Dean Anderson Claims National Championship as Five Arizona Boys and Nine Girls Earn Podium Finishes Against Elite Competition
By Arizona Wrestling Staff | October 28, 2026
GREENSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA — Arizona high school wrestling continues to prove that the Grand Canyon State belongs among the nation’s most competitive wrestling programs.
At the prestigious 2026 Super 32 Challenge, held October 24–25 in Greensboro, North Carolina, Arizona athletes delivered an impressive showing, with 14 high school wrestlers earning podium finishes across the boys’ and girls’ divisions.
Five boys and nine girls represented Arizona on the podium, including one tournament champion, two girls’ finalists, and several additional top-four finishes.
The Super 32 Challenge is widely regarded as one of the toughest preseason high school wrestling tournaments in the United States. Featuring nationally ranked competitors, established champions, and rising stars from across the country, the tournament has become a major measuring stick for athletes seeking to establish themselves among America’s best.
For Arizona, the results were another encouraging indication of the state’s growing presence on the national wrestling stage.
DEAN ANDERSON LEADS ARIZONA WITH SUPER 32 CHAMPIONSHIP
The headline performance came from Dean Anderson of Valiant Prep, who captured the 138-pound boys’ championship.
Anderson defeated Iowa’s Dawson Youngblut in the championship match by a convincing 7–1 decision, earning one of the most coveted titles in high school preseason wrestling.
Winning a Super 32 championship requires navigating a field filled with elite opponents, many of whom are nationally ranked and already accomplished at the state and national levels.
Anderson’s victory stands as a major individual achievement and another significant accomplishment for Arizona wrestling.
But Anderson was far from the state’s only standout.
At 175 pounds, Kobe Cunanan of Valiant Prep battled his way to a fourth-place finish, while Ryder Schulte of Liberty High School also secured fourth place at 190 pounds.
Konner Larkin of Valiant Prep earned sixth place at 144 pounds, and Xavier Chavez of Sunnyside High School rounded out the Arizona boys’ placers with an eighth-place finish at 150 pounds.
Together, the five athletes demonstrated that Arizona’s boys’ wrestling talent can compete with some of the best high school wrestlers in the nation.
ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOL BOYS — SUPER 32 PLACERS
| Weight | Wrestler | School | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 138 lbs | Dean Anderson | Valiant Prep | CHAMPION |
| 144 lbs | Konner Larkin | Valiant Prep | 6th |
| 150 lbs | Xavier Chavez | Sunnyside HS | 8th |
| 175 lbs | Kobe Cunanan | Valiant Prep | 4th |
| 190 lbs | Ryder Schulte | Liberty HS | 4th |
ARIZONA GIRLS DELIVER NINE PODIUM FINISHES
While Anderson’s national championship highlighted the boys’ competition, Arizona’s girls produced an equally significant collective performance.
Nine Arizona girls finished among the top eight in their respective weight classes, with two reaching championship finals and two more earning third-place finishes.
At 106 pounds, Bella Manno of Valiant Prep advanced to the championship match before finishing as the national runner-up.
Manno faced North Carolina’s Jaclyn Bouzakis in the final, falling by a competitive 5–2 decision after an impressive tournament run.
At 118 pounds, Reagan Mathers of Valiant Prep also reached the championship match, ultimately finishing runner-up to Florida’s Abigail Gonzalez.
Reaching the Super 32 finals places both wrestlers among an exceptionally competitive group of athletes and provides valuable national-level experience heading into the remainder of the wrestling season.
Arizona also celebrated two third-place finishes.
Daphney Gomez of Valiant Prep earned third place at 112 pounds, while Emma Chacon of Valiant Prep secured third place at 138 pounds.
At 100 pounds, Regan Kinneman of Grindhouse battled to fifth place, while Daynah Gomez of Gila Ridge High School also claimed fifth at 112 pounds.
Additional podium finishes came from Madelyn Oliver of Benjamin Franklin High School, who placed sixth at 175 pounds; Yamilett Cortez of Valiant Prep, who finished eighth at 148 pounds; and Annette Preston of Somerton High School, who earned eighth place at 200 pounds.
The depth of Arizona’s girls’ results is especially encouraging as girls wrestling continues to expand in participation, competitiveness, and national recognition.
ARIZONA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS — SUPER 32 PLACERS
| Weight | Wrestler | School/Club | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 lbs | Regan Kinneman | Grindhouse | 5th |
| 106 lbs | Bella Manno | Valiant Prep | Runner-Up |
| 112 lbs | Daphney Gomez | Valiant Prep | 3rd |
| 112 lbs | Daynah Gomez | Gila Ridge HS | 5th |
| 118 lbs | Reagan Mathers | Valiant Prep | Runner-Up |
| 138 lbs | Emma Chacon | Valiant Prep | 3rd |
| 148 lbs | Yamilett Cortez | Valiant Prep | 8th |
| 175 lbs | Madelyn Oliver | Benjamin Franklin HS | 6th |
| 200 lbs | Annette Preston | Somerton HS | 8th |
VALIANT PREP LEADS ARIZONA’S PODIUM COUNT
One of the most notable storylines from Arizona’s Super 32 performance was the number of athletes representing Valiant Prep.
Of Arizona’s 14 reported high school placers, eight competed under the Valiant Prep name, including Dean Anderson’s championship, both girls’ runner-up finishes, and several other high placements.
The results reflect a strong showing by the program at one of the country’s most demanding preseason competitions.
However, Arizona’s success extended beyond a single program.
Representatives from Sunnyside, Liberty, Gila Ridge, Benjamin Franklin, Somerton, and Grindhouse also brought home national podium finishes.
The geographical and program diversity of these results demonstrates the talent being developed throughout Arizona’s wrestling community.
A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR ARIZONA WRESTLING
The significance of these results extends beyond medals and placement numbers.
For years, Arizona wrestlers have worked to establish themselves against opponents from traditionally recognized wrestling states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Iowa, California, and Ohio.
Performances at tournaments like Super 32 provide an opportunity to show that Arizona athletes deserve to be included in those national conversations.
Perhaps even more importantly, these accomplishments help inspire the next generation.
Young wrestlers throughout Arizona can look at these results and recognize that reaching the highest levels of high school wrestling is possible for athletes from their own communities.
Behind every podium finish are years of training, demanding practices, dedicated coaches, supportive families, and the personal sacrifices required to compete at an elite level.
Those efforts deserve recognition.
Arizona Wrestling congratulates all 14 athletes on their outstanding performances and thanks the coaches, parents, clubs, and training partners who helped them reach this stage.
The future of wrestling in Arizona is being shaped by athletes willing to challenge themselves against the nation’s best.
To all 14 Arizona Super 32 placers: Welcome home. Your state is proud of you.
And we cannot wait to see what you accomplish next.
For Arizona high school rankings, tournament coverage, athlete recognition, and wrestling news, visit Arizona-Wrestling.com.
