2020-21 D3 Rankings

[Jim ima]

Updated 2/15 Will update weekly, depending on results/weight class movement. Thank you to Jfing and Mingus Coach. Rank wrestler providing some additional names to get on here.


106
1- Jayden Rael, Sahuarita (4th)
2- Brody Townsend, Mingus (DNP)
3- Zemira Wilhelm, Show Low (W over Hunter Lane 6-1)
4- Hunter Lane, Chino Valley (DNP)
5- Bergen Doolen, ALA Gilbert (DNP)

113
1- Cole Housley, Show Low (2nd)
2- Justin Fox, Sahuarita (WBF over Hernandez)
3- Tony Hernandez, Coconino (6th)
4- Channing Porter, Walden Grove (DNP)

120
1- Colby Evens, Chino Valley (1st)
2- Mario Bugarin, Yuma (2nd)
3- Sebastian Rochin, Az CP (5th)
4- Nickolas Phillips, Coconino (6th)
5-Damian Rios, Safford


126
1-Terrell Kinlicheenie, Snowflake (1st)
2- Christian Lopez, Sahuarita (2nd)
3- Kai Miller, Mingus (DNP)
4- David Villareal, Walden Grove (DNP)
5- Serge Fenn, Thunderbird (DNP)
6- Shawn Bamba, Peoria (DNP)


132
1- Isaac Castro, Peoria (3rd)
2- Zion Granados, Safford (DNP)
3-Andrew Sweilern, Goldwater
4-Nate Huffman, AZ College Prep

138
1- Isaac McKean, Mingus (4th)
2- Cooper French, Coconino (4th)
3-Hayden Garritson, Poston Butte (DNP)
4-Zach Burke, ALA
5-Andy Wilhelm, Show Low
6- Blake Heunemeyer, Bradshaw Mt. (DNP)
7-Vance Cuthbertson, Cactus

145
1-Kaleb Cordova, Safford
2-Charles Croci, CDO (6th)
3-Gabriel Elias, Sahuarita (6th)
4-Michael Davenport, Combs
5-Asher King, Bradshaw Mtn.
6-Hunter Casey, Show Low


152
1- Seth Fernandez, Combs (2nd)
2- Karson Zimmerman, Safford (5th)
3-Trevor Tenney, ALA Gilbert (6th)
4-Tyler Dilcher, Bradshaw Mtn.


160
1- Conrad Brady, Mingus (1st)
2- Payton Wayman, Lee Williams (2nd)
3- Lincoln Eby, Prescott (4th)
4- Broden Harold, ALA Gilbert (6th)

170
1- Fernando Gonzalez, Safford (5th)
2- Cody Owens, Combs (DNP) (1-W over Davis)
3-Julian Prieto, Sahuarita (W over Shadle)
4-Chris Shadle, Coconino (W over Davis)
5-Matthew Davis, Chino Valley
5-O'riah Jackson, Coolidge


182
1- NIck Foshee, Bradshaw Mtn. (4th)
2- Nash Jobe, ALA Gilbert (5th)
3- Payson Cardon, Snowflake, (DNP)
4- Andon Amparando, Marcos (DNP)


195
1- Dakota McMains, Chino Valley (6th)
2-Bric Jobe, ALA Gilbert, (Campo Verde, 6th)
3- Travis Christianson, Payson (DNP)
4- Hector Mendoza, Walden Grove, (DNP)

220
1- Kellon Gibson, AZ CP (2nd)
2- Mike Kelly, Bradshaw Mtn (6th)
3- Levi Pannell, Sahuarita (DNP)
4- Soto Sellis, Payson (DNP)


285
1- Taniela Taunima, Combs (1st)
2- Eduardo Reyes, Goldwater (4th)
3- Jeremy Buenrostro, ALA - Ironwood (5th)
4- Seth Mcaffee, ALA Gilbert (W over Solomon)
5- Carter Solomon, Snowflake (DNP)
6-Peyton Hines, Bradshaw Mtn. (DNP)
7-Daniel Dominguez, Amphi (DNQ)
8- Zachary Allen, Lee Williams (DNP)

 

[SUSU]

Just starting with returning placers and some other kids from blood round, 1-2 kids, qualifiers or kids that have been competing. Tried to weed out transfers, schools that have moved out of D3, and include schools that moved in to D3 this yr, might have missed some. Tried to be uniform but some weight classes weren't that deep and there was a weird number of forfeits/defaults at state last year. Some weights were deeper than others. I included some kids that did not qualify that I think will be in the mix this year.

Top 10 Teams (alphabetically):

ALA-Gilbert- 4 returning placers, 7 qualifiers
Az College Prep- 2 returning placers, 5 qualifiers
Bradshaw Mtn.- 2 returning placers, 4 qualifiers
Combs- 1 returning champ, 1 runner-up, 5 qualifiers
Coconino- 3 returning placers, 3 qualifiers
Goldwater- 1 returning placers, 6 qualifiers
Mingus- 1 returning champ, 1 returning placer, 5 qualifiers
Peoria- 2 returning placers, 4 qualifiers
Safford- 2 returning placers, 5 qualifiers
Sahuarita- 3 returning placers, 7 qualifiers


106
2nd- Cole Housley, Show Low
4th- Jayden Rael, Sahuarita
5th- Sebastian Rochin, Az CP
6th- Tony Hernandez, Coconino
DNP-Brody Townsend, Mingus Freakshow Champion

113
1st- Colby Evens, Chino Valley
2nd- Mario Bugarin, Yuma
6th- Nickolas Phillips, Coconino
DNP Justin Fox, Sahuarita, Blood round

120
2nd- Christian Lopez, Sahuarita
DNP- Zion Granados, Safford (1-2)
DNP- Serge Fenn, Thunderbird (0-2)
DNQ- Kai Miller, Mingus (31-10)

126
3rd- Issaac Castro, Peoria
4th- Cooper French, Coconino
6th- Trevor Tenney, ALA-Gilbert
DNP- Blake Heunemeyer, Bradshaw Mt. (1-2)

132
2nd- Armando Valencia, Peoria
4th- Isaac McKean, Mingus
6th- Charles Croci, Canyon Del Oro
DNP-John Chandler, Lee Williams, Blood round/Section Champ
DNP-Hayden Garritson, Poston Butte, Blood round
DNQ- Mike Avelar, Walden Grove (20-9)

138
DNP Dylan Lorenzen-Hrenko, Mesquite, Blood round
DNP Zach Collins, Flagstaff (1-2)

145
2nd- Seth Fernandez, Combs
4th- Lincoln Eby, Prescott
5th- Karson Zimmerman, Safford
6th- Gabriel Elias, Sahuarita
6th-Broden Harold, ALA Gilbert

152
2nd- Payton Wayman, Lee Williams
5th- Gentry Smith, Prescott
DNP-Cody Owen, Combs, Section Champ (1-2)
DNP-Juanio Martinez, Mingus, Blood round

160
4th- Nick Foshee, Bradshaw Mtn
6th- Fernando Gonzales, Safford
DNP- Andon Amparando, MDN (1-2)
DNP- Austin Pitts, CDO (1-2)

170
1st- Conrad Brady, Mingus
4th- Jess Chapman, Mesquite
5th- Nash Jobe, ALA Gilbert
6th- Dakota McMains, Chino Valley
DNP-Nathan Munoz, Apache Junction, Blood round
DNP- Hector Mendoza, Walden Grove, Blood round

182
DNP- Travis Christianson, Payson, Section Champ, Blood round
DNP- Payson Cardon, Snowflake, Blood round

195
2nd- Salesi Moreno, ALA Gilbert
4th- Sebastian Adamski, Walden Grove
6th- Mike Kelley, Bradshaw Mtn
DNP-Isaac Sanchez, Peoria, Blood round
DNP- Levi Pannell, Sahuarita, Blood round

220
2nd- Kellon Gibson, AZ CP
DNP- Kaleb Holzinger, Potson Butte (0-2)
DNP- Zachary Allen, Lee Williams (0-2)
DNP- Carlos Gonzalez, Salpointe (0-2)

285
1st- Taniela Taunima, Combs
4th- Eduardo Reyes, Goldwater
5th- Jeremy Buenrostro, ALA - Ironwood
DNP- Carter Solomo, Snowflake, Section Champ
DNP-Brannon Jurado, Safford, sect. runner-up
DNP-Peyton Hines, Bradshaw Mtn. (1-2)
DNP- Caesar Lopez, Sahuarita (1-2)

Great list, where is Yuma on this list? Did they lose that many wrestlers?
Im curious how you would rank those top 10 teams right now.

 

[Jim ima]

Yuma didn't make the cut based on the kids they had transfer out. Originally they had a returning champ, 2 placers and 5 qualifiers coming back but their champ, a medalist and a qualifier left to Yuma Catholic. The "cutoff' was 2 placers and 4 qualifiers coming back.

Ranking those teams is tough, I tried to keep it numbers based. Some questions/comments though:

ALA Gilbert has 3 returning medals and 6 qualifiers, will they do that well moving up a division? Similar question with Az College Prep.

Goldwater has 1 placer and a bunch of qualifiers, will they do better moving down a division?

Can Combs add to their State Champ and medalist?

Can Bradshaw Mtn. add to their 2 medalist count?

Coconino has 3 medalists returning, but those are also their only qualifiers coming back. Will there be more?

Mingus has a returning champ and placer, but they also have 2 kids that I think are really underrated in Miller (120) and Townsend (106) who did not compete at the state tournament last year.

Peoria is and has been consistently solid, they will add to their medal count and qualifiers, as they always have.

Safford has 2 placers and 5 qualifiers but they also had a super stud middle school group the last few years. How will they grow and develop into high school wrestling and how soon before the have an impact? They always come to scrap.

Sahuarita came out of nowhere and they have 3 medalists and 7 qualifiers, can they repeat their performance from last season?

 

[BKramer]

While I have no idea what weight he is wrestling, Kaleb Cordova from Safford will be in the mix. He is a 3-time Middle School State Champ and anyone who has seen the kid wrestle can attest to his talent. He one of the best middle school wrestlers I have ever seen take the mat. Sure, he will be a freshmen competing in the upper weights against older kids but he has been doing that for 3 years (wrestling 133, 142, and then 154 as a 6th, 7th, then 8th grader) and still dominated. I am sure there are a few other middle schoolers moving up that will make some noise as well but I suppose the season will sort that out.

 

[MingusCoach]

Juanio Martinez Graduated. According to trackwrestling Salesi Moreno was a senior last year as well. Trevor Tenney should be ranked at 132 pounds. My compliments to your outstanding efforts at putting out this pre ranking.

 

[Jim ima]

Juanio Martinez Graduated. According to trackwrestling Salesi Moreno was a senior last year as well. Trevor Tenney should be ranked at 132 pounds. My compliments to your outstanding efforts at putting out this pre ranking.

Good looking out Coach! Will also add Kaleb Cordova once we figure out what weight he will be at

 

[SUSU]

Thanks Jim for putting this together. I’m loving the effort. I hope we keep this dialogue going every week for D3. My chips are in this division so I love seeing these conversations.

Covid did a number on the Yuma schools. I feel like it really forced kids hands to move or not wrestle. YC is going to be a handful in D4. With the rumors of Santa Cruz losing guys to valiant I see them being serious contenders.

Out of your top 10 this is who I see in the top 5

1. Sahuarita
2.Combs
3.Safford
4.Walden Grove
5.Mingus

Dark horse top 5
ALA Gilbert

 

[Jim ima]

Thanks Jim for putting this together. I’m loving the effort. I hope we keep this dialogue going every week for D3. My chips are in this division so I love seeing these conversations.

Covid did a number on the Yuma schools. I feel like it really forced kids hands to move or not wrestle. YC is going to be a handful in D4. With the rumors of Santa Cruz losing guys to valiant I see them being serious contenders.

Out of your top 10 this is who I see in the top 5

1. Sahuarita
2.Combs
3.Safford
4.Walden Grove
5.Mingus

Dark horse top 5
ALA Gilbert

For D4 I think Morenci is now the favorite but YC has a good shot at 8ish medals, which may be enough. You never know. I also think Mingus will finish closer to the top if they have everyone at the end.

 

[JB Doubles]

While I have no idea what weight he is wrestling, Kaleb Cordova from Safford will be in the mix. He is a 3-time Middle School State Champ and anyone who has seen the kid wrestle can attest to his talent. He one of the best middle school wrestlers I have ever seen take the mat. Sure, he will be a freshmen competing in the upper weights against older kids but he has been doing that for 3 years (wrestling 133, 142, and then 154 as a 6th, 7th, then 8th grader) and still dominated. I am sure there are a few other middle schoolers moving up that will make some noise as well but I suppose the season will sort that out.

I couldn't agree more, I strongly feel at the D3 division he may take it as a freshman... I've been seeing him wrestling for years with those tree trunks legs

 

[Dad3wrestlers]

While I have no idea what weight he is wrestling, Kaleb Cordova from Safford will be in the mix. He is a 3-time Middle School State Champ and anyone who has seen the kid wrestle can attest to his talent. He one of the best middle school wrestlers I have ever seen take the mat. Sure, he will be a freshmen competing in the upper weights against older kids but he has been doing that for 3 years (wrestling 133, 142, and then 154 as a 6th, 7th, then 8th grader) and still dominated. I am sure there are a few other middle schoolers moving up that will make some noise as well but I suppose the season will sort that out.

AGREED! That is one special wrestler right there, keeps his head on straight (KIDS are KIDS) and he could place all 4!

 

[MingusCoach]

Flagstaff is in Division II now so Zach Collins at 138 should be removed from rankings.
Rumors have it that Armando Valencia, Peoria transferred to Gila Ridge. Can anyone confirm?

 

[Jim ima]

Flagstaff is in Division II now so Zach Collins at 138 should be removed from rankings.
Rumors have it that Armando Valencia, Peoria transferred to Gila Ridge. Can anyone confirm?

Took out Collins, waiting to hear on Valencia.

 

[acestallion]

Valencia is not at Peoria anymore, you can remove him from the rankings.

 

[CVCougar]

Not sure why everyone sleeps on Chino Valley at the start of every season, but I like it. Sure hope we get a season this year. I agree that Mingus is going to be pushing the teams at the top. I have been saying that since last year.

 

[Jim ima]

Returning Champ (Evans 113), returning placer (McMains 170), returning qualifier (Davis 145). This is what I have from Chino returning, did I miss someone? Not sleeping on them, they were just outside that criteria. Well coached, tough kids, always come to compete.

 

[MingusCoach]

I agree with CVCougar. Chino Valley's Hunter Lane 106 pounds DNP is a top contender who injured out last season. Matthew Davis at 145 should be ranked as DNP. In addition i would rank Damon Nielson at 152 DNQ. This list doesn't include transfers and upcoming freshman. I never underestimate Chino Valley.

 

[Jim ima]

I agree with CVCougar. Chino Valley's Hunter Lane 106 pounds DNP is a top contender who injured out last season. Matthew Davis at 145 should be ranked as DNP. In addition i would rank Damon Nielson at 152 DNQ. This list doesn't include transfers and upcoming freshman. I never underestimate Chino Valley.

Who are we missing as transfers or upcoming freshman? I know about Cordova (Safford) just don't know where to put him yet...

Did not include Nielson as he was 20-24 and DNQ last yr. I'm sure he's been working and will improve on that, just couldn't see putting him in there with those current credentials.

 

[Coachdoerr]

Who are we missing as transfers or upcoming freshman? I know about Cordova (Safford) just don't know where to put him yet...

Did not include Nielson as he was 20-24 and DNQ last yr. I'm sure he's been working and will improve on that, just couldn't see putting him in there with those current credentials.

You have anything on d4 yet

 

[Jim ima]

Saw some pictures of Mike Avelar sporting a Sunnyside wrestling shirt with their Coach at preseason nationals. Removed him from D3 rankings

 

[MingusCoach]

Lets get these ranking going again. For Mingus, Brody Townsend is at 106, Kai Miller is at 126, Isaac McKean is at 138 and Conrad Brady is at 160.