By Al Fontes

Idaho wrestling delivered one of its most impactful national performances to date at the 2026 U.S. Open in Las Vegas, producing champions and medalists across senior, U20, U17, and developmental divisions. The results further reinforced the state’s steady emergence as a consistent source of nationally competitive talent in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.

At the senior level, Ridge Lovett anchored Idaho’s success with a championship performance at 70 kg in freestyle. Already a 4x Idaho state champion (Post Falls) and NCAA champion for Nebraska, Lovett once again validated his elite national standing with a dominant run through a loaded bracket in Las Vegas.

At 86 kg, Rylan Rogers (Coeur d’Alene) added a 5th-place finish in freestyle, continuing his upward trajectory on the national scene. Rogers has built a strong competitive résumé that includes qualifying for the NCAA Division I Championships for Lehigh University this season and advancing to the blood rounds. His Fargo credentials, national prep success, and continued Division I development position him among Idaho’s most complete high-level competitors.

Idaho also made a strong statement in the senior women’s division, where Liv Wieber of Eagle (Eastern Oregon / Simon Fraser) placed 6th at 68 kg. Wieber added another national-level result to an already decorated résumé that includes an Idaho state championship along with both NAIA and NCAA All-American honors.

In World Team Trials competition, Idaho continued to demonstrate high-end depth and senior-level competitiveness. Aden Attao delivered one of the state’s top finishes of the weekend, placing 3rd in Greco-Roman at 130 kg. Already decorated with Fargo gold and multiple world-level medals, Attao further solidified his standing as one of the nation’s premier Greco-Roman heavyweights.

At 60 kg in Greco-Roman, Treygen Morin added an 8th-place finish, showing consistency on the national circuit while representing Ridgevue and West Liberty University.

The U20 division showcased both elite firepower and significant depth. Matthew Martino of Bishop Kelly and Princeton led Idaho’s effort with a 7th-place finish in freestyle at 65 kg, navigating one of the tournament’s largest and deepest brackets with more than 250 competitors. Martino also competed at this year’s NCAA Division I Championships, further elevating a résumé that already includes four state titles, a Fargo championship, and a Pan American gold medal.

Saxton Scott (Idaho Falls/CSU Bakersfield) added a strong 4th-place finish in Greco-Roman at 60 kg, continuing his emergence as one of Idaho’s most accomplished young wrestlers. Additional placements from Gabriel Brown, Ivan Ivanov, and Brock Armstrong reinforced the state’s competitive depth at the U20 level.

The U17 division continued to underscore Idaho’s long-term talent pipeline. Ivan Ivanov captured a championship at 80 kg in Greco-Roman, adding to an already impressive résumé that includes multiple Fargo national titles and Outstanding Wrestler honors. His performance also secured him a spot on the U17 World Team, further elevating him into the international conversation.

Blake Nevils and Greyson Packer both earned podium finishes, while Gage Ponton added a strong 6th-place finish at 110 kg, further highlighting Idaho’s developing strength in the upper weight classes.

Across all divisions, Idaho athletes combined for multiple champions, finalists, and top-eight finishes, reinforcing a program that continues to produce both elite individuals and sustained depth across age groups.

Idaho USA Wrestling Director Chris Owens emphasized both the developmental value and competitive toughness displayed by the state’s athletes in Las Vegas.

“We (Idaho) didn’t have a high number of 15U, 16U & 20U wrestlers attend the UWW trials in Vegas but the ones that did got some great mat time vs some very high-quality competition,” Owens said. “This experience should serve us well going forward by the time we get to the National Duals and Fargo. It is early in the FS/GR prep phase for our wrestlers, but very admirable IMO that our crew battled hard and competed as well as they did.”

From senior-level champions to rising developmental standouts like Owen Williams at the U15 level, Idaho’s performance in Las Vegas further solidified the state’s growing national presence and competitive credibility across all levels of the sport.

SENIOR DIVISION

70 kg – Ridge Lovett: CHAMPION (FS)

86 kg – Rylan Rogers: 5^th Place (FS)

SENIOR WORLD TEAM TRIALS 

60 kg – Treygen Morin: 8^th Place 

130 kg – Aden Attao: 3^rd Place (GR)

SENIOR WOMEN DIVISION

68 kg – Liv Wieber: 6^th Place 

MASTERS A DIVISION

78 kg – Braydon Huber: 7^th Place 

U20 DIVISION

60 kg – Saxton Scott: 4^th Place (GR)

63 kg – Gabriel Brown: 8^th Place (GR)

65 kg – Matthew Martino: 7^th Place (FS)

82 kg – Ivan Ivanov: 2^nd Place (GR)

82 kg – Brock Armstrong: 6^th Place (GR)

U17 DIVISION

55 kg – Greyson Packer: 6^th Place (GR)

60 kg – Blake Nevils: 3^rd Place (GR)

80 kg – Ivan Ivanov: CHAMPION (GR)

110 kg – Gage Ponton: 6^th Place (GR)

U15 DIVISION

57 kg – Owen Williams: 3^rd Place (GR)