ORDER GAME PHOTOS
The 2024 Idaho State Wrestling Championships held at Holt Arena (ICCU Dome) on the campus of Idaho State University lived up to all my pre-tournament expectations and much more. It was definitely a barnburner of an event from start to finish. This year’s Girls division crowned three 2x champions and nine additional first timers. Additionally, one wrestler earned a rare fourth state medal, eleven earned number three, and twenty-two more earning their second. Without a doubt, the level of competition continues to increase each and every year and with the grass roots level gaining traction, I expect the Girls division to get even more competitive in the near future. The team race crowned a new champion in Thunder Ridge since becoming a sanctioned sport (w/boy’s division) in 2022, knocking off two-time champions, Eagle.
This year’s event crowned three 2x State Champions. They include All-Americans Elise Twait of Meridian, Clare Waite (Boise), and Amie Hartman of Mountain Home. Earning a total of three trips to the state finals, Waite is committed to compete for North Central College in Illinois. A total of nine wrestlers earned their first respective state title. They include Salmon’s Raelynn O’Connor, Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge), Courtney Hunt (American Falls), two-time finalist Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge) in addition to freshman standouts Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome), Roxy Sheen (Buhl), and Keanna Conrad of Blackfoot, who finished the season unbeaten with a solid 47-0 record. Also stepping on the top of the podium were Nia Avelino (Caldwell), a 3x placer and Eastern Oregon commit and Rocky Mountain’s sophomore All-American Talea Nichols, who defeated defending champion and Joely Slyter of Lewiston.
The lone wrestler to join the 4x State Placer Club was Holland Weiber of Eagle. Placing in the top three the past two seasons, Weiber is committed to compete at the next level at Southern Oregon. A total of thirty-three wrestlers earned two to three career state medals. Earning a third medal this year includes 2023 State Champion and All-American Joely Slyter (Lewiston), 2023 Champion Jordyn LeBeau (Eagle), Zoe Fries (Kuna), Audrey Deleon (Weiser), and 2022 State Champion Allister Dillow of American Falls. The list of 2x State Placers reached twenty-two in 2024. Highlighting a few on this list include state finalists Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge), Kaisa Hanks (Burley), Hayley McNeal (Potlatch), and Bonneville’s Zoe Ortiz.
Producing one individual State Champion and five placers overall, Thunder Ridge became the second school in the Girl’s Division to win a team title since 2022. With a total of seven state qualifiers, the following Thunder Ridge wrestlers earned state medals, Gracie Price (100 – 2nd), Mia Ragan (107 – 2nd), Shauna Anderson (185 – Champion), Ashley Barnes (235 – 2nd), and Olivia Silvester (235 – 4th). The remaining top five schools in order include American Falls, Bonners Ferry, Eagle, and Jerome.
I have stated on many occasions that this year’s freshman class is among the best to compete at the state level since the first official state tournament in 2022. This year, a total of thirty-six freshman qualified to state within the twelve weight groups representing approximately 19% of the total qualifiers. Additionally, twelve freshmen placed in the top six (17%) with three earning individual titles (25%). Unquestionably, the grassroots level is producing stronger and more advanced incoming freshman progressively each year.
Taking a closer look at the Girls state results, I list all 2x Champions, as well as multiple placers. Additionally, I compiled a list of statistics highlighting number two wrestlers that placed, schools with the most state placers, top districts, number of placers and champions by grade, etc. For more details, see statistics below. Enjoy!
MISC. TOURNAMENT STATISTICS
State Placers – No. 2 wrestlers: 1 (1.4%)
Returning State Placers – Did not place: 10
School w/Most State Placers – Thunder Ridge (District V-VI): 5
District w/Most State Placers – Districts III/V-I: 21
GRADE STATISTICS
Frosh. State Placers: 12 (17%)
Soph. State Placers: 9 (13%)
Junior State Placers: 24 (33%)
Senior State Placers: 27 (38%)
Frosh. State Champions: 3 (25%)
Soph. State Champions: 3 (25%)
Junior State Champions: 4 (33%)
Senior State Champions: 2 (17%)
SEEDING STATISTICS
No. 1 seeds placing 1st: 6 (50%)
No. 2 seeds placing 2nd: 1 (8%)
No. 3 seeds placing 3rd: 0 (0%)
No. 4 seeds placing 4th: 0 (0%)
No. 5 seeds placing 5th: 3 (25%)
No. 6 seeds placing 6th: 1 (8%)
State Placers – Top 6 seeds: 55 (76%)
State Placers – 7th/8th seeds: 7 (29%)
State Placers – Non-seeded (NS): 10 (14%)
INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS
100 – Raelynn O’Connor (Salmon, 11)
107 – Nia Avelino (Caldwell, 12)
114 – Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 10)
120 – Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome, 9)
126 – Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot, 9)
132 – Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 10)
138 – Roxy Sheen (Buhl, 9)
145 – Clare Waite (Boise, 12) 2x
152 – Elise Twait (Meridian, 11) 2x
165 – Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge, 11)
185 – Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 10)
235 – Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11) 2x
2X STATE CHAMPIONS (3)
Elise Twait (Meridian, 11)
Claire Waite (Boise, 12)
Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11)
4X STATE PLACER (1)
Holland Weiber (Eagle, 12), 6th, 6th, 3rd, 3rd
3X STATE PLACERS (11)
Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 11), 6th, 1st, 2nd
Nia Avelino (Caldwell, 12), 4th, 4th, 1st
Toni Avelino (Caldwell, 12), 5th, 6th, 5th
Allister Dillow (American Falls, 12), 1st, 5th, 3rd
Audrey Deleon (Weiser, 12), 3rd, 6th, 2nd
Claire Waite (Boise, 12), 1st., 2nd, 1st
Zoe Fries (Kuna, 11), 3rd, 3rd, 2nd
Jordyn Kearn (American Falls, 12), 5th, 4th, 4th
Jordyn LeBeau (Eagle, 12), 2nd, 1st, 4th
Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry, 12), 3rd, 4th, 6th
Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11), 2nd, 1st, 1st
2X STATE PLACERS (22)
Raelynn O’Conner (Salmon, 11), 3rd, 1st
Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley, 10), 4th, 3rd
Aly Stewart (Ririe, 11), 5th, 5th
Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge, 12), 5th, 2nd
Keira Zimmerman (Moscow, 11), 3rd, 4th
Rihanna Mora (Vallivue, 11), 6th, 4th
Kyler Scott (Century, 10), 3rd, 3rd
Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 10), 2nd, 1st
Kaisa Hanks (Burley, 11), 6th, 2nd
Madi Cook (Lake City, 12), 3rd, 6th
Zoe Ortiz (Bonneville, 12), 4th, 2nd
Elise Twait (Meridian, 11), 1st, 1st
Elena Guerena (Owyhee, 12), 4th, 4th
Abby Wegner (Skyline, 12), 5th, 4th
Hayley McNeal (Potlatch, 11), 4th, 2nd
Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d’ Alene, 10), 5th, 3rd
Cara Brown (Coeur d’ Alene, 12), 2nd, 2nd
Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge, 11), 3rd, 1st
Annika Thompson (Lakeland, 12), 6th, 3rd
Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 10), 2nd, 1st
Cossette Desrosiers (Columbia, 12), 4th, 3rd
TOP FIVE TEAMS
1 – Thunder Ridge: 130.5 (1 Champion/5 placers)
2 – American Falls: 83.0 (1 Champion/4 Placers)
3 – Bonners Ferry: 73.5 (4 Placers)
4 – Eagle: 67.0 (3 Placers)
5 – Jerome: 61.0 (1 Champion/3 Placers)
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (TOP 6)
DIVISION WEIGHT
Place – Name (School, Grade) #seed
G 100
1 - Raelynn O`Connor (Salmon, 11) #1
2 - Gracie Price (Thunder Ridge, 9) #7
3 - Brooke Hensley (Skyline, 11) #6
4 - Ava Bui (Centennial, 9) NS
5 - Daniele Holt (Canyon Ridge, 12) #4
6 - Taylor Drake (Kuna, 9) #8
1st Place Match
Raelynn O`Connor (Salmon) 32-4, Jr. over Gracie Price (Thunder Ridge) 30-9, Fr. (Fall 5:54)
3rd Place Match
Brooke Hensley (Skyline) 25-7, Jr. over Ava Bui (Centennial) 23-13, Fr. (Fall 1:48)
5th Place Match
Daniele Holt (Canyon Ridge) 34-13, Sr. over Taylor Drake (Kuna) 31-11, Fr. (SV-1 5-3)
G 107
1 - Nia Avelino (Caldwell, 12) #2
2 - Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge, 12) #4
3 - Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley, 10) #6
4 - Ali Svancara (Buhl, 9) #3
5 - Aly Stewart (Ririe, 11) NR
6 - Vanessa Ortiz (Glenns Ferry, 9) #8
1st Place Match
Nia Avelino (Caldwell) 36-5, Sr. over Mia Ragan (Thunder Ridge) 35-9, Sr. (Dec 12-8)
3rd Place Match
Lydia Townsend (Marsh Valley) 40-9, So. over Ali Svancara (Buhl) 37-5, Fr. (Dec 4-1)
5th Place Match
Aly Stewart (Ririe) 32-15, Jr. over Vanessa Ortiz (Glenns Ferry) 19-11, Fr. (Dec 8-4)
G 114
1 - Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain, 10) #3 (All-American)
2 - Joely Slyter (Lewiston, 11) #1 (All-American)
3 - Kinzie Williams (American Falls, 9) #2
4 - Rihanna Mora (Vallivue, 10) #7
5 - Toni Avelino (Caldwell, 12) #4
6 - Shelby Smith (Ririe, 11) NS
1st Place Match
Talea Nichols (Rocky Mountain) 33-4, So. over Joely Slyter (Lewiston) 45-2, Jr. (Dec 12-6)
3rd Place Match
Kinzie Williams (American Falls) 29-2, Fr. over Rihanna Mora (Vallivue) 36-10, Jr. (MD 9-1)
5th Place Match
Toni Avelino (Caldwell) 33-9, Sr. over Shelby Smith (Ririe) 30-10, Jr. (Fall 3:40)
G 120
1 - Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome, 9) #2
2 - Audrey Deleon (Weiser, 12) #4
3 - Allister Dillow (American Falls, 12) #1
4 - Alexxis Johnson (Lake City, 11) #3
5 - Jordan Reynolds (Snake River, 12) #5
6 - Emma Garman (Sandpoint, 11) #6
1st Place Match
Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome) 28-0, Fr. over Audrey Deleon (Weiser) 35-6, Sr. (Fall 1:23)
3rd Place Match
Allister Dillow (American Falls) 38-3, Sr. over Alexxis Johnson (Lake City) 28-5, Jr. (Dec 2-1)
5th Place Match
Jordan Reynolds (Snake River) 39-7, Sr. over Emma Garman (Sandpoint) 29-9, Jr. (Dec 2-1)
G 126
1 - Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot, 9) #1
2 - Kasia Hanks (Burley, 11) #2
3 - Mitzie Hunt (Bear Lake, 12) #7
4 - Keira Zimmerman (Moscow, 11) #3
5 - Shelby Prather (Potlatch, 11) #4
6 - Elyse Asaro (Rocky Mountain, 10) NS
1st Place Match
Keanna Conrad (Blackfoot) 43-0, Fr. over Kasia Hanks (Burley) 33-4, Jr. (MD 10-2)
3rd Place Match
Mitzie Hunt (Bear Lake) 44-7, Sr. over Keira Zimmerman (Moscow) 19-5, Jr. (Dec 2-1)
5th Place Match
Shelby Prather (Potlatch) 30-6, Jr. over Elyse Asaro (Rocky Mountain) 26-15, So. (Fall 1:56)
G 132
1 - Courtney Hunt (American Falls, 10) #2
2 - Zoe Ortiz (Bonneville, 12) #4
3 - Kylie Fowler (Middleton, 11) #7
4 - Hallie Esmiol (Centennial, 11) NS
5 - Sofia Brown (Bonners Ferry, 11) NS
6 - Madi Cook (Lake City, 12) #1
1st Place Match
Courtney Hunt (American Falls) 31-6, So. over Zoe Ortiz (Bonneville) 41-3, Sr. (Dec 7-4)
3rd Place Match
Kylie Fowler (Middleton) 28-10, Jr. over Hallie Esmiol (Centennial) 28-10, Jr. (Dec 11-6)
5th Place Match
Sofia Brown (Bonners Ferry) 36-9, Jr. over Madi Cook (Lake City) 39-7, Sr. (Fall 4:08)
G 138
1 - Roxy Sheen (Buhl, 9) #1
2 - Zoe Fries (Kuna, 11) #3 (All-American)
3 - Kyler Scott (Century, 10) #2
4 - Abby Wegner (Skyline, 12) #5
5 - Taylor Williams (Kimberly, 9) NS
6 - Megan Myers (Clearwater Valley, 10) #4
1st Place Match
Roxy Sheen (Buhl) 45-1, Fr. over Zoe Fries (Kuna) 31-9, Jr. (Fall 1:31)
3rd Place Match
Kyler Scott (Century) 43-5, So. over Abby Wegner (Skyline) 33-12, Sr. (Fall 0:59)
5th Place Match
Taylor Williams (Kimberly) 24-11, Fr. over Megan Myers (Clearwater Valley) 24-11, So. (Fall 0:48)
G 145
1 - Clare Waite (Boise, 12) #1 (All-American)
2 - Cara Brown (Coeur d’ Alene, 12) #6
3 - Holland Wieber (Eagle, 12) #2
4 - Elena Guerena (Owyhee, 12) #3
5 - Celestial Westover (West Side, 11) #5
6 - Izzy Davis (Kellogg, 11) #4
1st Place Match
Clare Waite (Boise) 37-1, Sr. over Cara Brown (Coeur d Alene) 25-5, Sr. (Dec 4-0)
3rd Place Match
Holland Wieber (Eagle) 30-9, Sr. over Elena Guerena (Owyhee) 34-10, Sr. (Fall 1:40)
5th Place Match
Celestial Westover (West Side) 39-8, Jr. over Izzy Davis (Kellogg) 32-9, Jr. (Dec 2-1)
G 152
1 - Elise Twait (Meridian, 11) #1
2 - Hayley McNeal (Potlatch, 11) #3
3 - Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d’ Alene, 10) #4
4 - Jordyn Kearn (American Falls, 12) #5
5 - Gracin Dennis (Emmett, 11) #6
6 - Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry, 12) #2
1st Place Match
Elise Twait (Meridian) 23-1, Jr. over Hayley McNeal (Potlatch) 30-7, Jr. (Dec 10-3)
3rd Place Match
Brooklyn Anderson (Coeur d Alene) 26-4, So. over Jordyn Kearn (American Falls) 26-5, Sr. (Fall 4:07)
5th Place Match
Gracin Dennis (Emmett) 33-9, Jr. over Savannah Rickter (Bonners Ferry) 27-6, Sr. (Fall 3:35)
G 165
1 - Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge, 11) #3
2 - Aubrey Wells (Bonners Ferry, 12) NS
3 - Annika Thompson (Lakeland, 12) #2
4 - Alysen Palomar (Columbia, 12) #6
5 - Eliza Dugan (Jerome, 12) #4
6 - Paige Cantwell (Eagle, 12) #5
1st Place Match
Riana Walter (Canyon Ridge) 22-4, Jr. over Aubrey Wells (Bonners Ferry) 20-9, Sr. (Fall 4:00)
3rd Place Match
Annika Thompson (Lakeland) 26-6, Sr. over Alysen Palomar (Columbia) 35-13, Sr. (Fall 0:59)
5th Place Match
Eliza Dugan (Jerome) 31-8, Sr. over Paige Cantwell (Eagle) 23-16, Sr. (Fall 1:53)
G 185
1 - Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge, 10) #4
2 - Eva Wilis (Bonners Ferry, 9) NS
3 - Quinsea Robinson (Minico, 12) #6
4 - Jordynn LeBeau (Eagle, 12) #1
5 - Josslyn Blair (Jerome, 11) #2
6 - Emma Rivera (Lewiston, 11) NS
1st Place Match
Shauna Anderson (Thunder Ridge) 25-6, So. over Eva Wilis (Bonners Ferry) 21-6, Fr. (Fall 0:22)
3rd Place Match
Quinsea Robinson (Minico) 25-10, Sr. over Jordynn LeBeau (Eagle) 25-6, Sr. (Fall 2:57)
5th Place Match
Josslyn Blair (Jerome) 38-5, Jr. over Emma Rivera (Lewiston) 25-13, Jr. (Fall 2:58)
G 235
1 - Amie Hartman (Mountain Home, 11) #1 (All-American)
2 - Ashley Barnes (Thunder Ridge, 12) #3
3 - Cosette Desrosiers (Columbia, 12) #4
4 - Olivia Silvester (Thunder Ridge, 9) #5
5 - Cameron Spicer (Rocky Mountain, 12) #5
6 - Lilli Marti (Sandpoint, 10) #2
1st Place Match
Amie Hartman (Mountain Home) 34-1, Jr. over Ashley Barnes (Thunder Ridge) 26-8, Sr. (Fall 0:45)
3rd Place Match
Cosette Desrosiers (Columbia) 27-8, Sr. over Olivia Silvester (Thunder Ridge) 24-12, Fr. (Fall 4:28)
5th Place Match
Cameron Spicer (Rocky Mountain) 17-11, Sr. over Lilli Marti (Sandpoint) 16-6, So. (M. For.)
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