By Don Ketchum

Brandon Crosby has had some strong wrestling teams in his five years as coach at St. Johns High, including the Class 1A-2A state champion in 2009. But he says none were as deep as the group that enters this week’s Division IV state tournament on the heels of a dominating performance in last week’s D-IV, Section III competition.

St. Johns had eight winners, all of whom are among the top four seeds in the state meet, including two No. 1’s (Ryder Nielsen at 106 and Tyler Johnson at 182).

State competition for Division IV and Division III is Thursday and Friday at Tim’s Toyota Center in Prescott Valley. The Division I and II meet for the bigger schools runs Friday and Saturday at the same location.

“We have done really well. We have a good bunch of kids,’’ Crosby said. “We are tough in every weight class.’’

The athletes have been wrestling since they were very young, and are versatile, many also playing football and baseball.

The Redskins’ chances of taking the top team prize were enhanced by a commanding victory in the recent Doc Wright Invitational in Winslow, which included many of the bigger schools. St. Johns outdistanced second-place Mesa by nearly 100 points.

Crosby’s wrestlers are good in the classroom and on the mat. The group includes four or five Eagle Scouts with a few more in waiting.

“We hardly ever have issues with grades or things like that. They know what is expected of them and they have shown the discipline,’’ Crosby said.

He is not surprised that his team has done so well, but knows winning the team title is not a given. He expects Camp Verde and Morenci to be very tough.

Defending state champs are Nielsen, Heber Mogollon’s Dallyn Despain Smiley Beecroft and Boone Baker and Holbrook’s R.J. Alvarado. Mogollon is the defending team champion.

Division III

Phoenix Thunderbird is the defending champion and has six top-four seeds. Tucson Amphitheater and Cottonwood Mingus have four each.

In individual competition, Safford’s Trey Andrews is aiming for his fourth state crown. Three other champs return for a chance to win again – Mark Lopez of Rio Rico, Justin Zaske of Mingus and Kevin Henderson of Lakeside Blue Ridge.

Division III top four seeds in each weight class

106 pounds – Dion Romero, Coolidge; Matt Mainez, Phoenix Thunderbird; Josh Kramer, Buckeye Verrado; Collin Anderson, Flagstaff Coconino. 113 – Blake Schweigert, Show Low; Gabriel Galaviz, Coconino; Ryan Felipe, Thunderbird; Ted Rico, San Tan Valley Combs. 120 – Trey Andrews, Safford; Albert Ryan, Show Low; Fernando Carrasco, Thunderbird; Joseph Aquilina, Tucson Amphitheater. 126 – Paul Jaramillo Jr., Winslow; Ryan Vandall, Phoenix Moon Valley; Robert Turner, Phoenix Sierra Linda; Davey Basila, Tucson Sabino. 132 – Eric Jeong, Rio Rico; Matt Repp, Sabino; James Sanchez, Tempe; Hank Goettl, Cottonwood Mingus. 138 – Cris Mata, Buckeye Youngker; Taylor Martin, Coconino; Jacob Spear, Payson; Geovanni Payan-Diaz, Amphitheater. 145 – Marky Lopez, Rio Rico; Tabias Banayat, Moon Valley; Dilon Lightfoot, Mingus; Marcos Martinez, Verrado. 152 – Ryan Kulesa, Moon Valley; Jamir Moore, Coolidge; Felipe Linares, Douglas; Jacob Lucas, Snowflake. 160 – Jawuan Pugh, Thunderbird; Stephen South, Goodyear Estrella Foothills; Justin Zaske, Mingus; Jake Lund, Chino Valley. 170 – J.J. Hinson, Glendale Cactus; Carlos Juarez, Sierra Linda; Zane Gouker, Lakeside Blue Ridge; Patrick Dalcerro, Chino Valley. 182 – Kevin Henderson, Blue Ridge; Pablo Chavez, Rio Rico; Robert Massey, Thunderbird; Andrew Flath, Phoenix Cortez. 195 – Dirk McOmber, Tucson Empire; Jacob Badger, Blue Ridge; Tyler Schwabe, Thunderbird; Milton Cabezas, Moon Valley. 220 – Austin Beanland, Youngker; Floyd Jones, Amphitheater; Zack Yazzie, Gilbert Higley; Mike Ledesma, Cactus. Hwt. – Austin Andrade, Amphitheater; Austin Blaney, Phoenix Greenway; Sidney Causey, Tempe; Bryce Smith, Youngker.

Division IV top four seeds in each weight class

106 pounds – Aaron Herder, Parker; Michael Casillas, Camp Verde; Kyler Crosby, Joseph City; Joe Guerra, Morenci. 113 – Ryder Nielsen, St. Johns; Ethan Workman, Round Valley; Ross Ens, Benson; Isaiah McReynolds, Camp Verde. 120 – Ryan Allred, Camp Verde; Billy Escoto, Parker; Anthony Quezada, Willcox; Carlos Duarte, San Manuel. 126 – Dallyn Despain, Heber Mogollon; Wyatt Pena, San Manuel; Michael Begay, Tuba City; Colton Spurlock, Joseph City. 132 – R.J. Alvarado, Holbrook; Smiley Beecroft, Mogollon; Derrick Rios, Morenci; Bryce Crosby, Joseph City. 138 – Austin Uecker, Wickenburg; Reggie Sanchez, San Pasqual (Winterhaven, Calif.); Derrick Brown, Camp Verde; Tyler Crosby, St. Johns. 145 – Colten Smith, San Manuel; Anthony Gomez, Willcox; Sherod Bride, St. Johns; R.J. Dalton, Morenci. 152 – Kurtis Skousen, Wellton Antelope; Brock Crosby, St. Johns; Alex Bacon, Chandler Valley Christian; Mario Swanda, Morenci. 160 – Derek Schiefer, Queen Creek Canyon State Academy; Dillon Dastrup, Benson; Fred Pearson, Antelope; Jared Anderson, St. Johns. 170 – Ryan Gill, Yuma Catholic; Austin Davis, St. Johns; Joey Simpson, Benson; Alex Farrar, Chandler Seton Catholic. 182 – Tyler Johnson, St. Johns; Javier Gomez, Parker; Alex Demyan, Yuma Catholic; Ryan Sanders, Morenci. 195 – Boone Baker, Mogollon; Brendon Benton, Benson; Ben Miller, Willcox; Garrett Davis, St. Johns. 220 – Sam Sollers, Thatcher; Danny Montiel, Pima; Alex Varela, Yuma Catholic; Pancho Gonzalez, Wickenburg. Hwt. – Evan Barazza, Phoenix Bourgade Catholic; Leland Schmidt, Pima; Wes Wheat, Phoenix Christian; Anfernee Alexander, Eloy Santa Cruz.