Vote. Republic’s 2025-26 All-Arizona boys HS wrestling team, coach

Here is The Arizona Republic’s 2025-26 All-Arizona Boys High School wrestling team with honorable mentions and Coach of the Year. The 12 All-Arizona players (listed alphabetically) also are nominees for Player of the Year, which will be announced in a later story. They were selected with coaches input and consideration of state title meet performances. The list below notes weight class for each wrestler.

The Republic sports staff will select the top wrestler, but readers can offer their opinion in the poll below, which closes on April 3 at 6 p.m. Print readers can find the poll online with this story at azcentral.com/sports/high-schools.

Republic’s 2025-26 All-Arizona Boys Wrestling Team

Brett Bates, Sahuarita Walden Grove, 126, Sr.

He was an undefeated (58-0) state champion in Division III. He also won titles at the Flowing Wells Invitational, Mile High Challenge, Marana and Mesa Mountain View duals and the Salpointe Invitational.

Justin Beauvais, Mesa Mountain View, 138, Sr.

Repeated as Division I state champion, going 28-1, with his only setback coming out of state. Nationally ranked. He won his state title match by a technical fall, 20-3.

Travis Cardenas, Chandler, 165, Sr.

The Arizona State commit won the Division I state championship in his weight class with a technical fall. He gained bonus points in each of his state tournament matches

Jax Finch, Cave Creek Cactus Shadows, 285, Sr.

His only loss was to Division I runner-up and two-time state heavyweight champion Zayne Candelaria of Sunnyside. He defeated Division IV state champion Layne James by a technical fall.

Joshua Finch-Logan, Phoenix Brophy Prep, 285, Sr.

He went 22-6, but really turned it on at state, pinning two-time state champion Zayne Candelaria of Tucson Sunnyside in the Division I heavyweight state championship match, coming back from the No. 10 seed in the tournament.

Nathaniel Gallardo, Sahuarita, 175, Jr.

He went 59-2, winning the state title after finishing second in 2025 and third in ’24. He scored bonus points in every match throughout the state tournament.

Marcus Killgore, Sahuarita, 157, So.

He went 57-0, helping his school win a fifth consecutive Division III championship. He was first at the Maran Duals, Mountain View Duals, Mile High Challenge, Temecula Valley Battle for the Belt and the Salpointe Invitational. Was named Outstanding Wrestler at every tournament. He’s a two-time state champion who won by three technical falls and a fall at the AIA state championships.

Julian Macias, Glendale Ironwood, 146, Sr.

He went 38-1 on the season and won by a major decision in the Division II state championship match. He was a three-time state champion.

Nicolaus Meza, Laveen Cesar Chavez, 144, Sr.

He defeated three-time state champion Julian Macius. Meza won the Division I state title at 144 pounds. He also won the Peoria Inviational title and the Diego Gadea Invitational. His only loss during the season was avenged at state.

Ryder Schulte, Peoria Liberty, 177, So.

He repeated as state champions, going 48-0 on the season and gaining a No. 7 national ranking.

Jozeph Smith, Tucson Pueblo, 165, Sr.

He repeated as state champion in Division II, going 65-2. He went 198-18 in his career, placing every year in high school. He was fourth as a freshman at state and third as a sophomore. He was a four-time Division II sectional champion.

Jack Thrush, Sunnyside, 108, Fr.

He won the Division I state championship with a 14-1 decision. He went 38-5 with all of his losses coming against out-of-state opponents.

Honorable mention

Sebastian Serrano, Sahuarita, 132; Trey Kessinger, Campo Verde, 113; Zandon Hopson, Liberty, 190; Jeremy LeBlanc, Liberty, 215;  Trace Nielsen, St. Johns, 192; Reese Crosby, St. Johns, 146; Riley Nollet, Bradshaw Mountain, 108; Gage Palace, Payson, 138; David Elias, Yuma Kofa, 132; Zayne Cadelaria, Sunnyside, 285; Malik Hoskins, Sunnyside, 115; Cannon Farrar, Yuma Gila Ridge, 122; Carson Miles, Liberty, 126; Anthony Lopez, Ironwood, 152; Steven Robles, Canyon View, 159; Christopher Ramirez, Canyon View, 122; Sean Luedy, Arizona College Prep, 192; Andrei Davis-Lopez, Cienega, 285; Jayden Preston, Somerton, 115; Romeo Chavez, Eloy Santa Cruz, 134; Xavier Chavez, Sunnyside, 152; Alejandro De La Rosa, Tucson Flowing Wells, 108.

Coach of the Year

Paul Vasquez, Sahuarita

Paul Vasquez led Sahuarita to a fifth consecutive Division III championship. He is building a dynasty at the smaller division the way Sunnyside started to stack titles among larger schools in the 1980s.

“This team and group really mesh well together,” Vasquez said. “They push each other hard and expect everyone to carry their weight. They hold each other accountable but still have a lot of fun together.”

He said the five titles have come from four different groups of wrestlers with different personalties.

“We have different teams, different kids every year and each team comes with different challenges and obstacles to conquer in order to get the job done,” Vasquez said. “One of my favorite parts of coaching is trying to figure out how to get the very best out of each kid and getting them to perform their best in February.”

Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. Catch the best high school sports coverage in the state. Sign up for Azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert