One is more of an introvert, and she is an ideal student and teammate, while the other has an MMA nickname, a pro contract to go with it and if his personality isn’t a clue about being an extrovert, then take a look at his style on the mat.

Some of the things the Kaufmann siblings – Annabelle and Delton – have in common are good sense of humors, a ju-jitsu background that is ideal for wrestling, and the feeling of being a state champion.

And on Saturday the Mesa Mountain View duo earned Peoria Tournament of Championship titles to keep their pursuit of winning dual state championships again in 2026 in focus.

“It was expected,” Delton said of the brother-sister combo winning Arizona state championships last year. “We talked about it for years. We’ve been competing and pushing each other for long time.”

There’s some time – the state tournament is Feb. 19-21 – before they’ll get a chance to repeat for dual champs, but it was pretty evident Saturday that they are primed to take a good run it again.

Delton won the 190-pound title via three pins and two technical falls including a 16-1 tech over Kofa’s Logan Whitacre in the title match, while Annabelle took the 114-pound championship with a 13-3 major decision over Sunrise Mountain’s Abriauna Johnson. She’s 29-3 on the season after picking up two pins and two major decisions on the way to the title.

Delton’s win helped the Toros to the boys team championship, while Sunnyside won the girls.

The Toros finished with 358.50 points with six champions and 12 placers. The other champions were Cooper Green (106), Alejandro Tarin (132), Brody McClure (165), Reign Curiel (215) and Cannon Begay (HVY).

Air Academy (Colorado) was second with 184, Somerton was third with 167, while ALA -Gilbert North (157) was fourth and Buena (152) was fifth.

The Blue Devils finished with 217.5 points with eight placers including four champions in Isela Villalobos (100 pounds), Jaylean Alfaro (138), Jazlene Wyatt (152) and Alezandra Robles (165).

The top five was rounded out by Willow Canyon (128.5), Somerton (122.5), Canyon View (122) and Desert Vista (115).

Delton, who turned 19 on Saturday, is a three-time state finalist and is 1-0 in his pro MMA career. He started with combat sports early as their dad, Justin, has a background in wresting at Payson, and has entered the MMA ring himself.

 “Their dad has been in combat sports forever and fostered an opportunity for Delton to do a lot of different combats sports,” said Mountain View coach Corey Anderson, who won his 300th career dual meet in December. “Delton has opened some doors for himself, and he’s going to go do the MMA thing. It’s unique. I’ve had Division I coaches contact me, but he has a vision.

“It’s really cool he came back for his senior year because he could have stuck with MMA and no one would have said anything because that’s going to be his livelihood.”

Delton, whose fight nickname  of “Thaiphoon” pays homage his to ethnic background on his mom’s side, had his first professional MMA match in October and defeated 32-year-old Caleb Jensen in his debut.

“It’s different coming out to walk out music,” said Delton, who attended Vailant Prep in middle school before open enrolling at Mountain View. “You step into the cage, and you know your opponent is looking to hurt you. It’s a lot different than wrestling, but the two (sports) translate, too. All of it (combat sports) works off each other.”

Delton Kaufmann (behind) has had Division I coaches make contact, but plans on continuing his pro MMA career once his high career is in February. (Photo courtesy of Scott Shoes).

He has massive goals and spoke openly about being an MMA world champion someday, but for now the focus is on competing as a Toro and winning a third state title.

“He has a weird feel to him,” Anderson said in regard to Delton’s wrestling style. “Delton knows where he is at, at all times on the mat, which makes him dangerous. There’s always pressure into you, and even though you might not think it is coming, it is. Once he gets on top (of an opponent), it’s no fun for them.”

Annabelle also has the ju-jitsu background and it has translated well to the wrestling mat.

“Grip, hips and how you move and I’d say ju-jitsu is what allows me to be technical with my grip and hand fighting,” she said. “I grew up with it, and with my brother wrestling was always around.”

Life as the younger sibling of successful athlete isn’t always easy as undue pressure and expectations can be associated with the last name, but going 43-1 as a freshman and standing at the top of the podium at the state tournament squelches any negativity in a hurry.

“It’s there sometimes a little bit,” she said of the pressure. “For me, it has always been a strong support system from my brother. I’ve always felt pushed in a good way. He always wanted to best for me so I never really felt overshadowed or behind. It’s a good relationship and we keep it that way.”

Annabelle Kaufmann receives instruction before stepping on the mat at the Peoria Tournament of Champions. (Photo courtesy of Scott Shoes).

Anderson said Annabelle is the epitome of a student athlete.

“She’s really tough on top and relentless,” Anderson said. “She doesn’t really wrestle much freestyle so she focuses on folkstyle. It gives her an edge and she just puts a lot of pressure on her opponents. She’s always attacking and never lets up.

“And here’s the thing – whatever she is on the mat and she’s a billion times more off the mat.”

Despite the size and physical difference it hasn’t stopped the Kaufmann’s from stepping on the mat for a scramble or two.

“We roll around a little bit,” she said. “We do some hand fighting. It makes me better and he pushes me in every way.”

She does feel a little of the pressure that comes with being a defending state champion and trying to equal it along with looking at the bigger picture possibility as well.

“I’m feeling good and always ready to wrestle,” she said. “Winning state is the goal, but I take it day-by-day, season-by-season. The ultimate goal for all four years is to be on the top of the podium.”

Peoria TOC championship results (courtesy of trackwrestling)

Girls

100

1st Place Match

• Isela Villalobos (Sunnyside H.S.) 28-3, Sr. over Laila Lopez (Tolleson) 31-4, Sr. (MD 10-0)

3rd Place Match

• Destiny Medina (Shadow Ridge High School) 20-2, Sr. over Hadeel Saleh (Coronado High School) 19-9, Sr. (Fall 1:51)

5th Place Match

• Malia Rivera (Desert Vista) 13-10, So. over Sarah Griffin (Douglas County) 18-10, So. (Fall 0:54)

107

1st Place Match

• Keyara Worley (Willow Canyon) 31-1, So. over Bianca Rivera (Canyon View High School) 26-7, Sr. (TF-1.5 6:00 (16-1))

3rd Place Match

• Genevieve Nevarez (Shadow Ridge High School) 19-6, Jr. over Ariana Villafana (Somerton High School) 19-11, So. (Dec 10-4)

5th Place Match

• Annaleeya Ruiz (Peoria) 14-5, So. over Payslie Gissel (American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North) 14-6, So. (M. For.)

114

1st Place Match

• Annabelle Kaufmann (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 29-3, So. over Abriauna Johnson (Sunrise Mountain) 19-4, Jr. (MD 13-3)

3rd Place Match

• Altagracia Wix (Marcos De Niza) 4-1, Sr. over Allana Godinez (Maryvale High School) 14-5, Fr. (Fall 1:31)

5th Place Match

• Jordyn Isla (Somerton High School) 8-4, Jr. over Isobel Moya (Arizona College Prep) 12-9, Jr. (Fall 0:49)

120

1st Place Match

• Kelty Kynaston (Buena High School) 25-3, So. over Sophie Jimenez (Desert Vista) 18-3, Jr. (Fall 4:47)

3rd Place Match

• Olivia Gonzalez (Canyon View High School) 27-10, Jr. over Gianna May (Prescott) 21-4, Jr. (Fall 4:07)

5th Place Match

• Briella Reynoso (Somerton High School) 29-7, So. over Jylian Cabral (Douglas County) 14-3, Sr. (M. For.)

126

1st Place Match

• Airyka Reyes (Willow Canyon) 35-1, So. over Kiyah Jeske (Maricopa High School) 27-2, Sr. (Dec 7-5)

3rd Place Match

• Riella Garza (Sunnyside H.S.) 32-4, Fr. over Yamali Alma (Buena High School) 28-8, Sr. (TF-1.5 4:06 (16-1))

5th Place Match

• Scarlet Richards (American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North) 20-5, Fr. over Elizabeth Munguia (Peoria) 13-3, Sr. (Fall 2:13)

132

1st Place Match

• Janelle Henry (Willow Canyon) 28-3, So. over Kiyaani Richardson (Desert Sunrise High School) 13-4, Jr. (Fall 2:56)

3rd Place Match

• Magali Terrazas-Arzate (Liberty High School) 19-5, Sr. over Alyna Ybarra (Sunnyside H.S.) 21-8, Sr. (Fall 3:33)

5th Place Match

• Alivia Fernandez (Canyon View High School) 25-8, Sr. over Ariana Thomas (Marcos De Niza) 2-4, Sr. (Dec 5-1)

138

1st Place Match

• Jaylean Alfaro (Sunnyside H.S.) 22-1, Sr. over Kinzley Sanchez (Canyon View High School) 21-6, So. (MD 10-1)

3rd Place Match

• Ava Willford (Desert Vista) 19-5, So. over Hannah Smith (Douglas County) 20-6, Sr. (Dec 15-8)

5th Place Match

• Kenadee Schoonover (Mountain Pointe High School) 13-5, So. over Sabrina Glenn (Desert Edge) 15-8, So. (Dec 4-0)

145

1st Place Match

• Jayda Roberts (Deer Valley) 26-6, Fr. over Aundrea Johnson (Sunrise Mountain) 10-6, Sr. (Fall 3:13)

3rd Place Match

• Alie Bridges (Shadow Ridge High School) 14-3, Sr. over Jacquline Murillo (Desert Edge) 16-6, So. (Fall 1:34)

5th Place Match

• Leah Vasquez (Sunnyside H.S.) 13-7, So. over DeMarius Morris (Page High School) 13-7, So. (Fall 3:26)

152

1st Place Match

• Jazlene Wyatt (Sunnyside H.S.) 15-4, Sr. over Isabella Martinez (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 14-5, So. (Dec 13-8)

3rd Place Match

• Lindsey Rusin (Douglas County) 21-5, Jr. over Kailani Lozoya (Queen Creek High School) 20-3, Sr. (Dec 7-5)

5th Place Match

• Ellie Garza (Sandra Day OConnor Hs) 34-7, So. over Liyana Star Hymes (Barry Goldwater High School) 14-7, Sr. (Fall 1:23)

165

1st Place Match

• Alezandra Robles (Sunnyside H.S.) 24-3, Sr. over Isra Faja (Sandra Day OConnor Hs) 34-4, Sr. (SV-1 6-0)

3rd Place Match

• Eliza Anderson (Westwood High School) 19-5, Jr. over Logan Rivers (Page High School) 11-5, Jr. (Fall 4:25)

5th Place Match

• Raazis Roberts (Canyon View High School) 7-2, Sr. over Sahari Pena (Somerton High School) 13-7, Jr. (Dec 13-6)

185

1st Place Match

• Annette Preston (Somerton High School) 21-0, Fr. over Braya Andrews (Deer Valley) 30-2, Jr. (Fall 2:48)

3rd Place Match

• Asia Dansby (Tolleson) 27-2, Sr. over Sunny Robles (Sunnyside H.S.) 12-7, So. (Fall 2:05)

5th Place Match

• Avery Williams (Sandra Day OConnor Hs) 32-10, So. over Faith Stevenson (Liberty High School) 23-3, Jr. (M. For.)

235

1st Place Match

• Olivia Melcher (Deer Valley) 31-4, Jr. over Camille Gatrost (Centennial) 19-2, So. (SV-3 3-1)

3rd Place Match

• Naray Watkins (Marcos De Niza) 4-1, Sr. over Alia Looney (Desert Vista) 12-9, Fr. (Fall 0:40)

5th Place Match

• Gianna Anaya (Somerton High School) 16-6, Fr. over Grace Blankenship (La Joya Community High School) 7-10, So. (Fall 0:35)

Boys

106

1st Place Match

• Cooper Green (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 16-3, Sr. over Riley Nollet (Bradshaw Mountain) 4-1, Jr. (Fall 5:09)

3rd Place Match

• Braiden Foster (Centennial) 4-1, So. over Jacoby Cardenas (Safford) 22-5, Fr. (Dec 7-0)

5th Place Match

• Nick Burns (Air Academy) 19-10, So. over Gavin Whitten (Mountain Ridge) 21-7, Fr. (TF-1.5 3:53 (19-3))

113

1st Place Match

• Jayden Preston (Somerton High School) 35-0, So. over Tate Bodine (Safford) 4-1, So. (Fall 3:09)

3rd Place Match

• Bronx Hanlon (Faith Lutheran) 6-1, Fr. over noah banda (Cesar Chavez) 6-2, Sr. (Fall 2:20)

5th Place Match

• Matthew Kayat (Sunrise Mountain) 8-3, Jr. over Nash Gillett (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 18-6, Jr. (Dec 15-12)

120

1st Place Match

• Dylan Saba (Air Academy) 25-4, Fr. over Riley Butzen (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 17-6, Sr. (MD 22-8)

3rd Place Match

• Asher Stubbs (Desert Vista) 18-2, Sr. over Kenneth Garcia (Somerton High School) 34-4, Jr. (Fall 2:54)

5th Place Match

• Alex Chacon (Safford) 26-2, Jr. over Dylan Nguyen (Sunrise Mountain) 25-8, Sr. (For.)

126

1st Place Match

• Brock Santa Maria (Buena High School) 29-2, Sr. over Roman Jaimes (Kofa) 18-3, Jr. (Dec 1-0)

3rd Place Match

• Casey Churchill (Queen Creek High School) 5-1, Sr. over Zaban Ayres (Shadow Ridge) 21-7, Sr. (Fall 2:21)

5th Place Match

• Diego Felix (Somerton High School) 33-6, Jr. over Aleq Countryman (Air Academy) 15-5, Sr. (M. For.)

132

1st Place Match

• Alejandro Tarin (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 19-3, Jr. over Mathew Hernandez (Safford) 18-7, Sr. (MD 15-3)

3rd Place Match

• Noah Jimenez (Arizona College Prep) 24-4, Sr. over Taiwan Hopkins (Marcos De Niza) 7-3, Sr. (Fall 1:54)

5th Place Match

• Xaiyven Calma-Viloria (Air Academy) 19-6, Jr. over anthony serna (Cesar Chavez) 7-8, So. (TF-1.5 3:48 (16-1))

138

1st Place Match

• David Elias (Kofa) 16-0, Jr. over Trent Lainez (Air Academy) 10-1, Sr. (TF-1.5 5:39 (18-3))

3rd Place Match

• Jose Perez (Somerton High School) 32-4, Fr. over Maximus Bode (Sandra Day OConnor Hs) 35-4, Jr. (MD 13-0)

5th Place Match

• Judah Aguilar (Centennial) 25-6, Jr. over Kielan Nitta (Faith Lutheran) 5-3, So. (Dec 14-12)

144

1st Place Match

• nicholas meza (Cesar Chavez) 5-0, Jr. over Julian Macias (Ironwood) 20-1, Sr. (Dec 4-3)

3rd Place Match

• Caden Cook (Faith Lutheran) 5-1, Sr. over Sean Brown (Buena High School) 31-8, Sr. (For.)

5th Place Match

• Alex Hernandez (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 7-6, Jr. over Wyatt Parry (American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North) 15-8, Sr. (Fall 2:43)

150

1st Place Match

• Michael Saba (Air Academy) 28-0, Sr. over Gavin Austin (Centennial) 4-1, Sr. (TF-1.5 0:00 (19-3))

3rd Place Match

• Brody LeSueur (American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North) 23-3, Jr. over Aharnish Tripathi (Arizona College Prep) 24-7, Sr. (Dec 8-1)

5th Place Match

• Porter Kay (Maricopa High School) 21-6, Sr. over Stryker Shores (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 19-6, Sr. (Fall 2:02)

157

1st Place Match

• Jaiden Finger (Desert Vista) 22-0, So. over Adam Angulo (Brophy College Preparatory) 17-1, Sr. (TB-1 2-1)

3rd Place Match

• Kane Pantin (Mountain Pointe) 25-5, Sr. over Luis Rodriguez (Desert Edge) 16-4, Sr. (MD 8-0)

5th Place Match

• Jake Jampolsky (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 17-6, Sr. over Kayden Hanlon (Faith Lutheran) 3-2, So. (For.)

165

1st Place Match

• Brody McClure (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 24-2, Sr. over Levi Carlucci (Monarch) 8-1, Jr. (Dec 11-4)

3rd Place Match

• Rafael Rodriguez (Queen Creek High School) 16-1, Jr. over Anton Betthauser (Chaparral High School) 14-10, Sr. (Fall 3:28)

5th Place Match

• Charlie Hixenbaugh (Douglas County) 5-2, Sr. over Levi Heidenreich (American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North) 19-8, Jr. (Dec 6-2)

175

1st Place Match

• David Clawson (Buena High School) 17-2, Jr. over Ivan Gallegos (Air Academy) 22-7, Jr. (MD 19-8)

3rd Place Match

• Tyler Turchick (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 21-4, Sr. over Heath Smith (Centennial) 6-2, Jr. (Fall 0:20)

5th Place Match

• Brian Story (Deer Valley) 20-6, Sr. over Jaxon White (American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North) 17-3, Jr. (M. For.)

190

1st Place Match

• Delton Kaufman (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 23-3, Sr. over Logan Whitacre (Kofa) 18-2, Sr. (TF-1.5 4:26 (16-1))

3rd Place Match

• Miller Yaskoweak (Douglas County) 7-1, Sr. over Ridge Jobe (American Leadership Academy - Gilbert North) 18-6, Sr. (Dec 10-7)

5th Place Match

• Lucas Dresser (Sunrise Mountain) 23-11, Jr. over Maxwell James (Marcos De Niza) 5-4, Sr. (Fall 1:00)

215

1st Place Match

• Reign Curiel (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 15-5, Sr. over Lucas Rusin (Douglas County) 4-1, Sr. (Fall 3:27)

3rd Place Match

• Samson Deutsch (Mountain Ridge) 24-2, Sr. over Andrew Hoyt (Desert Vista) 7-2, Sr. (Fall 0:42)

5th Place Match

• Dante Parra (Queen Creek High School) 13-3, Sr. over Luz Hernandez (Safford) 14-7, So. (Dec 1-0)

285

1st Place Match

• Cannon Begay (Mountain View Hs (Mesa)) 21-4, Sr. over Nikolasi Tonga`uiha (Marcos De Niza) 4-1, Sr. (MD 12-2)

3rd Place Match

• Jaylen Ward (Buena High School) 35-5, Jr. over Trenton Busher (Desert Vista) 18-4, Sr. (MD 14-6)

5th Place Match

• Eric Butierez (Desert Edge) 11-3, Sr. over Brody Hinks (Mountain Ridge) 5-3, Sr. (Fall 1:24)