The Malad High School wrestling team closed a demanding four-day, three-city stretch by going undefeated at the North/South Clearwater Valley Duals in Kooskia, earning the first-ever 3A Idaho State Duals championship.

Malad traveled more than 1,100 miles over the course of the week. The Dragons opened with a road dual Wednesday, January 21 in Preston, defeating the Indians 61–24. Thursday, Malad picked up two more dual wins, beating New Plymouth 70–10 and Parma 75–12 on their trip to northern Idaho to compete in Clearwater High School’s invitational wrestling tournament.

The week concluded Friday and Saturday at the North/South Duals, which served as the designated 3A State Duals championship held in Kooskia. Malad’s varsity team finished the tournament 9–0, winning every dual it competed in. The junior varsity squad also entered the varsity tournament field and posted a 7–3 record. 

DJ Crowther getting the pin

Across the two days of competition, Malad recorded six undefeated wrestlers and seven others who suffered only one loss. Freshman Kallen Price went 9–0. Fellow freshmen Brecken Price, Riggin Montgomery and Bronson Smith each finished the tournament with just one loss.

At 215 pounds, Cam Bingham faced every state-ranked wrestler in his weight class during the tournament and won each match by first-round pin. Aubrey Shulz traveled with the boys team to compete against northern Idaho girls she is expected to see again at the IHSAA State Wrestling Tournament. Shulz won her bracket and returned home with a gold medal.

“These kids had a tough week and they showed up ready to show everyone why they are the reigning state champs,” the Malad coaching staff said. “Getting those matchups against the northern schools makes sure our kids get their best seeding at the state tournament. Our varsity did awesome but it is also exciting how well our JV team did in the varsity tournament. Our underclassmen are stepping up and it really shows how much work they put in.”

As a team, Malad’s varsity scored 657 points across nine duals, while allowing just 93 points total. Two of those duals ended in shutouts, with Malad defeating Grangeville 83–0 and Lapwai 82–0.

The varsity team’s dual results were: Malad 75, Priest River 12; Malad 60, Kellogg 22; Malad 79, Melba 6; Malad 68, Tri-Valley 10; Malad 83, Grangeville 0; Malad 69, Clearwater Valley 11; Malad 64, St. Maries 21; Malad 71, Kamiah 10; Malad 82, Lapwai 0.

JV dual results included wins over Kamiah, Melba, Grangeville, Kootenai, Clearwater Valley, Lapwai and McCall.

The North/South Duals crown the state champion in team dual-meet competition, which is separate from the IHSAA State Wrestling Tournament that concludes the season with individual bracketed competition. Malad will now turn its attention to that postseason event, carrying momentum from a week that tested both depth and endurance.

The Lady Dragon wrestlers had a quiet week as they wrestled in one competition- duals against the Preston Indians.  The midweek matchup ended in the favor of the MHS wrestlers, the Lady Dragons winning 42-36.  On their path to victory, Somerli Nalder, Katy Carter, and Harlee Maddox ended their matches with a pin, each adding 6 points to their team.

Malad’s schedule on the mats continues to tighten as they move through the season.  The Dragon wrestlers will next head to Aberdeen on Wednesday, January 28 in head duals with Aberdeen and Declo.  Thursday, both the boys and girls teams will travel to West Side for the District duals.  Friday and Saturday, the MHS boys team will travel to Sugar/Salem to compete in their annual two day tournament while the girls team will compete in their own weekend tournament at Burley High School.

North/South Duals
individual records

Varsity 

98lbs Kallen Price 9-0

106lbs Jaxon Mills 8-1

120lbs Ayden Potter 8-1

126lbs Riggin Montgomery 9-1

132lbs Dutch Potter 9-0

138lbs Porter Mills 8-1

144lbs Cruz Carter 4-5

150lbs Parker Price 7-2

157lbs Drake Morrison 9-0

165lbs Chase Martin 7-2

175lbs Oakley Maddox 9-0

190lbs Rydon Montgomery 8-1

215lbs Cam Bingham 9-0

HWT Trevor Allen 9-0

JV

98lbs Brecken Price 9-1

106lbs Joseph Angell 7-3

120lbs Trey Clemons 5-5

126lbs Jaxon Purser 1-9

132lbs Wade Clark 6-4

138lbs Zac Reiss 7-3

157lbs David Leckie 3-7

165lbs DJ Crowther 7-3

175lbs Bronson Smith 9-1

190lbs Leif Allen 5-5

215lbs Cam Seamons 4-6

HWT Liam Donnan 5-5

Team scores 

Varsity 

Malad 75 Priest River 12

Malad 60 Kellogg 22

Malad 79 Melba 6

Malad 68 Tri Valley 10

Malad 83 Grangeville 0

Malad 69 Clear Water Valley 11

Malad 64 St Maries 21

Malad 71 Kamiah 10

Malad 82 Lapwai 0

JV 

Malad 42 Kamiah 34

Tri Valley 53 Malad 28

Malad 62 Melba 22

St Maries 60 Malad 21

Malad 54 Grangeville 29

Malad 48 Kootenai 22

Malad 42 Clear Water Valley 39

Malad 60 Lapwai 24

Kellogg 65 Malad 16

Malad 60 McCall 23