Al Fontes: National Wrestling Hall of Fame Writer | TIER 1 Wrestling | Idaho Sports
Release Date: 01/17/2025
The Real Truth About Club Basketball in 2025: Cost, Competition & Controversy | Youth Sports Breakdown
The Gametime Guru
What’s the current state of club basketball in 2025? In this solo episode of The Gametime Guru, I will dive into the real pros and cons of the modern youth sports scene, particularly club basketball. Key Questions Answered: Is club basketball worth the cost in 2025? How do club teams help (or hurt) college basketball opportunities? Why are parents spending $10,000+ per season? Are youth tournaments becoming a money grab? What role do referees and tournament directors play in the athlete experience? Topics Covered: The evolution of club basketball from 2006 to 2025 The explosion of club...
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Ryan Winterswyk on Earning His Spot, NFL Dreams & Life After Football
The Gametime Guru
Today, I interview Ryan Winterswyk, former walk-on turned star defensive end at Boise State, and former NFL player with the Atlanta Falcons. Ryan talks candidly about: Walking on at Boise State and earning his role Life lessons from Coach Petersen’s program Transitioning to the NFL Becoming a coach and redefining purpose This episode is about more than football—it's about mindset, resilience, and reinvention. Whether you're an athlete or just love a comeback story, this episode will inspire and inform. Subscribe to hear from athletes and coaches across the globe who’ve seen success,...
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What the NFL Taught Carl Pickens About Pressure, Mindset & Accountability
The Gametime Guru
Thinking about playing football at the next level? In this episode of The Gametime Guru Podcast, we dive deep into the real-life journey of Carl Pickens, from high school standout to Freshman All-American at Tennessee, to NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with the Cincinnati Bengals. This conversation is essential listening for: 🚨 Aspiring college and pro athletes 🚨 High school football players looking to understand the process 🚨 Parents and coaches helping athletes navigate transitions 🚨 Fans of 1990s NFL football (Boomer Esiason, Jeff Blake, Deion Sanders, and more!) 🎯 Key...
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How 5'9 Guards can Impact Winning: Lessons from Montigo Alford | The Gametime Guru Podcast
The Gametime Guru
Are you a shorter basketball player trying to stand out? This episode is for you. Former Boise State standout and pro guard Montigo Alford (aka Tigo) shares exactly how shorter guards can dominate, impact winning, and build long-term success—on and off the court. 📌 What You’ll Learn: How to succeed as a 5'9 guard in high school, college, and pro basketball Why being a great teammate matters just as much as stats The importance of film study, consistency, and controlling your controllables What the jump from junior college (CSI) to Division I (Boise State) really looks like Montigo's...
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Behind the Brand: How Nations Best Built a National Powerhouse Platform | Bob Smith Interview
The Gametime Guru
Today, I (Shane Larson) sit down with Bob Smith, founder and CEO of Nation’s Best Football—a platform that's become a cornerstone of athlete branding, NIL education, and nationwide football coverage from youth to pro. With 15+ years of spotlighting athletes and connecting them to life-changing opportunities, Bob shares his journey building the Nation’s Best ecosystem and his vision for the future of NIL, digital sports marketing, and community-driven athlete development. 🏈 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: How Nation’s Best went from a niche football page to a multi-platform sports...
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Pro Hooper to Elite Trainer: Anthony Tucker's Journey with Hoop Habits
The Gametime Guru
In this episode of The Gametime Guru, I interview Anthony Tucker, the founder of Hoop Habits and former professional basketball player who competed overseas and in the Big Ten. From winning a high school state championship to building a training facility focused on mindset, recovery, and development, Anthony shares powerful insights on how to navigate the transition from athlete to entrepreneur. TOPICS COVERED: The mindset required for professional basketball Overcoming being cut and bouncing back stronger How AAU basketball has changed (and where it’s headed) Building a youth basketball...
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Colby Blaine | College of Idaho Men's Basketball Coach | National Championship and Coach of the Year
The Gametime Guru
The last time I spoke with Colby Blaine, was back in 2020, and we were able to hear about what he was building over at College of Idaho for their men's basketball program. Since that time SO MUCH has happened, which is exactly why I needed to circle back with the man to hear the updates. The Yotes basketball program won the national championship in 2023 and 2025 with some big runs into the Elite 8 and the Fab 4 of the NAIA National Tournament in the past few years. He's also finished with an NABC NAIA Coach of the Year award in 2023 and 2025. According to Wikipedia "The NABC...
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Matt Skura | Life in the NFL, Mental Health, and Finding Your Edge Through Technique
The Gametime Guru
In this powerful and insightful interview on The Gametime Guru Podcast, I’m joined by former NFL offensive lineman Matt Skura, best known for his time with the Baltimore Ravens. We dive deep into Matt's football journey—from his college days at Duke University, to the brutal grind of the NFL trenches, and the personal battles he's faced off the field. Matt shares: What it was like to play college football at Duke and his favorite on-field memories The biggest transitions he faced entering the NFL and the moment he realized he had made it His most physically demanding experiences in...
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Abu Kigab | Discipline and Consistency | Professional Basketball Player
The Gametime Guru
Abu Kigab is a former Boise State and Oregon basketball player. He's now playing professionally overseas and is making an impact with the game of basketball. In this 400th episode of The Gametime Guru, we are diving into what it truly takes to compete at a high level. Abu talks about the importance of taking care of your body. How nutrition and sleep play such an important role in your ability to play at 100% during your career and he speaks on the importance of discipline and consistency when trying to level up your game. It's intriguing to hear from someone who is actively...
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David Hitz | Athlete Narrative | Amazing Tool to Help Athletes In Their Recruiting Journey
The Gametime Guru
Athlete Narrative is an app for athletes to help streamline the recruiting process for them. See, one of the biggest hiccups in the young athlete's journey, is the recruiting process as a whole. What do they need when they reach out to coaches? How many emails do they need to send? What if there was a tool that could help with all of this? The app will help you build your radar page (profile) and then with the AI technology inside of it, will provide you information on schools and their coaching staff's information to contact. It will help you craft emails that are tailored to those...
info_outlineAl Fontes is a National Wrestling Hall of Fame Writer, who has years and years of experience with the sport. And although writing wasn't his FIRST passion, he has now become one of the best to do it. His ability to break down the sport and cover the athletes involved, is incredible.
Today we get to hear from him and learn of his background in the sport and where he came from. We'll chat about wrestling in California as compared to here in Idaho and what he's learned while he's been covering the sport here in Idaho (since he moved here just a few short years ago).
We also break down the Girl's Wrestling too and discuss the immense growth that is happening on that side too!
It's an incredible opportunity to become enlightened as Al shares some serious insight with the rest of us.
What I would highly recommend is taking a look at TIER 1 Wrestling on Instagram to see the coverage he provides on social media. You can find his page here:
https://www.instagram.com/tier_one_idaho/
I'd also highly encourage you all to take a look at his content on IdahoSports.com where he does the majority of his work these days.
- https://www.idahosports.com/blogs/blogger.aspx?bloggerid=12029
Below I'd love to share with you all a list of the work he's done as a writer throughout the last 25+ years (you'll understand just how good this man's work truly is)
ALFRED F. FONTES
Published Wrestling Articles/Books (State of Idaho)
2021 - Present
TIER ONE OF IDAHO PREP WRESTLING – IDAHO SPORTS (BOYS): 9
§ Kaden MacKenzie, Fruitland (4A): Published – 10/2/24
§ Boden Banta, South Fremont (3A): Published – 9/9/24
§ Hudson Rogers, Meridian (5A): Published – 5/14/24
§ Hoyt Hvass, Lewiston (5A): Published – 1/31/24
§ Jaxton Packer, South Fremont (3A): Published – 12/8/23
§ Tanner Frothinger, Eagle (5A): Published – 11/20/2022
§ Dedrick Navarro, Nampa (5A): Published – 10/25/2022
§ Aden Attao, Borah (5A): Published – 9/8/2022
§ Mack Mauger, Blackfoot (4A): Published – 6/22/2022
HIDDEN GEMS OF IDAHO PREP WRESTLING – IDAHO SPORTS (BOYS): 16
§ Saxton Scott, Idaho Falls (5A): Published – 12/5/2024
§ Wallace Durfee, Declo (3A): Published – 10/15/24*
§ Jeremiah Gonzalez, Meridian (5A): Published – 9/26/24
§ Tyson Barnhart, Post Falls (5A): Published – 2/12/24
§ Aiden McGinnis, Mountain View (5A): Published – 1/16/24
§ Jake Castagneto, Bishop Kelly (4A): Published – 1/2/2024
§ Brunson Twins – Bowen & Riley, Buhl (3A): Published – 11/30/23
§ Talen Eck, Thunder Ridge (5A): Published – 11/16/23
§ Treygen Morin, Ridgeview (4A): Published – 11/9/23
§ Shilo Jones of Mountain View H.S. (5A): Published: 9/1/2023
§ The Valdez Brothers – Manuel & Carlos, Bishop Kelly (4A): Published – 8/17/2023
§ Rosales Twins – Daniel & Gabriel, Mountain Home (4A): Published – 4/12/2023
§ Carson Exferd, Nampa (5A): Published – 12/30/2022
§ Kolter Burton, American Falls (3A): Published: 6/2/2022
§ Matthew Martino, Bishop Kelly (4A): Published – 5/11/2022
§ Jason Mara, Meridian (5A): Published – 4/28/2022
*Formerly 1A/2A Program.
HIDDEN GEMS OF IDAHO PREP WRESTLING – IDAHO SPORTS (GIRLS): 8
§ Zoe Fries, Kuna (Girls): Published – 11/6/2024
§ Elise Twait, Meridian (Girls): Published – 8/28/24
§ Amy Hartman, Mountain Home (Girls): Published – 2/14/24
§ Joely Slyter, Lewiston (Girls): Published – 1/23/24
§ Clare Waite, Boise (Girls): Published – 10/9/23
§ Maria Sifuentes, Columbia (Girls): Published – 2/22/2023
§ Alyssa Randles, Coeur d’ Alene (Girls) Published – 8/10/2022
§ Mia Furman, Rocky Mountain (Girls): Published – 5/27/2022
MAT CHAT SERIES – IDAHO SPORTS: 6
§ Brock Zollinger, East Idaho Elite/International Official – 1/7/2025
§ Adam Hall, Bonners Ferry/Boise St./UVU New Coach – 7/05/2024
§ Derrick Booth, Post Falls/NIC – Published: 10/30/23
§ Ridge Lovett, Post Falls/Nebraska U – Published: 8/7/2023
§ Jake Rosholt, Sandpoint/Oklahoma State – Published: 1/17/2023
§ Casey Randles, Coeur d’ Alene/Grand View U – Published: 4/20/2022
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP RECAP – IDAHO SPORTS (ALL-DIVISIONS): 15
§ 2024 5A State Wrestling Recap: – Published: 2/28/24
§ 2024 4A State Wrestling Recap: – Published: 2/28/24
§ 2024 3A State Wrestling Recap: – Published: 2/28/24
§ 2024 2A/1A State Wrestling Recap: – Published: 2/28/24
§ 2024 Girls State Wrestling Recap: – Published: 2/28/24
§ 2023 5A State Wrestling Recap: Meridian Three-Peats – Published: 3/6/2023
§ 2023 4A State Wrestling Recap: Individuals Shine, Minico Surges to Team Title – Published: 3/6/2023
§ 2023 3A State Wrestling Recap: Hobbs and South Fremont Go 4-for-4 In Title Wins – Published: 3/6/2023
§ 2023 2A/1A State Wrestling Recap: Grace’s Newby Joins 4-Time Champion Club – Published: 3/6/2023
§ 2023 Girls State Wrestling Recap: Alyssa Randles Becomes Second 4-Time State Champ – Published: 3/6/2023
§ Inside the Numbers: 5A State Wrestling Meet – Published: 3/7/2022
§ Inside the Numbers: 4A State Wrestling Meet – Published: 3/7/2022
§ Inside the Numbers: 3A State Wrestling Meet – Published: 3/7/2022
§ Inside the Numbers: 2A/1A State Wrestling Meet – Published: 3/7/2022
§ Inside the Numbers: Girls State Wrestling Meet – Published: 3/7/2022
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW – IDAHO SPORTS (ALL-DIVISIONS): 15
§ 2024 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 5A – Published: 2/22/24
§ 2024 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 4A – Published: 2/22/24
§ 2024 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 3A – Published: 2/22/24
§ 2024 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 2A/1A – Published: 2/22/24
§ 2024 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Girls Division – Published: 2/22/24
§ 2023 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 5A – Published: 2/22/2023
§ 2023 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 4A – Published: 2/22/2023
§ 2023 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 3A – Published: 2/22/2023
§ 2023 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 2A/1A – Published: 2/22/2023
§ 2023 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Girls Division – Published: 2/22/2023
§ 2022 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 5A – Published: 2/24/2022
§ 2022 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 4A – Published: 2/24/2022
§ 2022 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 3A – Published: 2/24/2022
§ 2022 Idaho State Wrestling Preview: Class 2A/1A – Published: 2/24/2022
§ 2022 State Wrestling Preview: Girls – Published: 2/24/2022
PRESEASON HIGH SCHOOL REVIEW – IDAHO SPORTS (ALL-DIVISIONS): 15
§ 2024 -‘25 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (6A), Published: 12/10/24
§ 2024 -‘25 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (5A), Published: 12/10/24
§ 2024 -‘25 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (4A), Published: 12/10/24
§ 2024 -‘25 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (3A), Published: 12/10/24
§ 2024 -‘25 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (Girls), Published: 12/10/24
§ 2023 -‘24 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (5A), Published: 12/12/23
§ 2023 -‘24 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (4A), Published: 12/12/23
§ 2023 -‘24 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (3A), Published: 12/12/23
§ 2023 -‘24 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (2A/1A), Published: 12/12/23
§ 2023 -‘24 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (Girls), Published: 12/12/23
§ 2022 -‘23 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (5A), Published: 12/6/2022
§ 2022 -‘23 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (4A), Published: 12/6/2022
§ 2022 -‘23 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (3A), Published: 12/6/2022
§ 2022 -‘23 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (2A/1A), Published: 12/6/2022
§ 2022 -‘23 Idaho State Wrestling Preview (Girls), Published: 12/6/2022
MISC ARTICLES – IDAHO SPORTS (IDAHO): 30
§ Ivanov and Jones Bring Home Fargo Gold – Published: 7/25/2024
§ Class of 2024 College Commits – Published: 6/13/2024
§ Wrestling USA Magazine – Senior H.S. All-Americans – Published: 6/8/2024
§ Idaho Represents Well at Nationals – Suples’ Ivanov, Attao, and Georgiev Win National Titles – Published: 5/6/2024
§ Mauger and Waite Win 2024 H.S. Excellence Awards – Published: 5/1/2024
§ Gem State is All Business at the Folkstyle Nationals – Published: 3/18/24
§ Celebrating Idaho’s First Fargo National Championship Ring Ceremony – Published: 11/27/23
§ Meridian’s Hudson Rogers Wins National Title – Team ID Produces 8 AAs – Published: 11/1/23
§ Team Idaho Makes History – Brings Home First Fargo Title – Published 7/27/2023
§ 2023 Fargo Preview – Published:7/13/2023
§ Idaho Wrestlers Bring Home Gold – Published 7/7/2023
§ Idaho Wrestling Pair Selected to Wrestling USA Magazine All-American Teams – Published: 7/7/2023
§ Team Idaho Makes Statement at Junior Duals – Published: 6/27/23
§ 2023 Idaho High School Wrestling: College Commits and Rosters – Published: 6/1/2023
§ Idaho Shines at National Wrestling Competitions – Published: 5/5/2023
§ Attao and Randles Win National High School Excellence Awards – Published: 4/24/2023
§ Team Idaho Represents Well at 2023 USAW Folkstyle Nationals – Published: 4/5/2023
§ Jones and Waite Earn All-American Honors – Published: 3/31/2023
§ The 20 Gems of Idaho Prep Wrestling – Published: 12/5/2022
§ 2022 Treasure Valley Middle School Wrestling Championships – Published: 11/28/2022
§ Idaho Wrestlers Recognized in National Preseason Rankings – Published 10/14/2022
§ 2022 Wrestling USA Magazine Names Three Idaho High Schoolers All-Americans – Published 8/4/2022
§ Team Idaho Makes Big Statement at 2022 Fargo USA Nationals – Published: 7/25/2022
§ Team Idaho Heads to Fargo USA Nationals – Published: 7/14/2022
§ Team Idaho Represents at Turf War Duals – Published: 7/5/2022
§ Idaho Prep Wrestlers Represent at 2022 USMC US Open – Published 5/3/2022
§ Team Idaho Wins Back-to-Back National Folkstyle Titles – Published: 4/7/2022
§ Idaho Represents at National and International Wrestling Competitions – Published: 3/31/2022
§ Participation Skyrockets at Jaybird Memorial Tourney – Published 1/17/2022
§ 21ST Annual Rollie Lane Invitational Recap – Published 1/11/2022
THE IDAHO ELITE REPORT (TIER 1): 7
§ The Jadon Skellenger Story – Published: October 2021 (Vol. 1, No. 7)
§ The Idaho 24 Makes State History at Fargo – Published: July 2021 (Vo1. 1, No. 6)
§ Wrestling USA Magazine All-Americans – Published: May 2021 (Vol. 1, No. 5)
§ History of Boise State Wrestling – Published: September 2021 (Vol. 1, No. 3)
§ Team Idaho – Fargo Nationals – Published: July 2021 (Vol. 1, No. 4)
§ History of Team Idaho at the FS/GR Nationals, Fargo -Published: June 2021 (Vol. 1, No. 2)
§ TIER 1 Wrestling Introduction – Published: May 2021 (Vol. 1, No.1)
WRESTLING USA MAGAZINE (WUSA): 16
§ Steve Siroy – The Golden Effect of a Lifelong Coaching Figure – Published: June 15, 2024 (Vol. 55, No. 5)
§ Zack Papachristos – From Near Death to Becoming a Legend – Published: April 15, 2024 (Vo. 59, No. 4)
§ Building From the Grassroots Level and Above – Dusty Vaughn – Published: February 15, 2024 (Vo. 59, No. 3)
§ Following His Dreams – The Kurt Angle Story – Published: December 15, 2023 (Vol. 58., No. 8)
§ Kaidance Gerg Story – Published: October 15, 2023 (Vol. 58, No. 7)
§ History of Chabot College Wrestling Program – Published August 15, 2023 (Vol. 58, No. 6)
§ HIDDEN GEMS – The Rosales Brothers – Published: June 15, 2023 (Vol. 58, No. 5)
§ Always Moving Forward: Andrew Koponen Story – Published: April 15, 2023 (Vol. 58, No. 4)
§ The Idaho Elite Report – Published: February 15, 2023 (Vol. 58, No. 3)
§ Driven By Design: The Joe Iacono Story – Published: December 15, 2022 (Vol. 58, No. 2)
§ Catching Up With Vision Quest’s Frank Jasper “aka, Brian Shute” – Published: October 15, 2022 (Vol. 58, No. 1
§ Idaho’s Levi Jones “ALL IN,” the Innovation and Growth of Wrestling in the Gem State and Beyond – Published: August 15, 2022 (Vol. 57, No. 6)
§ Idaho’s Chris Owens Setting the Precedent in The Gem State – Published: June 15, 2022 (Vol. 57, No. 5)
§ Rollie Lane Invitational: Where the Best Come to Meet – Published: February 15, 2022 (Vol. 57, No. 3)
§ The Jadon Skellenger Story: Intrinsically Motivated – Published: December 15, 2021 (Vol. 57, No. 2)
§ Boise State Wrestling 1958-20217: A History Worth Repeating – Published: October 15, 2021 (Vol. 57, No. 1)
AMATEUR WRESTLING NEWS (AWN): 4
§ HIDDEN GEMS editorial – Published: October 15, 2022 (Vol. 68, No. 3)
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