Photo Credit: Embry-Riddle Athletics

Park City’s Heartland Credit Union Arena became the epicenter of collegiate wrestling this week as 320 athletes descended for the 69th annual NAIA national tournament. While the tournament began with crowded mats, the field was eventually narrowed to just 80 All-Americans—the elite top eight from each weight class who fought their way onto the final podium. As the 2026 championships unfold, wrestlers from the Gem State of Idaho are once again proving why they are a perennial force on the national stage. 

Sugar City native Kenneth Copley solidified his status as the premier heavyweight in the NAIA by pinning his opponent in the first round of the championship final. This victory marks his first national title and places him in the history books as only the sixth Idahoan to achieve this feat. A former Sugar-Salem High School standout with two state titles and four finals appearances, Copley concluded his junior year at Embry-Riddle with his third All-American honor. 

Joining Copley on the podium this year is Hunter Hobbs “aka, Pig”, an elite prep wrestler who claimed four straight state championships at South Fremont High School. Now competing for the University of Providence in Great Falls, Montana, Hobbs (Jr.) earned his second All-American honor for the Argos in the 157-pound division. 

Corban University junior Isaiah Twait further cemented his collegiate legacy by capturing his second All-American honor in the highly competitive 184-pound division. A standout for Salem-based Corban, Twait’s success follows an elite prep career at perennial powerhouse Meridian High School, where he was a four-time state medalist, a state champion, and a Fargo All-American. 

Eastern Oregon University redshirt junior Nico Rodrigues capped off his season as the final Idahoan to secure his second NAIA All-American honor. A product of Nampa’s Columbia High School, Rodriguez carried a stellar prep resume into college, including three state titles and multiple All-American honors. 

In closing, I extend my sincerest congratulations to Copley, Hobbs, Twait, and Rodriguez on achieving All-American honors. Their dedication and success serve as a distinguished representation of the Gem State. I also recognize and commend all Idaho athletes who competed in these championships for their commendable performance on the national stage.

The following records detail the 2026 All-American honorees, as well as a comprehensive historical roster of Idaho’s NAIA All-Americans dating back to 1986.

2026 ALL-AMERICANS (IDAHO)
157 – Hunter Hobbs (Providence/South Fremont HS), 5th Place 
184 – Isaiah Twait (Corbon Univ./Meridian HS), 6th Place 
285 – Kenneth Copley (Embry-Riddle/Sugar-Salem HS), NATIONAL CHAMPION
285 – Nico Rodriguez (Eastern Oregon/Columbia HS), 7th Place 

IDAHO’S ALL-TIME NAIA ALL-AMERICANS
1986 – 2026

NAIA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
285 – Kenneth Copley (Embry-Riddle/Sugar-Salem HS), 2026
174 – Casey Randles (Grand View/Coeur d’ Alene HS), 2022
141 – Jeremy Wynia (Southern Oregon/Boise HS), 2001
174 – Matt Cobb (Missouri Valley, Weiser HS), 2001
149 – Tim Cobb (Missouri Valley/Weiser HS), 2000
142 – Jeff Kloetzer (Montana St-Northern/Meridian HS), 1986

4x NAIA ALL-AMERICAN
174 – Matt Cobb (Missouri Valley/Weiser HS), 1999 – ’02  

3x NAIA ALL-AMERICANS
285 – Kenneth Copley (Embry-Riddle/Sugar-Salem HS), 2024 –‘26
197 – Garrett DeMers (Montana St-No./Coeur d’ Alene HS), 2014 – ’16 
150 – Larry Evens (Adams State/Idaho Falls HS), 1988 – ’90  
142/149/157 – Tim Cobb (Missouri Valley/Weiser HS), 1998 – ’01 

2x NAIA ALL-AMERICANS
157 – Hunter Hobbs (Providence/South Fremont HS), 2025, ‘26
184 – Isaiah Twait (Corban/Meridian HS), 2025, ‘26
285 – Nico Rodriguez (Eastern Oregon/Columbia HS), 2025, ‘26
184 – Sawyer Hobbs (Providence/South Fremont HS), 2023, ’25     
174 – Casey Randles (Grand View/Coeur d’ Alene HS), 2021, ’22 
184 – Tyler Hall (Embry-Riddle/Lindsey Wilson/Meridian HS), 2019, ’21 
157 – Chad Jennings (Missouri Valley/Post Falls HS), 2006, ’07 
157/197 – Shane Hall (Missouri Valley/Skyview HS), 2004, ’05 
133/141 – C.J. Campbell (Lindenwood/Blackfoot HS), 2001, ’02 
177 – Glenn Amador (Montana St-Northern/Meridian HS), 1991 – ’92  
118 – Phil McCluskey (Western Montana/Mountain Home HS), 1991, ’92 

1x NAIA ALL-AMERICANS 
197 – Gentry Smith (Southeastern/Post Falls HS), 2025
197 – Levi Perry (Corban University/Kuna HS), 2021  
133 – Drake Foster (Oklahoma City/Post Falls HS), 2020 
197 – John Hensley (Providence/Meridian HS), 2020  
165 – Taylor Owens (Embry-Riddle/Borah HS), 2020  
165 – Drake Randall (Eastern Oregon/Lewiston HS), 2019  
197 – Harley Dilulo (Eastern Oregon/Meridian HS), 2019  
125 – Mikel Perales (Menlo/Nampa H.S.), 2018  
165 – Derek Mestrovich (Southern Oregon/Skyview HS), 2013 
141 – Anthony Weerheim (Montana St-Northern/Preston HS), 2012  
165 – Drew Dickerson (Missouri Valley/Weiser HS), 2004 
157 – Anthony Bartlett (Dickinson State/Buhl HS), 2003
165 – Justin Erickson (Missouri Valley/Weiser HS), 2002 
141 – Jeremy Wynia (Southern Oregon/Boise HS), 2001  
165 – Matt Armstrong (Southern Oregon/Kellogg HS), 1999 
275 – Abe Boomer (Western Montana/American Falls HS), 1996
167 – Jim Putman (Western Montana/New Plymouth HS), 1989
142 – Jeff Kloetzer (Montana St-Northern/Meridian), 1986 

2026 NJCAA Wrestling National Championships – North Idaho’s Tucker and Martin Earn All-American honors  

North Idaho College (NIC) leaned on its Idaho roots this past weekend as former prep standouts Colton Tucker and Seth Martin secured All-American status at the 2026 NJCAA Wrestling Championships. Their performances anchored the Cardinals to a sixth-place team finish at the Mid-America Center

Freshman and former Coeur d’Alene High standout Tucker, a state champion and two-time placer, secured sixth place at 157 pounds. Meanwhile, Post Falls alumnus Martin, a two-time state champion and four-time placer, fought back to finish fifth at 184 pounds.

Under third-year head coach Derrick Booth, NIC finished the tournament with 112.5 points, trailing national champion Indian Hills (201.5 points) and five other programs in a highly competitive field. 

IDAHO’S ALL-TIME NJCAA ALL-AMERICANS 1962 – 2026

2x NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPION
285 – James Huml (Ricks College/Sugar-Salem HS), 1999, ’00 

NJCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
197 – VJ Giulio (North Idaho College/American Falls HS), 2014
174 – Jesse Nielsen (North Idaho College/Coeur d’ Alene HS), 2011
285 – Landon Harris (Northwest Wyoming/Sugar-Salem HS), 2010
174 – Nathan Pascoe (North Idaho College/Lakeland HS), 2001
285 – Ryan Hansen (Ricks College/Centennial HS), 2001*
167 – Mitch Mansfield (Ricks College/Shelly HS), 1988*
158 – Steve Kluver (North Idaho College/Sandpoint HS), 1984

2x NJCAA ALL-AMERICANS
285 – Lisiate “Richard” Anau (Northwest Wyoming/Madison HS), 2017, ’18 
197 – VJ Giulio (North Idaho College/American Falls HS), 2013, ’14 
165 – Derek Mestrovich (Clackamas CC/Skyview HS), 2010 – ’11  
125 – Kyle McCrite (North Idaho College/Lakeland HS), 2010 – ’11 
165/174 – Jesse Nielsen (North Idaho/Coeur d’ Alene HS), 2010 – ’11 
285 – Landon Harris (Northwest/Sugar-Salem HS), 2009 – ’10 
285 – Brandon Rupp (Western Wyoming CC/Pocatello HS), 2007 – ’08 
125 – Jeremy Ensley (Northwest College/Homedale HS), 2007 – ’08 
197 – Nathan Barzee (Northwest College/West Jefferson HS), 2007 – ’08 
141 – C.J. Campbell (SW Oregon CC/Blackfoot HS), 1999 – ’00 
285 – James Huml (Ricks College/Sugar-Salem HS), 1999 – ’00*  
184 – Ty Stone (North Idaho College/St. Maries), 1999 – ’00  
275 – Dave Anderton (BYU-Idaho/Snake River HS), 1997 – ’98* 
190 – Jed Zirker (Ricks College/Madison HS), 1996 – ’97*  
134 – Mike Smith (North Idaho College/Coeur d’ Alene HS), 1993 – ’94  
134 – Blake Tompkins (Clackamas CC/Centennial HS), 1992 – ’93 
118 – Brett Bingham (Ricks College/Gooding HS), 1990, ’93*  
126 – Travis Bell (Ricks College/Highland HS), 1989, ’92*  
158 – Blake Ford (Northwest College/Skyline HS), 1987, ’89  
150 – Kevin Frame (North Idaho College/Coeur d’ Alene HS), 1985 – ’86  
126 – Tim Jones (Northwest College/Skyline HS), 1983, ’86  

1x NJCAA ALL-AMERICANS 
157 – Colton Tucker (North Idaho College/Coeur d’Alene HS), 2026
184 – Seth Martin (North Idaho College/Post Falls HS), 2026
157 – Porter Craig (North Idaho College/Coeur d’ Alene HS), 2024  
133 – Destin Summers (Western Wyoming CC/Blackfoot HS), 2021  
285 – Wyatt Kearn (Western Wyoming CC/American Falls HS), 2021  
149 – Bryce Parson (North Idaho College/Lewiston HS), 2019  
157 – Chase Lemons (Iowa Western/Bonneville HS), 2017  
285 – Stephen Boone (Iowa Western/Bonneville HS), 2017  
149 – Beau Roberts (Clackamas CC/Mountain View HS), 2013
125 – Brock Banta (North Idaho College/South Fremont HS), 2013  
149 – Colby Kloetzer (Northwest College/Caldwell HS), 2013
141 – Anthony Weerheim (Clackamas CC/Preston HS), 2010 
133 – Vance Beeson (Clackamas CC/Eagle HS), 2008  
157 – Clayton Cook (Western Wyoming CC/Pocatello HS), 2007 
125 – Michael Wilding (Western Wyoming CC/Highland HS), 2007  
174 – Nathan Pascoe (North Idaho College/Lakeland HS), 2001 
285 – Ryan Hansen (Ricks College/Centennial HS), 2001*  
165 – Travis Lierman (North Idaho College/Bonners Ferry HS), 2001 
184 – Dale Boone (Ricks College/Bonneville HS), 2000*
167 – Shane Wasden (Ricks College/Sugar-Salem HS), 1997* 
126 – Tyler Bransford (Clackamas CC/Grangeville HS), 1997  
158 – Brandon Forbush (Northwest/Bonneville HS), 1997 
126 – Jason Bingham (Ricks College/Gooding HS), 1996*
275 – Jeremy Clayton (Ricks College/Skyline HS), 1994* 
177 – Jeremy Pascoe (North Idaho College/Lakeland HS), 1993
126 – Kory Wheeler (Ricks College/Snake River HS), 1993*
167 – Todd Boone (Ricks College/Bonneville HS), 1993* 
177 – Tyler Forbush (Northwest College/Bonneville HS), 1993 
150 – Mike Hill (North Idaho College/Lewiston HS), 1991
118 – Patrick Edelblute (North Idaho College/Lakeland HS), 1990 
177 – Wright Noel (Ricks College/Sugar-Salem HS), 1990* 
158 – Jesse Smith (Northwest College/Highland HS), 1988 
177 – Jim Putman (North Idaho College/New Plymouth HS), 1988 
167 – Mitch Mansfield (Ricks College/Shelly HS), 1988* 
167 – Matt Clark (Ricks College/North Fremont HS), 1985* 
126 – Zane Jones (Northwest/Skyline HS), 1985 
158 – Steve Kluver (North Idaho College/Sandpoint HS), 1984 
190 – Chris Blake (Columbia Basin College/Coeur d’ Alene HS), 1981 
190 – Layne Evans (Ricks College/Sugar-Salem HS), 1980* 
118 – Brian Ricks (Ricks College/Madison HS), 1978* 
150 – Mike Ripplinger (Ricks College/Driggs HS), 1977*
167 – Frank Clark (Ricks College/North Fremont HS), 1972* 
115 – Jim Ghormley (Ricks College/North Fremont HS), 1965* 
137 – Lewis Miller (Ricks College/Teton HS), 1964* 
130 – Rowland Manwaring (Ricks College/North Fremont), 1964* 
147 – Lynn Jardine (Ricks College/Teton HS), 1962* 
137 – Rex Christensen (Ricks College/Teton HS), 1962*

*Ricks College officially became Brigham Young University-Idaho in August of 2001.  

IDAHO HIDDEN GEMS RISE AGAIN 

Four Idaho Wrestlers Add New Chapters to the State’s NAIA All-American Legacy

Idaho has never been the loudest voice in American wrestling.

It doesn’t churn out massive recruiting classes like California, nor boast the deep farm systems of Pennsylvania or the year-round mat culture of Iowa. But what Idaho does produce—year after year, often without much national attention—are wrestlers who rise when the stakes are highest.

Quietly. Relentlessly. Consistently.

At the 2026 NAIA National Wrestling Championships, four more Idaho athletes stepped onto that national stage and walked away as All-Americans, adding their names to a growing legacy few outside the state fully recognize.

They came from different towns, different programs, and different journeys through the sport. Yet their stories intersect in one powerful truth: Idaho wrestling may develop in small rooms and small communities, but when the lights turn bright at nationals, its athletes rarely stay small.

Together, these four competitors represent the newest chapter in one of Idaho wrestling’s most compelling storylines—the rapid rise of women’s wrestling and the steady emergence of battle-tested athletes from unlikely places who prove they belong among the nation’s best.

Holland Wieber – The Pioneer from Eagle

Few stories capture Idaho’s wrestling evolution better than Holland Wieber.

The Eagle High School standout didn’t just win matches—she helped build a program. With a 113-35 career record, Wieber became the first female wrestler in Eagle history to reach 100 wins, setting a benchmark for the athletes who would follow.

Her high school career included back-to-back third-place finishes at the Idaho Girls State Championships during her junior and senior seasons, proof that she was among the state’s elite long before she reached the college level.

At Southern Oregon University, that trajectory continued upward.

At the 2026 NAIA Championships, Wieber battled through one of the deepest brackets in the tournament to finish 4th at 145 pounds, the highest finish by an Idaho native this year.

It was more than a placement.

It was validation that a wrestler who once helped open doors at Eagle High is now competing among the best in the country.

Joely Slyter – A Champion Built for the Big Stage

If Idaho had a blueprint for producing a national-level women’s wrestler, Joely Slyter followed it to perfection.

The Lewiston High School standout built one of the most decorated prep careers the state has seen:
    • 2-time Idaho Girls State Champion
    • 3-time State Finalist
    • 134-17 career record
    • Five-time prep All-American at Fargo and the 16U/17U national levels

Her accomplishments earned her the Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award for Idaho in 2025, an honor recognizing the nation’s most complete student-athletes in women’s wrestling.

Now wrestling for the University of Providence, Slyter carried that championship pedigree onto the NAIA stage.

Competing at 117 pounds, she battled her way to a 7th-place All-American finish, proving once again that wrestlers forged in Idaho’s high school ranks are more than ready for national competition.

Lita Cruz – A Dynasty Continues

Before she ever stepped onto a college mat, Lita Cruz had already written her name into Idaho wrestling history.

The Minico High School star captured four Idaho Girls State Championships, a feat that instantly places her among the most dominant wrestlers the state has produced.

Her success extended beyond Idaho as well, earning two Folkstyle All-American honors during her prep career.

At Grand View University, one of the premier NAIA wrestling programs in the country, Cruz continues to sharpen her already formidable skills.

At the 2026 NAIA Championships, she secured 5th place at 103 pounds, adding another All-American honor to a résumé that has been building since her earliest days on the mat in Rupert.

For Cruz, national success is no surprise.

It’s simply the continuation of a career defined by dominance.

Alyssa Randles – A Champion Who Keeps Delivering

Few Idaho wrestlers have compiled a high school résumé as complete as Alyssa Randles.

The Coeur d’Alene High School star was nearly untouchable during her prep career:
    • 4-time Idaho Girls State Champion
    • 3-time Prep All-American
    • Two-time Idaho Wrestler of the Year
    • Tricia Saunders High School Excellence Award winner

Randles already proved her ability on the national stage once before, earning NAIA All-American honors in 2024with a sixth-place finish.

Now competing for the University of Providence, she returned to the podium in 2026, placing 6th at 124 pounds and securing her second career NAIA All-American finish.

Consistency like that is rare.

It’s the mark of a wrestler who knows how to win when the stakes are highest.

A Growing Idaho Tradition
These four All-Americans are not isolated success stories. They are part of a growing lineage of Idaho women who have made their presence felt at the NAIA national championships.

Previous Idaho NAIA All-Americans include:
    • Liv Wieber (Eagle HS / Eastern Oregon) – 3rd in 2025; 5th in 2024 and 2023
    • Alyssa Randles (Coeur d’Alene HS / Providence) – 6th in 2024
    • Cierra Foster (Post Falls HS / Oklahoma City) – 5th in 2021; 6th in 2019
    • Bridgid Shannon (Idaho Falls HS / Corban) – 6th in 2021
    • Koral Sugiyama (Pocatello HS / Campbellsville) – Runner-up in 2019

What once appeared to be isolated breakthroughs are beginning to look more like a pipeline.

Year after year, Idaho wrestlers—many from small programs and rural communities—continue to rise through the national ranks.

Small State. Big Impact.

The 2026 NAIA Championships proved something Idaho wrestling insiders have quietly believed for years.

The state may be small.

The population may be spread out.

But the talent is very real.

From Rupert to Lewiston, Eagle to Coeur d’Alene, these athletes are showing that Idaho’s wrestling culture—built on toughness, work ethic, and community support—can produce competitors capable of standing on the national podium.

Four new All-Americans.

Four new stories.

And another reminder that Idaho’s hidden gems rarely stay hidden for long.

103 – Lita Cruz [Grand View | Minico HS], 5th Place 
117 – Joely Slyter [Providence | Lewiston HS], 7th Place 
124 – Alyssa Randles [Providence | Coeur d’ Alene HS], 6th Place 
145 – Holland Wieber [Southern Oregon | Eagle HS], 4th Place 

PAST NAIA ALL-AMERICANS FROM IDAHO
145 – Liv Wieber [Eastern Oregon | Eagle HS], 3rd Place [2025]
130 – Alyssa Randles [Providence | Coeur d’ Alene HS], 6th Place [2024]
143 – Liv Wieber [Eastern Oregon | Eagle HS], 5th Place [2024]
143 – Liv Wieber [Eastern Oregon | Eagle HS], 5th Place [2023]
155 – Cierra Foster [Oklahoma City | Post Falls HS], 5th Place [2021]
136 – Bridgid Shannon [Corban Univ. | Idaho Falls HS], 6th Place [2021]
143 – Cierra Foster [Oklahoma City | Post Falls HS], 6th Place [2019]
123 – Koral Sugiyama [Campbellsville | Pocatello HS], 2nd Place [2019]