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Previous Hidden Gems Spotlights:

Jason Mara, Meridian
Matthew Martino, Bishop Kelly
Kolter Burton, American Falls
Daniel and Gabriel Rosales, Mountain Home
Manuel and Carlos Valdez, Bishop Kelly
Shilo Jones, Mountain View
Clare Waite, Boise
Talen Eck, Thunder Ridge
Bowen and Riley Brunson, Buhl
Aiden McGinnis, Mountain View
Joely Slyter, Lewiston
Tyson Barnhart, Post Falls
Amie Hartman, Mountain Home
Elise Twait, Meridian
Jeremiah Gonzalez, Meridian
Wallace Durfee, Declo
Zoey Fries, Kuna
Saxton Scott, Idaho Falls
Caddy Tverdy, Garden Valley
Sean Hall, Canyon Ridge
Ian Avalos, Mountain View
Keanna Conrad, Blackfoot

Camden Kuntz never really chose wrestling in the way athletes usually describe it. There was no dramatic moment, no instant declaration of destiny. It started simply—his father coming home from work and asking if he and his brother wanted to try something new.

“I first got into wrestling when I was in 4th grade when my dad came home from work and asked if my brother and I wanted to try wrestling,” Camden recalled.

That question became the beginning of something that would slowly take hold of his life. What started in a small Mountain Home club didn’t feel like a path at first. It felt like an activity. But repetition has a way of turning into identity, and over time, the mat became a place he kept returning to—not because he had to, but because he belonged there.

As the years passed, Camden’s commitment deepened. He moved into more advanced training environments, eventually working with Delchev Trained Academy (DTA), where coaches Ivan Delchev and Nate Staker helped refine not just his technique, but the way he understood wrestling itself. The sport stopped being only physical. It became strategic. Mental. Layered.

Still, even as his skills evolved, the foundation of everything remained at home.

“One of my biggest influences in wrestling is my dad,” Camden said. “He has been to every high school and middle school dual. He has gone to every out-of-state dual or tournament whether it's wrestling for my school or Team Idaho. He’s gotten me up on early mornings when I didn’t want to so he could help me be better.”

That presence never wavered. It became the background rhythm of his career—the early mornings, the drives, the matches, the expectations, and the belief that effort was non-negotiable.

“My dad has definitely been my biggest influence and we’re in this together,” he said.

What that partnership produced was more than a strong wrestler. It produced results: a three-time district champion, Idaho 5A State Champion in 2024, two-time state runner-up in 2025 and 2026, and a 116–21 career record with over 100 victories. But those numbers only explain what happened, not how it endured.

The more revealing part of Camden’s story is what coaches saw when no one else was paying attention.

Mountain Home head coach Patrick Starkey noticed early that Camden didn’t prepare like most athletes. There was a separation between him and the usual pre-match chaos, the last-minute corrections, the external coaching.

“I learned very early on coaching Camden that he didn’t need any help from me to get ready right before the match,” Starkey said. “Instead, I needed to leave him alone so that he could mentally prepare.”

That independence reshaped how he was coached. Starkey’s role shifted away from preparation and toward strategy, while Camden handled the internal side of competition himself. When the whistle blew, the plan was already internalized. Execution came from within.

“Then he would mentally prepare himself before the match and go out and execute the plan,” Starkey said.

That ability—to quiet everything and still perform—became one of his defining traits. Not perfection, but adjustment. Not dominance without struggle, but consistency through correction.

“He’s not perfect and he will make mistakes,” Starkey said, “but then he will work to fix those mistakes and learn from them and implement what he has learned the next time he wrestles that opponent.”

The work behind that mindset was never glamorous. In the offseason, Camden trains multiple times per week, lifts consistently, and layers in cardio and recovery work. It is structured, repetitive, and intentional. But what stands out most is not the volume—it’s the willingness.

“I want to go as far as I can go, doing as much as I can by putting in the time and effort and just having fun,” he said.

That idea of “fun” becomes important later, because the story of Camden is not only about discipline—it is also about what happens when discipline is tested.

In 2025, that test arrived in waves.

It started at the Tiger Grizz tournament, where he tore his meniscus in the finals. Rather than end his season, he delayed surgery and pushed forward, determined to finish what he had started. He made it back to compete at state.

Then came another injury—this time off the mat. A severe finger injury in a skill saw accident required surgery and recovery. Just as he began to rebuild momentum, another knee injury hit—this time on the opposite leg. Another tear. Another surgery. Another return to rehab.

And just when it seemed the cycle might finally break, it happened again. A dislocated elbow in practice, only days before the season opener, forced him back out of competition.

“It was almost a full year that I hurt and had an injury,” Camden said.

At a certain point, the physical toll became something else entirely. It wasn’t just pain—it was accumulation. The repetition of starting over.

“That was absolutely heartbreaking and got me super down,” he admitted.

What kept him moving wasn’t complexity. It was a single idea he kept returning to, a quote from Vince Lombardi that became more reality than inspiration.

“If you get knocked down, you get back up.”

“This quote helped me overcome all of my injuries,” he said. “It was a huge thing I leaned on.”

Each return required more than recovery. It required rebuilding confidence, rhythm, and trust in his own body again. And each time, he did not just come back—he re-entered.

People around him noticed that pattern.

Southern Idaho Wrestling Club coach Nate Staker described it simply. “When you talk about Camden there are two things that really stand out to me,” he said. “His desire to get better and improve and the second is the commitment to do the work.”

Even during injury, that identity did not shift.

“Even when injured and overcoming adversity… he would always ask, ‘what can I do?’”

That question became the dividing line between pause and progress.

“When people talk about the amount of work it takes to get better and to bring yourself up to a higher level,” Staker said, “I think Camden is that guy.”

And yet, despite everything already accomplished, there is a shared belief among his coaches that the best version of Camden has not been fully seen.

“I believe Camden has all the tools to be an excellent wrestler at the next level,” Starkey said, “but we’ve only seen glimpses of what he’s truly capable of the last two seasons because of the injuries that he’s faced.”

That idea—glimpses—is important. It suggests something still unfinished. Still forming.

Camden, for his part, is not rushing to define what comes next. He plans to attend trade school (Diesel Mechanic) , continue wrestling, and let the sport unfold on its own timeline rather than forcing a destination.

“I don’t have specific goals, but I do want to go to a trade school and wrestle for a couple more years while I work in the trades and then I can see if I want to go even further than that.”

There is no urgency in his voice when he talks about the future. Only continuation.

Outside of wrestling, life stays full—family, friends, work, video games, 4-H, farm animals, dirt bikes, and time outdoors. The list matters because it keeps him grounded in something larger than competition.

He also carries perspective from those he has watched ahead of him. Idaho standout Mack Mauger became an example of what sustained excellence can look like.

“Mack has been the person I have looked up to for a lot of my career,” Camden said. “He seemed and still seems unstoppable to me.”

That word—unstoppable—does not describe Camden’s story in the traditional sense. His path has not been uninterrupted. It has been fractured, tested, and repeatedly rebuilt.

But that is where the meaning of his career actually sits.

Not in avoiding being knocked down.

But in how often he refused to stay there.

And as his final high school season approaches, that remains the only statistic that has never wavered.

CAMDEN'S ACADEMIC & WRESTLING ACCOMPLISHMENTS

School: Mountain Home
Class: 2027
Weight Classes: 132/138
Career Record: 116-21

Academic Accomplishments
    • 3.44 GPA

Extracurricular Activities
    • 4-H Club
    • Dirt biking
    • Outdoor activities
    • Weight training
    • Spending time with family and friends

Wrestling Accomplishments
    • Idaho 5A State Champion (2024)
    • Idaho 5A State Runner-up (2025, 2026)
    • 3x IHSAA District Champion
    • Undefeated at Heartland Duals for Team Idaho (8-0)
    • Rollie Lane Invitational Runner-up (2025)
    • 2x Tiger Grizz Finalist
    • Idaho Junior Greco State Champion
    • Idaho Junior Freestyle State Champion
    • 16U State Freestyle Champion
    • 100+ Career Wins


Q&A INTERVIEW WITH CAMDEN KUNTZ


QUOTE FROM COACH NATE STAKER (Southern Idaho Wrestling Club): "When you talk about Camden there are two things that really stand out to me.  His Desire to get better and improve and the second is the Commitment to do the work."

"Even when injured and overcoming adversity  multiple injuries)he would always ask, "what can I do?"  When people talk about the amount of work it takes to get better and to bring yourself up to a higher level. I think Camden is that guy." 


According to Mountain Home Head Coach, Patrick Starkey, “Camden is one of the most talented wrestlers I’ve coached. He has put in a lot of work outside of the normal wrestling season and worked with a variety of very talented coaches to hone his skills. But I think one thing that really sets him apart from a lot of other wrestlers his age is his mental preparation, and I think that is a large reason for his ability to wrestle through some of the adversity that he has faced in the last few seasons and allowed him to still compete at a very high level. I learned very early on coaching Camden that he didn’t need any help from me to get ready right before the match. Instead, I needed to leave him alone so that he could mentally prepare. That shifted my focus towards game planning for individual matches. Then he would mentally prepare himself before the match and go out and execute the plan. He’s not perfect and he will make mistakes, but then he will work to fix those mistakes and learn from them and implement what he has learned the next time he wrestles that opponent. I believe Camden has all the tools to be an excellent wrestler at the next level, but we’ve only seen glimpses of what he’s truly capable of the last two seasons because of the injuries that he’s faced. I am looking forward to seeing what he can do as a senior this year, but even more so at the collegiate level.“


HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN THE SPORT OF WRESTLING? 
CAMDEN:? I first got into wrestling when I was in 4th grade when my dad came home from work and asked if my brother and I wanted to try wrestling. We did our little club in Mountain home for a couple years until I wanted to go and take it to the next level. I went to DTA and got really good instruction from Delchev and Nate Staker who took me to that next step.  

WHO HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST INFLUENCE IN WRESTLING? 
CAMDEN:?One of my biggest influences in wrestling is my dad. I have had him in my corner yelling random moves or helping me workout and pushing me since day one! He has been to every high school and middle school dual. He has gone to every out of state dual or tournament whether its wrestling for my school or wrestling for team Idaho. He’s gotten me up on early mornings when I didn’t want to so he could help me be better and achieve my lofty goals. He has sacrificed so much so that I can see how far I can go in the sport of wrestling and I can’t thank him enough for everything he has helped me do and accomplish. My dad has definitely been my biggest influence and we’re in this together.  

HAVING HAD SOME GREAT SUCCESS AT THIS POINT IN YOUR CAREER, DESCRIBE YOUR DAILY TRAINING ROUTINE AND YOUR OUTLOOK FOR THE REMAINDER OF YOUR PREP CAREER. 
CAMDEN:? I try and get to practice 3-4 times a week and between those practices my dad and I will go to the gym and do 2-3 extra days of lifting and cardio. In the evenings, I do active recovery that includes sauna and stretching. For the rest of my career I want to go as far as I can go, doing as much as I can by putting in the time and effort and just having fun! 

DO YOU HAVE SPECIFIC GOALS FOR COMPETING AT THE COLLEGIATE LEVEL OR ON THE WORLD STAGE? 
CAMDEN:?I don’t have specific goals but I do want to go to a trade school (deisel mechanic) and wrestle for a couple more years while I work in the trades and then I can see if I want to go even further than that. 

WHO IS YOUR GREATEST INSPIRATION OR ROLE MODEL[s], WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE SPORT OF WRESTLING? 
CAMDEN:?My biggest role model is Mack Mauger. Mack has been the person I have looked up to for a lot of my career. I would watch him at DTA and saw how good he was and how hard he worked, he seemed and still seems unstoppable to me. He has gone so far in the sport of wrestling and in my mind is the most dominate wrestler from Idaho. He has accomplished so many crazy things and I look up to him every day and has inspired me to be as great as he is! 
 
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE A YOUNG WRESTLER WANTING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN THE SPORT OF WRESTLING OR IN LIFE? 
CAMDEN:? If you want to be successful in wrestling and in life, work hard and stay committed to your goals. Always give your best effort, even when things don't go your way. Don't let losses discourage you because they can teach you important lessons and help you improve. Listen to your coaches, respect your teammates and opponents, and keep a positive attitude. The discipline and determination you learn from wrestling will help you succeed both on the mat and in everyday life. 

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE QUOTE THAT SUMS UP YOUR OUTLOOK ON LIFE? 
CAMDEN:? One of my favorite quotes has to be “if you get knocked down you get back up” Vince Lombardi. This quote has meant more to me than anyone will know. 

In 2025, at Tiger Grizz I tore my meniscus in the finals. I sat out a couple weeks hoping it'd get better but it never did so I went in and found out I had a torn meniscus. The doctor wanted me to get surgery right away but I wanted to finish my season. I did PT and rested for a couple weeks and came back at districts so I could wrestle at state. After state I had my surgery and was out for 8 weeks. When I came back I had a full week of wrestling before I cut my finger with a skill saw while I was working. I had to have surgery on it the week after so they could try and make it normal again. Even now it still isn’t normal or straight, but that set me back 3 months so I could do PT and let it recover and get strong again. The day I came back I went to practice and was working on leg ride defense and I tore my other meniscus in my other knee; this was absolutely heartbreaking got me super down. I had surgery and was out another 8 weeks with rest and recovery for it. All I could do was control the controllable and strengthen it, and that’s what I did which motivated me a lot! Once I got back it was high school season and I was training hard every day to make up all the time I had lost that other kids had gained. It was 2 days before our first high school dual when I was practicing and I dislocated my elbow. I was out for 7 weeks while it had to recover. It was almost a full year that I hurt and had an injury. This quote helped me overcome all of my injuries and was a huge thing I leaned on! 

DO YOU PLAN TO PURSUE COACHING, MENTORING, OR ANOTHER ROLE WITHIN WRESTLING ONCE YOU STOP COMPETING? 
CAMDEN:?I think one day I could possibly help out my town's wrestling club by coaching and helping out with workouts and what not. I have helped our little man program in our town out a lot over the years and have learned different way to help and coach kids. I don’t think right after college I will hop into that role but I can definitely see myself coaching little kids and helping them take that next step in wrestling. 

WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTS, HOBBIES, AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES WHEN?YOU’RE NOT INVOLVED WITH WRESTLING? 
CAMDEN:? I am always busy. I love to hang out with my girlfriend family and friends, work, play video games, 4-H and be involved with farm animals, ride dirtbikes, and be outside. 

GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY, WHAT ARE YOUR STRATEGIES FOR EXPANDING WRESTLING AT THE YOUTH AND HIGH SCHOOL LEVELS? 
CAMDEN: I think there are so many different strategies for expanding wrestling, but I think one of the biggest parts start at the youth and younger age. Our town has a little kid camp every year and it’s so much fun to see the little improvements with every move. I’d say the biggest thing for teaching those little kids is having fun while wrestling. It's easy for you to get frustrated because that not how the high school wrestling room looks like or is structured, but those kids need to look forward to practice because it's fun and they enjoy the people helping out. Another one would be making sure that wrestling isn’t all they are doing; they need to have other things while they are growing up. it goes along with having fun!  


CAMDEN’S ACADEMIC | WRESTLING ACCOLADES

SCHOOL: Mountain Home
GRADE: Class of 2027
WEIGHT: 132/138
OVERALL RECORD: 116-21

ACADEMIC ACCOLADES 
GPA: 3.44

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES
Outdoors – dirt biking, work out with people, and 4-H Club

WRESTLING ACCOLADES
    • Idaho 5A State Championships Runner-up, 2025, ‘26
    • Idaho 5A State Champion, 2024
    • 3x IHSAA District Champions
    • Undefeated at Heartland Duals – Team Idaho, 2023 (8-0)
    • Rollie Lane Invitational runner-up, 2025
    • 2x Tiger Grizz Finalist
    • Idaho Junior Greco State Champion
    • Idaho Junior Freestyle State Champion
    • 16U State Freestyle Champion 
    • 100 + Career Wins