By Al Fontes, NWHOF Writer

Idaho wrestling continues to surge forward — and this past week, the Gem State delivered another powerful statement on both the international and regional levels.

Leading the charge was Ridge Lovett, who captured a gold medal for Team USA at the Pan American Games while Idaho wrestlers combined for an impressive collection of championships, finalist finishes, and All-Regional performances at the 2026 USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships in Farmington, Utah.

For Idaho wrestling, it was a weekend that showcased elite talent, growing depth, and the continued rise of the state as a legitimate force in the western United States.

LOVETT DOMINATES PAN AM GAMES FIELD

Competing at 70 kilograms in men’s freestyle, Lovett was nothing short of dominant throughout the tournament. The Post Falls native powered through the bracket with overwhelming offense and relentless pace, helping Team USA capture the overall team championship with 240 points ahead of Puerto Rico and Canada.

A four-time Idaho state champion for Post Falls High School and NCAA Division I national champion for the University of Nebraska, Lovett has steadily built one of the most accomplished wrestling careers ever produced by the Gem State. His latest international gold medal performance only added to that growing legacy.

Lovett opened the tournament with consecutive 10-0 technical falls over Canada’s Michael Zale and Mexico’s Francisco Gonzalez Torres before advancing past Argentina’s Mauricio Lovera by medical forfeit.

Then came the finals.

Facing Puerto Rico’s Victor Soto Rivera for gold, Lovett wasted little time putting an exclamation point on his championship run, securing a first-period fall in just 1:28 to earn the Pan American Games gold medal.

The title further cements Lovett’s place among the nation’s premier freestyle wrestlers and continues a remarkable career that has made him one of Idaho’s greatest wrestling ambassadors on the international stage.

Ridge Lovett’s Pan Am Results – 70 kg

• Technical Fall over Michael Zale (Canada), 10-0
• Technical Fall over Francisco Gonzalez Torres (Mexico), 10-0
• Medical Forfeit over Mauricio Lovera (Argentina)
• Fall over Victor Soto Rivera (Puerto Rico), 1:28 GOLD MEDAL MATCH

IDAHO ATHLETES IMPRESS AT WESTERN REGIONALS

While Lovett was winning gold internationally, Idaho’s next generation of stars was making serious noise at the USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships in Utah.

Across Junior and 16U divisions in freestyle and Greco-Roman, Idaho wrestlers piled up championships and podium finishes against some of the toughest competition in the western region.

Among the boys’ top performances, Brock Armstrong of Coeur d’Alene captured the Junior Freestyle championship at 175 pounds, while Ivan Ivanov of Suples Wrestling Club claimed the Junior Greco-Roman title at the same weight class.

The heavyweight divisions proved especially productive for Idaho, with Liam Rodebush of Caldwell winning the 16U Freestyle championship at 215 pounds and Emmit Rivadeneira of Lakeland later adding a 16U Greco-Roman championship.

Idaho’s girls divisions also produced several standout performances.

Ali Svancara of Buhl and Kinzie Williams of American Falls each captured Junior Girls Freestyle titles, while Williams doubled up by winning the Junior Girls Greco-Roman championship at 115 pounds. Keleigh Russell-Smith of Eagle also delivered a huge weekend, earning championships in both the 16U Girls Freestyle and Greco-Roman divisions.

The overall performance highlighted the growing strength and depth of Idaho wrestling from top to bottom — from small rural communities to powerhouse urban programs.

IDAHO WESTERN REGIONAL CHAMPIONS

Junior Freestyle

• Brock Armstrong (Coeur d’Alene), 175 pounds

16U Freestyle

• Liam Rodebush (Caldwell), 215 pounds

Junior Greco-Roman

• Ivan Ivanov (Suples WC), 175 pounds

16U Greco-Roman

• Emmit Rivadeneira (Lakeland), 215 pounds

Junior Girls Freestyle

• Ali Svancara (Buhl), 110 pounds
• Kinzie Williams (American Falls), 115 pounds

Junior Girls Greco-Roman

• Kinzie Williams (American Falls), 115 pounds

16U Girls Freestyle

• Keleigh Russell-Smith (Eagle), 207 pounds

16U Girls Greco-Roman

• Keleigh Russell-Smith (Eagle), 207 pounds

IDAHO TOP SIX PLACEWINNERS AT WESTERN REGIONALS

Idaho wrestlers earned dozens of top-six finishes throughout the tournament, further demonstrating the state’s rapidly expanding talent pool across every age group and style.

Junior Freestyle

Dylan Coulson of Coeur d’Alene earned a fifth-place finish at 106 pounds, while Brand’n Edstrom of Madison advanced to the finals to place second at 126 pounds. At 165 pounds, Drake Morrison of Malad finished runner-up and James Hansen of Madison added a third-place finish. Brock Armstrong led the division with a championship performance at 175 pounds, and Blaise Turner of American Falls placed third at 215 pounds.

16U Freestyle

Lincoln Steele finished second at 150 pounds, while Hunter Bell of Homedale claimed third at 190 pounds. Idaho dominated the 215-pound division with Liam Rodebush winning the championship, Emmit Rivadeneira finishing second, and Blake Nguyen of Meridian taking fifth. Caedus Gil added a fourth-place finish at heavyweight.

Junior Greco-Roman

Dylan Coulson reached the finals at 106 pounds to place second, while Tobias Guillen of Meridian earned third at 113 pounds. Brand’n Edstrom added another podium finish with a third-place performance at 126 pounds. Drake Morrison placed third and James Hansen fifth at 165 pounds. Ivan Ivanov captured the championship at 175 pounds, while Brock Armstrong finished fourth at 190 pounds. Gage Ponton of Mountain View placed second and Blaise Turner added a third-place finish at 215 pounds.

16U Greco-Roman

Braxton Conyers of Rocky Mountain, Myles Edwards of Meridian, Mason Wright of Mountain Home, and Jaxon Ingram of Timberline each earned sixth-place finishes in their respective weight classes. Lincoln Steele placed fourth at 150 pounds, Hunter Bell finished third at 190 pounds, Emmit Rivadeneira captured the title at 215 pounds, and Blake Nguyen placed fourth.

Junior Girls Freestyle

Tayler Brown of Thunder Ridge placed fourth at 100 pounds, while Ali Svancara captured the championship at 110 pounds. Kinzie Williams added another Idaho title at 115 pounds. Caddy Tverdy of Eagle and Olivia Bezdicek of Jerome each earned third-place finishes, Molly Olague of Skyline advanced to the finals for second place, and Lily Bottcher of Idaho Falls placed fourth.

16U Girls Freestyle

Kalaya Baxter led the lightweight group with a runner-up finish at 95 pounds, while Liani Salinas placed fourth and Tahlia Guillen fifth. Mya Bolander of Idaho Falls and Whitney Cawthra of Rocky Mountain both finished fourth, while Macy Dunn earned fifth place. Brooklyn Dodge of Soda Springs and McKenna Roe of Emmett each placed fourth. Hailee Wilfong of Kuna advanced to the finals for second place, and Keleigh Russell-Smith closed out the division with a championship performance at 207 pounds.

Junior Girls Greco-Roman

Kinzie Williams continued her outstanding weekend with a championship at 115 pounds. Kiera Deleon placed fifth, Kiana Trudell finished third, Eliana White earned third in the 140-145 division, and Emma McDuffey added a fifth-place finish at 155 pounds.

16U Girls Greco-Roman

Kayla Baxter finished second at 95 pounds, while Tahlia Guillen added a third-place finish. Veronica Fehringer of American Falls and Mya Bolander of Idaho Falls both placed second in their respective divisions. Kristina Collins of Nampa and Akeelah Gonzalez of Snake River each finished sixth, while Keleigh Russell-Smith completed her dominant tournament run with another championship at 207 pounds.

IDAHO WRESTLING CONTINUES ITS ASCENT

From an international gold medal performance by Ridge Lovett to a dominant weekend at one of the nation’s toughest regional events, Idaho wrestling continues to build momentum at every level.

The success reflects not only elite individual talent, but also the continued development of wrestling clubs, coaches, and programs throughout the state that are producing athletes capable of competing — and winning — against the best competition in the country and beyond.

And with athletes like Lovett — a four-time Idaho state champion, NCAA national champion, and now Pan American Games gold medalist — continuing to lead the way, the future of Idaho wrestling has never looked brighter.

If this past week proved anything, it is that Idaho wrestling is no longer emerging.

It has arrived – WE’RE ONE IDAHO!

2026 USA Wrestling Western Regional Championships

Farmington, Utah, May 7-9

JUNIOR FREESTYLE 

106 – Dylan Coulson (Coeur d’Alene), 5^th Place 

126 – Brand’n Edstrom (Madison), 2^nd Place 

165 – Drake Morrison (Malad), 2^nd Place 

165 – James Hansen (Madison), 3^rd Place 

175 – Brock Armstrong (Coeur d’Alene), CHAMPION

215 – Blaise Turner (American Falls), 3^rd Place 

16U FREESTYLE 

150 – Lincoln Steele, 2^nd Place 

190 – Hunter Bell (Homedale), 3^rd Place 

215 – Liam Rodebush (Caldwell), CHAMPION

215 – Emmit Rivadeneira (Lakeland), 2^nd Place 

215 – Blake Nguyen (Meridian), 5^th Place 

285 – Caedus Gil, 4^th Place 

JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN 

106 – Dylan Coulson (Coeur d’Alene), 2^nd Place 

113 – Tobias Guillen (Meridian), 3^rd Place 

126 – Brand’n Edstrom (Madison), 3^rd Place 

165 – Drake Morrison (Malad), 3^rd Place 

165 – James Hansen (Madison), 5^th Place 

175 – Ivan Ivanov (Suples WC), CHAMPION

190 – Brock Armstrong (Coeur d’Alene), 4^th Place 

215 – Gage Ponton (Mountain View), 2^nd Place 

215 – Blaise Turner (American Falls), 3^rd Place 

16U GRECO-ROMAN 

100 – Braxton Conyers (Rocky Mountain), 6^th Place

126 – Myles Edwards (Meridian), 6^th Place 

132 – Mason Wright (Mountain Home), 6^th Place 

150 – Lincoln Steele, 4^th Place

157 – Jaxon Ingram (Timberline), 6^th Place 

190 – Hunter Bell (Homedale), 3^rd Place 

215 – Emmit Rivadeneira (Lakeland), CHAMPION

215 – Blake Nguyen (Meridian), 4^th Place 

JUNIOR FREESTYLE (GIRLS)

100 – Tayler Brown (Thunder Ridge), 4^th Place 

110 – Ali Svancara (Buhl), CHAMPION

115 – Kinzie Williams (American Falls), CHAMPION

125 – Caddy Tverdy (Eagle). 3^rd Place 

135 – Olivia Bezdicek (Jerome), 3^rd Place 

170 – Molly Olague (Skyline), 2^nd Place 

190 – Lily Bottcher (Idaho Falls), 4^th Place 

16U FREESTYLE (GIRLS)

95 – Kalaya Baxter, 2nd Place

95 – Liani Salinas, 4^th Place

95 – Tahlia Guillen, 5^th Place 

115 – Mya Bolander (Idaho Falls), 4^th Place 

125 – Whitney Cawthra (Rocky Mountain), 4^th Place

130 – Macy Dunn, 5^th Place 

140 – Brooklyn Dodge (Soda Springs), 4^th Place

145 – McKenna Roe (Emmett), 4^th Place 

170 – Hailee Wilfong (Kuna), 2^nd Place 

207 – Keleigh Russell-Smith (Eagle), CHAMPION

JUNIOR GRECO-ROMAN (GIRLS)

115 pounds – Kinzie Williams (American Falls), CHAMPION

125 – Kiera Deleon, 5^th Place 

130 – Kiana Trudell, 3^rd Place 

140-145 – Eliana White, 3^rd Place 

155 – Emma McDuffey, 5^th Place 

16U GRECO-ROMAN (GIRLS)

95 – Kayla Baxter, 2^nd Place

95 – Tahlia Guillen, 3^rd Place 

110 – Veronica Fehringer (American Falls), 2^nd Place 

115 – Mya Bolander (Idaho Falls), 2^nd Place 

115 – Kristina Collins (Nampa), 6^th Place 

120 – Akeelah Gonzalez (Snake River), 6^th Place 

207 – Keleigh Russell-Smith (Eagle), CHAMPION

Photo images courtesy of Michael Stone, Nate Gugelman, Matt Armstrong, and Tony Rotundo (WAW).

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