After back-to-back second-place finishes, Idaho Falls’ DJ Neider finishes the job collecting one of eight 5A-6A D6 wrestling titles

POCATELLO — DJ Neider lost the final match of the season each of the past two seasons. This year, the senior finally got over that hump, earning a 5A 150-pound state title with a pin victory at the Idaho High School Boys Wrestling State Championships, held Saturday at Idaho State University’s ICCU Dome.

Neider was one of eight local 5A-6A student-athletes to win a first-place medal at the meet.

“It’s the best feeling in the world — there’s nothing better, for sure,” he said after the match. “It’s all about the work, the hours, the blood, sweat and tears.”

Immediately after earning the fall victory over Bishop Kelly’s Tensei Thompson, Neider ditched his head gear and grabbed a pair of sunglasses from someone siting next to the mat. He then took a lap around the mat with his hands raised, wearing the white shades.

He got the idea from the team photographer, who recommend he plan a “celly” in the case he wins the match.

As for what happened before he traded the headgear for the glasses, Neider said he has been aspiring to win the season’s final match since he started wrestling.

“This has been the dream since I started wrestling eight years ago — in fifth, sixth grade. It’s very kids dream, but not everyone gets to complete it.”

Skyline’s Ayden Tokita celebrates his win in the 5A 113-pound state finals. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoSports.com

Skyline’s Ayden Tokita, unlike Neider, was forced to go the distance, beating Mountain Home’s Camden Kuntz, 4-3.

“It feels amazing,” he said about the winning, saying he started wrestling when he was five or six years old and almost immediately started to dream of winning a state title. “It’s always been the goal.”

Ahead 4-0 with 20 seconds left in the third and final round, Tokita surrendered a three-point reversal, finding himself chest down the mat. In hopes of preventing Kuntz from tying the score, Tokita anchored himself to the mat and held on until the final 20 seconds ran off the timer.

For the entirety of those 20 seconds, he said, he had just one thought, “don’t get turned.”

“No matter what, just don’t get turned and just ride it out,” he said, adding that he believes he could have lasted more than the 20 seconds he needed, had it been required. “He’s strong, but I think (I could have lasted) at least a minute.”

Saxton Scott, from Idaho Falls High School, celebrates his second state championship. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoSports.com

Idaho Falls’ Saxton Scott secured his second state championship with a pin victory over Minico’s Jeratt Robinson 1:23 into the first round.

He said that while it feels “great” becoming a two-time state champ, nothing will ever beat the feeling of that first title.

“I think the first one takes the cake a little bit, just because you get that feeling for the first time and it’s just awesome,” he said.

This time around though, he did not have to “grind out” the win, like he did last year.

Bonneville’s Madix Jones celebrates his state championship victory. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoSports.com

Bonneville’s Madix Jones won the 5A 165-pound championship match over Minico’s Boady Baker via 12-2 decision.

Jones finished third at state last year, but knew he was “destined for greatness.” And all this season, he spent running laps around the wrestling room at Bonneville High School driven by dreams of seeing his name on the program’s champions wall.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “It’s hard to explain, I just wanted this the whole year. Every day, running around the (wrestling) room, I’d envision my name on the Championship Wall.”

Jones thought he’d won the match by pin victory in the third round. In fact, both he and Baker removed their headgear, believing the match was over, only to be informed the pin was reversed as Baker’s leg had made contact with the scorer’s table.

“I knew that he was broken — I’d just pinned him — so I knew I could get him on his back and just keep grinding, keep putting it to him,” he said.

Blackfoot’s Dawandey Dilus works towards a reversal before earning a pin victory in the second round of the 5A 215-pound championship match. | Courtesy photo

Blackfoot’s Dawandey Dilus has been wrestling for just four years, starting when he was a freshman. Now, he is a state champion after pinning Sandpoint’s Jackson Holman in the second round of the 5A 215-point finals.

“It feels pretty great,” he said. “It was tough, hard, but it feels great now that it’s done.”

Dilus, who received a huge hug from fellow champion, Idaho Falls’ Neider, after the match, said he has loved the friendships that have grown from his time wrestling. That is one of the things that keeps him coming back to the wrestling room year after year, but admits he knew little to nothing about the sport before he entered the room for the first time.

“My freshman year, I didn’t know about wrestling until the coach invited me to wrestle,” he said. “I’ve loved it since then.”

Hillcrest’s Austin Reeves collapses to his knees after wining the 5A 285-pound championship. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoSports.com

Hillcrest’s Austin Reeves won the 5A 285-pound championship via 15-3 decision over Emmett’s Sam Buck.

Thunder Ridge’s Onyx Kunsaitas celebrates his 6A 144-pound championship match victory. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoSports.com

Onyx Kunsaitas, from Thunder Ridge, beat Meridian’s Ryan Amoureux for the 6A 144-pound state championship.

Kunsaitas’ victory came by way of a 12-7 decision.

“It feels great,” he said. “I’ve been waiting all year, putting in work — all offseason, every day, no rest — just waiting for this moment. I’m super-happy.”

He has been dreaming of this victory, Kunsaitas said, since he was in eighth grade and qualified for the middle school state championship. Now, he has reached that dream as a sophomore and believes he could have more first-place medals in his future.

“I think I can get two more. I think so,” he said.

Madison’s Rex Salas works toward a win in the 6A 285-pound championship match victory. | Courtesy photo

Madison’s Rex Salas bested Eagle’s Anthony Toomey by pin in the third round to claim the 6A 285-pound state championship.

The match included a lengthy delay during the second round when Toomey suffered an apparent leg injury after he was slammed to the mat by Salas. Toomey though, remained on the mat and battled.

While eight local 5A and 6A wrestlers won state championships, nine others fell in finals matches, and many others earned spots on the podium. District 5 schools were shut out in championship matches.

To see results from all of the day’s matches, visit trackwrestling.com — here.

Team results

Two teams — Blackfoot, in 5A, and Madison, in 6A — claimed team trophies to go with their individual championships.

Here are the top 10 teams — the top four receives trophies — from the 5A and 6A classifications.

5A
TEAMS – POINT TOTAL
1. Bishop Kelly – 228.5
2. Minico – 225.5
3. Blackfoot – 139.5
4. Lakelan – 137.5
5. Sandpoint – 124.5
6. Middleton – 120
7. Century – 114.5
8. Bonneville – 93.5
9. Lewiston – 93
10. Idaho Falls – 86

6A
TEAMS – POINT TOTAL
1. Post Falls – 322
2. Meridian – 293
3. Madison – 163.5
4. Nampa – 133
5. Coeur d’Alene – 112
6. Rocky Mountain – 111.5
7. Highland – 101
8. Eagle – 98
9. Caldwell – 94.5
10. Mountain View – 85.5