Returning state team champions Fruitland High School enter the 2024-’25 season the top pick in the 4A (formerly 3A). They will definitely receive strong competition from American Falls, Buhl, and Snake River. To boil it down, I expect the 4A to be an exciting competition throughout the year and at state.  

Historically, Fruitland High School has produced a significant number of individual state titles (42), state finals appearances (35), state medals (204), and prep level All-Americans. To date, the Grizzlies have won two state team titles (2014/2024), produced twelve top four state finishes, and in 2025 return a very strong contingent of state placers and qualifiers. Leading this contingent is 2x State Champion and All-American Kaden MacKenzie (Sr.) followed by returning champs Braden Griffith (Sr.) and Quinn Hood (Sr.), who combined have a total of five state medals. Other state medalists include three time placer Coye Coffman (Sr.), two-time placers Marcus Aleman and 2A state finalist Jeremiah Perry.

Other returning state placers for Fruitland include Wyatt Griffith (So.), Nathaniel Martinez (Sr.), Jake Swann (Sr.), K.J. Parsons (Sr.), Will Phillips (Sr.), Raymond Florez (Sr.), and finalists Kysen MacKenzie (So.). Keep an eye on incoming freshmen and middle school state champion Logan Vaughn.

Now let’s take a closer look at American Falls High School. They also return a strong contingent of state champions, placers, and qualifiers (11). The leaders here are 2x state champion and All-American Nathan Gugelman II (Jr.) and 3x placer and champion Mason Aiken (Sr.). They are joined by 2x state placer Fabian Avalos (Sr.) in addition to placers Chance Povey (Jr.), Francisco Burrola (Sr.), Evan Simms (Jr.), All-Americans Wade Williams (Jr.) and Blaise Turner (So.). Keep an eye on incoming freshmen Zane Fabrizuis and Johnny Rosales.

The following schools are expected to be in the mix and challenge for a spot in the top five: Buhl (4 placers/11 SQs), Snake River (5 placers/8 SQs), Weiser (6 placers/8 SQs), South Fremont (2 placers/9 SQs), Marsh Valley (4 placers/4 SQs), Homedale (2 placers/5 SQs), and Teton (3 placers/4 SQs).

Individually, the top returning wrestler in the 4A is Boden Banta of South Fremont. Entering his senior season with multiple All-American honors to his credit, Banta is in position to challenge for a fourth state title. He is joined by several other state champions vying for their second title. They include Homedale’s Trevor Paynter (So.), Kelton Reynolds (Snake River, Jr.), Kash Cobb (Weiser, Sr.), and Gabe Finley of Buhl (Sr.).

Nine other talented wrestlers are in position to earn either a third of fourth state medal. They include three timers Blake Koyle (Gooding, Sr.), Jace Leavitt (Snake River, Sr.), All-American Koy Orr (Filer, Sr.) in addition to two time placers Wyatt Carey (Timberlake, Jr.), Max Banta (Sugar-Salem, Sr.), Charlie Nevarez (Weiser, Jr.), Brian Bensen (Snake River, Sr.), Stockton Young (Weiser, Sr.), and finalist Ryder Sheen of Buhl (Sr.). 

Other wrestlers to watch include returning state finalists Raidyn Pugsley (Buhl, So.), Fabi Pierce (Buhl, Jr.), McGregor Miller (South Fremont, So.), and Zach Moss of Teton (Sr.).

Please note, all wrestlers in this preview are listed at weight groups previously competed in at the 2024 State Championships (or prior), which is subject to change during the 2024-’25 season.  Additionally, all my data is obtained from past state championships, tournament results in addition to recent input from coaches, which I was able to make contact with. On another note, Idaho has adopted the following new weight groups per the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS): 98, 106, 113, 120, 126, 132, 138, 144, 150, 157, 165, 175, 190, 215, 285.

Below is a list of returning states champions, state placers, and All-Americans. Please email brandon@idahosports.com if there are any missing wrestlers or deletions that should be made from the list below.

3X STATE CHAMPION

120 – Boden Banta (South Fremont, 12) (AA)

2X STATE CHAMPIONS

132 – Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 11) (AA)

152 – Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 12) (AA)

1X STATE CHAMPIONS

98 – Braden Griffith (Fruitland, 12)

106 – Trevor Paynter (Homedale, 10)

113 – Kelton Reynolds (Snake River, 11)

138 – Mason Aiken (American Falls, 12)

182 – Kash Cobb (Weiser, 12)

195 – Gabe Finley (Buhl, 12)

220 – Quinn Hood (Fruitland, 12)

3X STATE PLACERS

98 – Braden Griffith (Fruitland, 12): 6^th, 4^th, 1^st

113 – Blake Koyle (Gooding, 12): 4^th, 5^th, 3^rd

120 – Boden Banta (South Fremont, 12): 1^st, 1^st, 1^st (AA)

120 – Jace Leavitt (Snake River, 12): 5^th, 5^th, 2^nd

132 – Koy Orr (Filer, 12): 2^nd, 3^rd, 2^nd (AA)

138 – Mason Aiken (American Falls, 12): 4^th, 2^nd, 1^st

138 – Coye Coffman (Fruitland, 12): 6^th, 4^th, 2^nd

152 – Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 12): 2^nd, 1^st, 1^st (AA)

2X STATE PLACERS

106 – Wyatt Carey (Timberlake, 11): 3^rd, 2^nd

106 – Max Banta (Sugar-Salem, 12): 6^th, 4^th

120 – Marcus Aleman (Fruitland, 11): 2^nd, 3^rd

120 – Charlie Nevarez (Weiser, 11): 5^th, 5^th

126 – Jeremiah Perry (Fruitland, 12): 4^th, 2^nd

126 – Brian Bensen (Snake River, 12): 3^rd, 3^rd

132 – Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 11): 1^st, 1^st (AA)

145 – Fabian Avalos (American Falls, 12): 3^rd, 4^th

152 – Stockton Young (Weiser, 12): 6^th, 4^th

182 – Kash Cobb (Weiser, 12): 5^th, 1^st

182 – Ryder Sheen (Buhl, 12): 4^th, 2^nd

195 – Gabe Finley (Buhl, 12): 4^th, 1^st

220 – Quinn Hood (Fruitland, 12): 2^nd, 1^st

1X STATE PLACERS

98 – Chance Povey (American Falls, 11): 2^nd

98 – Gage Reynolds (Snake River, 10): 3^rd

98 – Hunter Solomon (Marsh Valley, 10): 4^th

98 – Sayer Huston (Timberlake, 11: 5^th

98 – Wyatt Black (Weiser, 10): 6^th

106 – Trevor Paynter (Homedale, 10): State Champion

106 – Francisco Burrola (American Falls, 12): 3^rd

106 – Wylie Baler (Teton, 10): 5^th

106 – Wyatt Griffith (Fruitland, 10): 6^th

113 – Kelton Reynolds (Snake River, 11): State Champion

113 – Kysen MacKenzie (Fruitland, 10): 2^nd

113 – Jed Townsend (Marsh Valley, 11): 5^th

113 – Jacob Rade (Timberlake, 10): 6^th

120 – Evan Simms (American Falls, 11): 4^th

126 – Raidyn Pugsley (Buhl, 10): 2^nd

126 – Weston Black (Weiser, 12): 5^th

132 – Trey McFarlane (Homedale, 11): 3^rd

132 – Clancy Harris (Marsh Valley, 12): 6^th

138 – Wade Williams (American Falls, 11): 3^rd (AA)

138 – Nathaniel Martinez (Fruitland, 12): 6^th

145 – Fabi Pierce (Buhl, 11): 2^nd

145 – Gunner Johnson (Marsh Valley, 12): 3^rd

145 – Kace Fullmer (Teton, 10): 5^th

145 – Jake Swann (Fruitland, 12): 6^th

152 – Luke Sarich (Weiser, 12): 3^rd

152 – Clancy Howell (Snake River, 11): 5^th

152 – KJ Parsons (Fruitland, 12): 6^th

160 – Lucas Williams (Kimerly, 12): 6^th

170 – Jonathan Hansen (Timberlake, 12): 4^th

182 – Blaise Turner (American Falls, 10): 3^rd (AA)

195 – McGregor Miller (South Fremont, 10): 2^nd

195 – Will Phillips (Fruitland, 12): 3^rd

195 – Raymond Florez (Fruitland, 12): 5^th

285 – Zach Moss (Teton, 12): 2^nd

285 – Taylor Dodd (Bonners Ferry, 10): 4^th

285 – Finnigan Moon (McCall-Donnelly, 12): 6^th

ALL-AMERICANS

Boden Banta (South Fremont, 12)

Nathan Gugelman II (American Falls, 11)

Koy Orr (Filer, 12)

Wade Williams (American Falls, 11)

Kaden MacKenzie (Fruitland, 12)

Blaise Turner (American Falls, 10)

Cesar Palacios (American Falls, 12)