By Jason W. Brooks
Mail | X: @JasonWBrooks2

PHOENIX — Addison Palmer wanted to become the first wrestling state champion in the history of her school.

After her first appearance in a state title match, the junior is now confident she now knows what it takes to become the first Perry Puma state champ in the sport.

Palmer easily won her first three 100-pound division matches Feb. 21 at the state championships, then ran into defending champion Kennedy Farrar of Gila Ridge in the final.

While Palmer was pinned in the second round of the final the following day, she takes with her from Veterans Coliseum valuable lessons from the past two state tourneys.

Palmer’s progress highlighted a strong showing by Chandler-area wrestlers at state this year. 

“To go from not even making state as a freshman to placing third and now second, I want to keep moving up the podium,” Palmer said.

Palmer, who placed third at state in that same 100-pound division a year ago, made a few moves in the final against Farrar that looked like the Perry junior was about to gain a big advantage. But the Gila Ridge senior was simply too strong, too polished.

“I have faith in myself, but she’s a great wrestler — can’t deny it,” she said.

Palmer, who finished with a season record of 42-4, said it’s amazing to learn about what goes into wrestling in terms of tons of extra work just to move up a few places at state.

“It’s really eye-opening, especially considering all the work that goes into a season,” Palmer said.

Palmer helped place Perry 15th in Division I with 37.5 points, which was 3.5 points behind 12th-place Casteel. Her Perry teammate, Apphia Gutierrez, placed fourth at 120 pounds.

Arizona College Prep, which had Sienna Whitington in the Division I 145-pound final, placed 29th.

Basha has consistently represented Chandler well in the six years of girls state wrestling, and 2025 was no exception. The Bears, led by freshman state champion 114-pounder Hannah Naccarati-Cholo, placed fourth among 62 scoring teams in D-1 with 66 points — just four points behind third-place Mesa Mountain View.

Naccarati-Cholo pinned all four of her opponents at state in the first round. She finished her freshman season with a 62-2 record.

Chandler boys teams at state were led by Chandler High, which made waves despite nationally ranked 157-pounder Travis Cardenas going out in the first round due to an ongoing injury The Wolves placed fifth in Division I with 98.5 points — just two points behind fourth-place Desert Ridge.

Senior Matthew Gazda dominated all four of his opponents to win the state title at 175 pounds. Preston Shorter, the Wolves’ heavyweight, made the finals.

Senior Gage Lespron, placed third at 144. Another senior, Samuel Smith, placed third at 126; Jadius Mosley placed sixth at 215.

Chandler coach Vidal Mejia said getting points from so many wrestlers helped a lot.

“It’s a good group,” Mejia said. “And it’s a great district to coach in. Great support from our ADs and administration.”

Casteel junior Vaughn Strobel reached the 150-pound finals and Jaxon Hamilton placed second at 190 to pace the Colts, who placed ninth in D-1 as a team.

Perry placed 12th in Division 1, with Ethan Austin fourth at 215 pounds. Caden Briquelet placed fifth at 120.

Arizona College Prep — Chandler Unified’s lone Division II boys team — placed third behind champion Canyon View and runner-up Campo Verde. The Knights were led by the state-champion performance of Sean Luedy.

Luedy, a 190-pounder, capped a 53-2 season with a thrilling 2-1 win in the finals. Officials conferred in a lengthy discussion at the end of the match, eventually awarding Luedy an escape point just before the clock expired to give the ACP junior the state title.

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Jason W. Brooks
News Editor | Chandler Independent

Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.

Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.

Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.

Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.

Community: He supports animal shelters.