Annual Tiger-Grizz Wrestling Tournament crowns several D5-6 girls

IDAHO FALLS — District 5-6 girls performed well at the 2024 Tiger-Grizz Wrestling Tournament, claiming six gold medals — with another 22 wrestlers placing across 12 weight classes.

According to event organizers, the 44th annual Tiger-Grizz invitational welcomed 1,100 wrestlers — 800 boys and 300 girls — and saw 1,403 matches spanning two days.

Saturday’s matches crowned champions, including Thunder Ridge High School sophomore Gracie Price.

Price, who took home gold from last year’s Tiger-Grizz at 100 pounds, dominated Meridian’s Kiana Trudell, earning this 120-pound crown by pinning her opponent in just 37 seconds.

After the match, Price said that she didn’t realize how quickly her victory came, explaining that she was just looking to flow smoothly.

“My coach told me earlier, to connect the dots — move after move, to flow,” she said. “That’s what I was doing out there, just trying to flow.”

Having the gold medal draped around her neck again “feels really good,” she said. Now, she sets her sights on next month’s state championship.

Price finished runner-up at 100 pounds last year, losing the title match via pin at 5:54. This year, she said, she has a great support system behind her, from coaches to sparring partners, and she feels this second Tiger-Grizz triumph is enough to propel her to that ultimate prize.

“I’m locked in this year,” she said.

When Price lost at state last year, she did so at the hands of then-junior Raelynn O’Connor, from Salmon High School.

Also up in weight class this year, O’Connor, now wrestling at 107 pounds, earned her way into the the finals at the Tiger-Grizz, but fell to Kuna High School’s Taylor Drake by 10-6 decision.

“It’s not exactly how I wanted it to finish, but the rest was pretty good,” O’Connor said.

But, she added, the loss will serve as motivation as she continues to improve and work toward another state championship. She explained that she will maintain her focus while further dedicating herself.

“Just got to keep improving,” she said.

Several reigning state champs were able to earn gold this weekend, including Blackfoot High School sophomore Keanna Conrad, who bested Century High’s Kyler Scott to earn the 132-pound title.

Keanna Conrad tops the 132-pound podium of the Tiger-Grizz. | Kalama Hines, EastIdahoNews.com

Conrad herself is no stranger to winning title matches, having won last year’s 126-pound Tiger-Grizz crown before climbing the podium at state in the same class.

This year, she dominated the field, surrendering zero points to her opponents this weekend.

The victory, Conrad believes, is exactly the propellant she needs to win back-to-back state titles.

“I think so, but the girls are getting better,” she said.

At 185 pounds, reigning state champ, Thunder Ridge’s Shauna Anderson completed her own dominant run through the Tiger-Grizz with a pin victory over Canyon Ridge’s Riana Walter in just 1:17.

Anderson, Conrad, O’Connor, Price and all the D5-6 wrestlers will have one thing going for them at next month’s state championship meet: it will be on this side of the state. The meet will be held at Idaho State University’s ICCU Dome, Feb. 28 and March 1.

The location, Conrad said, will play a factor — they will be able to enjoy a little more sleep, and avoid the long bus rides.

Below are the full results of the girls bracket at the Tiger-Grizz Wrestling Tournament.

100 pounds

1st Place – Catherine Montalvan of West Jefferson
2nd Place – Emily Ball of Syracuse
3rd Place – Tayler Brown of Thunder Ridge
4th Place – Aubry Scott of Thunder Ridge
5th Place – Carlee Angell of Star Valley
6th Place – Marlie Skidmore of Owyhee

107 pounds

1st Place – Taylor Drake of Kuna
2nd Place – Raelynn O`Connor of Salmon
3rd Place – Payton Gines of Syracuse
4th Place – Madi Barzee of West Jefferson
5th Place – Tommy Stone of Eagle
6th Place – Mya Bolander of Idaho Falls

114 pounds

1st Place – Kinzie Williams of American Falls
2nd Place – Hallie Robertson of Star Valley
3rd Place – Zaiden Espinoza of Mountain Home
4th Place – Brooklyn Lanningham of Columbia
5th Place – Lydia Townsend of Marsh Valley
6th Place – Xoey Zollinger of Skyline

120 pounds

1st Place – Gracie Price of Thunder Ridge
2nd Place – Kiana Trudell of Meridian
3rd Place – Zuri Tavarez of South Fremont
4th Place – Kiera DeLeon of Meridian
5th Place – Kayzha Vail of Bonneville
6th Place – Hannah Bingham of Weber

126 pounds

1st Place – Kasia Hanks of Burley
2nd Place – Daniela Martinez of Stansbury
3rd Place – Caddy Tverdy of Garden Valley
4th Place – Bella Eddins of Grace
5th Place – Elazae Flores of Columbia
6th Place – Alycia Aguayo of Blackfoot

132 pounds

1st Place – Keanna Conrad of Blackfoot
2nd Place – Kyler Scott of Century
3rd Place – Emma Stansell of Kuna
4th Place – Sabina Bennetts of Challis
5th Place – Olivia Byington of Corner Canyon
6th Place – Meagan Smith of Meridian

138 pounds

1st Place – Zoe Fries of Kuna
2nd Place – Courtney Hunt of American Falls
3rd Place – Amelia Roennebeck of Syracuse
4th Place – Meleana Fager of Corner Canyon
5th Place – Ava Price of Thunder Ridge
6th Place – Hallie Nash of Highland

145 pounds

1st Place – Veil Foreman of Star Valley
2nd Place – Josie Newby of Grace
3rd Place – Lochlynn Harned of Rigby
4th Place – Heather Byrne of Bonneville
5th Place – Gianna Makaafi of Stansbury
6th Place – Julia Banks of Challis

152 pounds

1st Place – Elise Twait of Meridian
2nd Place – Gemma Lebeau of Eagle
3rd Place – Skyla Cloud of Grace
4th Place – Kate Allred of Preston
5th Place – Peyton Reeves of Thunder Ridge
6th Place – Ava Morgan of Corner Canyon

165 pounds

1st Place – Clarion Fager of Corner Canyon
2nd Place – Molly Olague of Skyline
3rd Place – Ella Elordi of Eagle
4th Place – Brooke Schwab of Star Valley
5th Place – Abigail Henderson of Kuna
6th Place – Autumn Olague of Skyline

185 pounds

1st Place – Shauna Anderson of Thunder Ridge
2nd Place – Riana Walter of Canyon Ridge
3rd Place – Emry Woods of Eagle
4th Place – Rebecka Vail of Minico
5th Place – Priscilla Arredondo of Kuna
6th Place – Makayla Walden of Corner Canyon

235 pounds

1st Place – Charlie Robinson of Rigby
2nd Place – Cashlee Hepworth of Star Valley
3rd Place – Haylie Stellmach of Owyhee
4th Place – Emry Dabell of Thunder Ridge
5th Place – Colette Moore of Jackson Hole
6th Place – Chloe Wadsworth of Snake River