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The top three 4A teams entering the 2022-’23 season are Blackfoot, Minico, and Bishop Kelly. Led by two-time state champion Mack Mauger (Jr.) and champion Tradyn Henderson, Blackfoot also returns state finalist Austin Ramirez (Sr.) and five additional qualifiers. Returning a large contingent from last season’s state championship team, Minico without a doubt will challenge for the top spot. Led by returning state champion Garrett Vail (Jr.), Minico returns twelve additional state placers and six qualifiers. Among the large contingent of returning state placers are Andre Valero and Spencer Pease, each in position to earn a third state medal.

As mentioned prior, the road to a state team title is not only producing several placers, but to send as many qualifiers possible (each wrestler scores for the team). Despite not have a large contingent of returning state placers as Minico, Bishop Kelly definitely has great potential to send several wrestlers with state finals potential, which would place them in position for a top spot. Leading Bishop Kelly is returning state champions Matthew Martino (Soph.) and Jake Castegneto (Jr.), each having All-American honors to their credit. Other returning state placers include the Valdez brothers, Manuel and Carlos. Both Manual and Carlos compete for the Suples Wrestling Club and have Folkstyle All-American honors. Competing in his first prep season for Bishop Kelly is U15 World Greco Champion Jadon Skellenger (Jr.). Also training at Suples, Skellenger has a very long and extensive wrestling resume. A student of the sport since an early age, he will be the favorite to win an individual title this season. In addition, Bishop Kelly also returns several qualifiers. Other teams to watch include Caldwell, Jerome, Bonneville, Preston, Columbia, and Century.

Individually, Caldwell’s Hunter Bidelman (Sr.) and Mack Mauger each return in pursuit of a third state title while six others return to challenge for their second title. They include Gabe Martinez (Mountain Home, Sr.), Jake Castegneto (Bishop Kelly, Jr.), Matthew Martino (Bishop Kelly, Soph.), Nakoa Fouret (Columbia, Sr.), Tradyn Henderson (Blackfoot, Sr.), and Garrett Vail (Minico, Jr.). Additionally, Payton Hernandez (Columbia, Sr.), Hunter Bidelman, and Miguel Perez (Caldwell, Sr.) are each in pursuit of a fourth state medal while sixteen other 4A wrestlers are in position to earn their third respective state medal. 

TOP 5 TEAMS

1. Blackfoot
2. Minico
3. Bishop Kelly (Boise)
4. Caldwell
5. Jerome

2x STATE CHAMPIONS

106 – Mack Mauger (Blackfoot, 11)

138 – Hunter Bidelman (Caldwell, 12)

STATE CHAMPIONS

98 – Gabe Martinez (Mountain Home, 12)

106 – Jake Castegneto (Bishop Kelly, 11)

113 – Matthew Martino (Bishop Kelly, 10)

160 – Nakoa Fouret (Columbia, 12)

170 – Tradyn Henderson (Blackfoot, 12)

195 – Garrett Vail (Minico, 11)

3x STATE PLACERS

120 – Payton Hernandez (Columbia, 12), 2^nd, 2^nd, 2^nd

138 – Hunter Bidelman (Caldwell, 12), 1^st, 2^nd, 1^st

285 – Miguel Perez (Caldwell, 12), 3^rd, 3^rd, 3^rd

2x STATE PLACERS

98 – David Scott (Columbia, 12), 3^rd, 3^rd

106 – Mack Mauger (Blackfoot, 11), 1^st, 1^st

106 – Jake Castegneto (Bishop Kelly, 11), 1^st, 2^nd

106 – Andre Valero (Minico, 11), 4^th, 4^th

113 – Carter Balmforth (Shelley, 11), 2^nd, 6^th

120 – Kaiden Rubash (Jerome, 12), 6^th, 5^th

120 – Devyn Greenland (Century, 12), 4^th, 6^th

132 – Dominic Alcantara (Caldwell, 11), 6^th, 5^th

145 – Diego Deaton (Moscow, 12), 5^th, 6^th

152 – Austin Ramirez (Blackfoot, 12), 2^nd, 2^nd

160 – Nakoa Fouret (Columbia, 12), 3^rd, 1^st

160 – Gavin Williamson (Jerome, 11), 4^th, 4^th

170 – Spencer Pease (Minico, 11), 5^th, 3^rd

182 – Emery Thorson (Preston, 12), 4^th, 2^nd

195 – Preston Colvin (Skyline, 12), 6^th, 2^nd

220 – Colby Coates (Jerome, 12), 6^th, 4^th

WORLD MEDALIST

Jadon Skellenger (Bishop Kelly), U15 World Champion – GR

NATIONAL CHAMPION

Mack Mauger (Blackfoot) 6x

ALL-AMERICANS (Fargo/Folkstyle/UWW)

Mack Mauger (Blackfoot) 9x

Jadon Skellenger (Bishop Kelly) 8x

Matthew Martino (Bishop Kelly) 2x

Treygen Morin (Ridgevue) 2x

Hunter Bidelman (Caldwell) 2x

Saxton Scott (Bonneville)

Jake Castegneto (Bishop Kelly)

Manual Valdez (Bishop Kelly)

Carlos Valdez (Bishop Kelly)

INCOMING FRESHMAN TO WATCH

Sean Hall (Canyon Ridge)

Kaden Bunderson (Pocatello)

Gabe Archuleta (Pocatello)

Aiden Blessinger (Pocatello)

Peyton Keller (Preston)

Krew Keller (Preston)

Ethan Lords (Hillcrest)

RETURNING STATE PLACERS (Previous state tournament weights)

98

Gabe Martinez (Mountain Home, 12), State Champion

Saxton Scott (Bonneville, 10), 3^rd Place

Wyat Blanchard (Bonneville, 10), 4^th Place

Greyson Molina (Minico, 10), 5^th Place

Cyrek Harrell (Burley, 10), 6^th Place

David Scott (Columbia, 12), 2x Placer (3, 3)

106

Mack Mauger (Blackfoot, 11), 2x State Champion

Draven Johns (Caldwell, 10), 3^rd Place

Andre Valero (Minico, 11), 2x Placer (4, 4)

Cooper Stimpson (Minico, 11), 5^th Place

Xzavier Brown (Moscow, 11), 3^rd Place ‘21

Skylar Zimmerman (Moscow, 12), 6^th Place ‘21

113

Matthew Martino (Bishop Kelly, 10), State Champion

Clark Peterson (Shelley, 10), 3^rd Place

Jayce Wolf (Caldwell, 10), 5^th Place

Carter Balmforth (Shelley, 11), 2x Placer (2, 6)

Christian Avila (Caldwell, 11), 3^rd Place ‘21

Ryan Nuno (Bonneville, 12), 6^th Place ‘20

Matthew Williams (Lakeland, 12), 5^th Place ‘21

120

Payton Hernandez (Columbia, 12), 3x Placer (2, 2, 2)

Ryker Vail (Bonneville, 10), 4^th Place

Jose Contreras (Minico, 12), 5^th Place

Kaiden Rubash (Jerome, 12), 2x Placer (6, 5)

Devyn Greenland (Century, 12), 2x Placer (4, 6)

126

Joseph Terry (Minico, 12), 3^rd Place

132

Brody Ottley (Minico, 11), 4^th Place

Dominic Alcantara (Caldwell, 11), 2x Placer (6, 5)

Tavin Rigby (Preston, 11), 6^th Place

138

Hunter Bidelman (Caldwell, 12), 2x State Champion (1, 2, 1)

Kale Osterhout (Minico, 12), 6^th Place

Manuel Valdez (Bishop Kelly, 11), 3^rd Place ‘21

145

Carlos Valdez (Bishop Kelly, 10), 4^th Place

Diego Deaton (Moscow, 12), 2x Placer (5, 6)

152

Austin Ramirez (Blackfoot, 12), 2x Placer (2, 2)

Paxton Twiss (Minico, 11), 3^rd Place

Darrian Resso (Sandpoint, 12), 6^th Place

Kylan Guerra (Blackfoot, 11), 4^th Place ‘21

Timothy Hebdon (Skyview, 12), 6^th Place ’21 (5A)

160

Nakoa Fouret (Columbia, 12), State Champion (3, 1)

Gavin Williamson (Jerome, 11), 2x Placer (4, 4)

Caleb Somers (Canyon Ridge, 11), 6^th Place

170

Tradyn Henderson (Blackfoot, 12), State Champion

Micah Serr (Preston, 12), 2^nd Place

Spencer Pease (Minico, 11), 2x Placer (5, 3)

Preston Sonner-Cranney (Minico, 10), 4^th Place

Levi Lockett (Jerome, 12), 6^th Place

182

Emery Thorson (Preston, 12), 2x Placer (4, 2)

195

Garrett Vail (Minico, 11), State Champion

Preston Colvin (Skyline, 12), 2x Placer (6, 2)

Parker Bodily (Preston, 12), 5^th Place

220

Zahne Ruiz (Twin Falls, 12), 2^nd Place

Colby Coates (Jerome, 12), 2x Placer (6, 4)

Freddy Martinez (Minico, 12), 6^th Place

285

Jackson Geslin (Century, 12), 2^nd Place

Miguel Perez (Caldwell, 12), 3x Placer (3, 3, 3)

Preston Jeffs (Lakeland, 12), 6^th Place

Mark Larsen (Jerome, 12), 6^th Place ‘21