Five Area Wrestlers Capture Individual Titles at Idaho Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Championships
North Idaho Athletes Shine at Caldwell High School Tournament
Sandpoint, Idaho — Five area wrestlers claimed individual state titles at the Idaho Freestyle and Greco-Roman State Championships, held April 17 and 18 at Caldwell High School. The competition served as an official qualifying event for the USA Wrestling 16U and Junior Individual National Championships, scheduled for July 9-18 at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota.
The local contingent delivered strong performances across both disciplines, with three wrestlers earning Freestyle titles and two capturing Greco-Roman crowns. Several additional area competitors also qualified to represent Idaho on the USA Wrestling National Team.
In Greco-Roman action, Dominic Ratigan, competing at 175 pounds, claimed a 16U title with a dominant showing, winning two bouts by technical fall with scores of 11-0 and 8-0. His commanding margin of victory in both matches underscored his technical proficiency in the Greco-Roman discipline.
Also earning a Greco-Roman title was Lilli Marti, competing in the 190-207 pound weight class. A commit to Treasure Valley Community College, Marti won her Junior title with two victories by pin and a hard-fought 4-2 decision, demonstrating both power and competitive composure throughout the bracket.
Freestyle Titles Highlight Depth of North Idaho Wrestling
The Freestyle division saw three area athletes take home individual championships. Mackenzee Donenfeld, competing at 100-105 pounds, won a Junior title with two pins and a 10-0 technical fall, never allowing her opponents to gain traction throughout the competition.
Summer Birch of Clark Fork earned a 16U Freestyle title at 120 pounds, posting a win by pin and two victories by decision — 8-1 and 7-6, respectively. Birch’s ability to grind out close decision wins alongside her pin victory highlighted the well-rounded skill set that earned her the championship.
Rounding out the title winners, Izzy Stark competed at 145 pounds and claimed a Junior Freestyle title with a pair of wins by pin, efficiently dispatching her opponents and punching her ticket to national competition.
All five title winners — Ratigan, Marti, Donenfeld, Birch, and Stark — qualified to compete on Idaho’s USA Wrestling National Team for the upcoming national championships in Fargo.
Three additional area athletes also earned national team qualifications without capturing individual titles: Zxyloh Johnson, Vanessa Hood, and Rhaelyn Schedlbauer all punched their tickets to the July national event through their performances at the state championships.
Several other area wrestlers represented North Idaho at the competition, including Allie Esposito, Reed Corey, and Naia Lamb of Priest River. While their results did not yield national team berths, their participation reflects the growing depth of competitive wrestling in the region.
North Idaho has established itself as a growing force in freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, disciplines that differ from the folkstyle format used during the traditional high school season. The sport’s year-round nature gives dedicated athletes a path to national-level competition beyond the school calendar. For more on recreational and athletic opportunities in the region, see our coverage of Schweitzer Mountain Resort’s year-round recreation offerings in Idaho.
What Comes Next
The athletes who qualified for the USA Wrestling National Team from Idaho will compete at the 16U and Junior Individual National Championships, set for July 9-18 at North Dakota State University in Fargo, North Dakota. The event draws competitors from across the country and represents one of the highest levels of youth and junior competition in the sport. Local fans and families will have the opportunity to follow Ratigan, Marti, Donenfeld, Birch, Stark, Johnson, Hood, and Schedlbauer as they represent North Idaho and the state of Idaho on the national stage this summer.