Logan Bradley (Sr.), District Champion

144 - Finn Case (Soph.), 2^nd District

150 – Colton Tucker (Sr.), 3^rd State ’24

157 – Gabe Larsen (Sr.), District Champion

165 – Brock Armstrong (Soph.), 2^nd District

175 – Brett Myers (Sr.), 3^rd District

OTHER TEAMS TO WATCH – Caldwell (District III), Mountain View (District III), and Nampa (District III).

3X STATE CHAMPION 

138 - Rider Seguin (Post Falls, 12) (AA)

2X STATE CHAMPIONS 

106 - Ryan Hirchert (Nampa, 11)

120 - Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 11) (AA)

120 - Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 12)(AA)

190 - Seth Martin (Post Falls, 12)

3X STATE PLACERS 

138 - Rider Sequin (Post Falls, 12): 1^st, 1^st, 1^st (AA)

120 - Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 12): 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st (AA)

190 - Seth Martin (Post Falls, 12): 4^th, 1^st, 1^st

132 - Draven Johns (Caldwell, 12): 3^rd, 2^nd, 3^rd (AA)

175 - Trey Smith (Post Falls, 12): 5^th, 3^rd, 2^nd

2X STATE PLACERS 

106 - Ryan Hirchert (Nampa, 11): 1^st, 1^st

120 - Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 11): 1^st, 1^st

120 - Vincent Contreras (Nampa, 11): 2^nd, 2^nd

120 - Jaxson Freeman (Caldwell, 11): 2^nd, 2^nd

126 - Alijah Macias (Nampa, 12): 2^nd, 3^rd

120 - Dylan Frothinger (Eagle, 11): 4^th, 2^nd

113 - IIan Shank (Nampa, 11): 2^nd, 4^th

138 - Sean Hall (Canyon Ridge, 11): 4^th, 3^rd (AA)

157 - Logan Shaver (Meridian, 11): 4^th, 2^nd (AA)

150 - Jayce Wolf (Caldwell, 12): 5^th, 3^rd

215 - Garrett Leonard (Lake City, 12): 5^th, 3^rd

190 - Jean-Luc Guerra (Mountain View, 12): 4^th, 4^th

113 - Rocco White (Coeur d’ Alene, 11): 6^th, 3^rd  

215 - Kendall Sage (Post Falls, 12): 6^th, 4^th

285 - Rex Salas (Madison, 12): 6^th, 4^th

132 - Nate Galloway (Rocky Mountain, 12): 5^th, 6^th

126 - Hunter Anderson (Rigby, 12): 5^th, 5^th (AA)

126 - Teague Jensen (Madison, 12): 6^th, 6^th

1X STATE PLACERS 

106 - Brand’n Edstrom (Madison, 10): 2^nd

132 - Ian Avalos (Mountain View, 10): 2^nd

165 - Damion Hamilton (Post Falls, 11): 2^nd (AA)

113 - Matthew Hamilton (Post Falls, 10): 3^rd

150 - Andrae Ramirez (Meridian, 12): 3^rd

150 - Colton Tucker (Coeur d’ Alene, 12): 3^rd

215 - Porter Cottle (Madison, 12): 3^rd

285 - Anthony Toomey (Eagle, 12): 3^rd

106 - Gage Loftin (Post Falls, 11): 4^th (AA)

132 - Tanner George (Coeur d’ Alene, 11): 4^th

144 - Onyx Kunsaitis (Thunder Ridge, 10): 4^th

144 - Aiden Hernandez (Highland, 10): 4^th

157 - Braxton Hanna (Madison, 11): 4^th

106 - Tobias Guillen (Meridian, 10): 5^th

144 - Ace Ingram (Madison, 11): 5^th

285 - Sebastian Mosman (Lake City, 12): 5^th

113 - Ryker Andreason (Owyhee, 10): 6^th

120 - Justus Briggs (Meridian, 11): 6^th

132 - Tucker Clark (Rigby, 11): 4^th

144 - Peyton Gurney (Ridgevue, 12): 6^th

175 - Chaz Ponton (Mountain View, 12): 6^th (AA)

190 - Bradley Bones (Meridian, 11): 6^th

215 - Abdullah Abdulhameed (Meridian, 12): 6^th

285 - Kollin Bailey (Rocky Mountain, 11): 6^th

ALL-AMERICANS

106 - Gage Loftin (Post Falls, 11)

138 - Rider Seguin (Post Falls, 12)

165 - Damion Hamilton (Post Falls, 11)

120 - Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian, 12)

157 - Logan Shaver (Meridian, 11)

126 - Hunter Anderson (Rigby, 12)

175 - Chaz Ponton (Mountain View, 12)

132 - Draven Johns (Caldwell, 12)

138 - Sean Hall (Canyon Ridge, 11)

120 - Sawyer Anderson (Highland, 11)

FRESHMEN TO WATCH

98 – Bodee Williams (Meridian), District Champion

98 – Tristan Mendenhall (Post Falls), District Champion

98 – Cole Jensen (Rocky Mountain), 2^nd District

98 – Burke Blue (Centennial), 3^rd District 

126 – Blake Nevills (Meridian), District Champion

165 – Camden Harrison (Eagle), 3^rd District

COLLEGE COMMITS

132 - Draven Johns (Caldwell), St. Cloud State (Division II)

190 - Jean Luc-Guerra (Mountain View), Saint Ambrose University (NAIA)

120 - Jeremiah Gonzalez (Meridian), Southern Oregon (NAIA)

190 - Seth Martin (Post Falls), North Idaho College (NJCAA)

113 – Canyon Scott (Rigby), William Penn University (NAIA)