‘It’s a dream come true.’ Idaho wrestlers capture state’s first Fargo national title

Michael Lycklama
·3 min read
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Idaho wrestlers cleaned up at the nation’s premier youth tournament last week, bringing home four individual championships, 19 All-American finishes and the first team title in state history from Fargo, North Dakota.

Idaho finished atop the standings in the junior Greco-Roman division for its first Fargo team championship in any style and at any level. Idaho racked up 141 points, finishing 21 points ahead of runner-up Iowa and snapping Illinois’ run of 15 straight national titles.

Idaho’s previous best finish in any style was third in junior Greco-Roman last year.

“It’s amazing,” said Chris Owens, the director of wrestling operations for Idaho USA Wrestling. “It’s a dream come true.”

Borah High graduate Aden Attao (heavyweight) and Blackfoot senior Mack Mauger (113 pounds) led the way, both repeating as national junior Greco-Roman champs.

Bishop Kelly senior Jadon Skellenger (152) and Mountain View senior Shilo Jones (heavyweight) also reached the finals, finishing second. The four were part of 10 Idaho All-Americans in the junior Greco-Roman division alone.

Idaho added individual national titles from Meridian resident Kaidance Gerg in the girls’ junior 138-pound weight class, as well as Bonneville junior Saxton Scott in the boys’ 16-and-under, 106-pound Greco-Roman tournament. Scott was named that tournament’s outstanding wrestler after racking seven technical falls and outscoring opponents 63-1.

Mauger and Scott also both won national folkstyle titles in the spring. American high schools and colleges compete under folkstyle rules. Fargo crowns national champions in freestyle and Greco-Roman, which are both used at the Olympics.

The national title added yet another honor for Attao, who was also the freestyle runner-up at Fargo. He finished undefeated last winter as Idaho’s 5A heavyweight state champ, and he will wrestle at Oregon State this season.

The record-setting performance at Fargo follows another record for Idaho USA Wrestling — topping 4,000 registered members for the first time.

“In wrestling, it takes a lot of support — family support and community support — helping kids get to the places they need to be to grow as a wrestler,” Owens said. “But then also, one of my main jobs is to bring our coaches together and work in the same direction.

“It’s really helped. We have a lot of resources in our state, and we are getting everyone to align and coordinate in the training process.”

Idaho All-Americans

The state finished with 19 All-Americans from Fargo.

Boys junior Greco-Roman

  • 1st - Mack Mauger, 113 pounds, Blackfoot senior

  • 1st - Aden Attao, 285, Borah grad

  • 2nd - Jadon Skellenger, 152, Bishop Kelly senior

  • 2nd - Shilo Jones, 285, Mountain View senior

  • 4th - Gabriel Rosales, 100, Mountain Home grad

  • 5th - Hunter Anderson, 100, Rigby junior

  • 5th - Jaxton Packer, 120, South Fremont senior

  • 5th - Tanner Frothinger, 138, Eagle grad

  • 6th - Treygen Morin, 126, Ridgevue senior

  • 7th - Isaiah Twait, 182, Meridian grad

Boys junior freestyle

  • 2nd - Aden Attao, 285, Borah grad

  • 3rd - Mack Mauger, 113, Blackfoot senior

  • 6th - Shilo Jones, 285, Mountain View senior

  • 8th - Gabriel Rosales, 100, Mountain Home grad

Boys 16U Greco-Roman

  • 1st - Saxton Scott, 106, Bonneville junior

  • 5th - Carlos Valdez, 145, Bishop Kelly junior

Girls juniors

  • 1st - Kaidance Gerg, 138, Meridian resident

  • 8th - Clare Waite, 144, Boise senior

Girls 16U

  • 3rd - Amie Hartman, 200, Mountain Home junior