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2025 Ohio High School Wrestling Preview (D2)

By DubStat on November 13, 2024January 17, 2025
2025 Ohio High School Wrestling Preview (D2)

View the D1 High School Wrestling Preview
View the D3 High School Wrestling Preview
View the Girls High School Wrestling Preview

2025 Ohio High School Wrestling Preview – D2

What you’ll find in this article:

  • State Tournament Team Projections
  • Dual Meet Team Rankings
  • Returning State Champs
  • Top 25 Wrestlers in D2
  • Rule Changes

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State Tournament Projections

  1. Bishop Watterson (80)
  2. Columbus DeSales (75)
  3. Wauseon (70)
  4. Medina Buckeye (60)
  5. Sandusky Perkins (55)
  6. Indian Valley (50)
  7. Archbishop Alter (45)
  8. Beaver (45)
  9. Archbishop Hoban (40)
  10. Galion (40)

Team projections are based on DubStat’s computer-generated team rankings while also factoring in potential impacts by incoming freshmen.

With Graham moving to Division 3, a power vacuum has opened in Division 2 wrestling. Who will rise to fill it is still uncertain, but several teams are ready to battle for the title of the new Division 2 king.

Leading the contenders is Watterson, though DeSales, Wauseon, and even Buckeye could claim the crown with a hot weekend in March. No Division 2 team boasts deep reserves, so each will rely heavily on their top 4-5 wrestlers to secure crucial points.

For the first time in 25 years, Ohio is set to crown a new Division 2 state champion. Let’s break down the top 5 teams.

View full D2 team rankings (freshmen not factored in)


Top 5 Teams


#1 Bishop Watterson

Michael Boyle Bishop Watterson

Returning Qualifiers

Michael Boyle (1st)
James Lindsay (2nd)
Mitchell Younger (4th)
Greyson Conyers (Q)

Other Notable Wrestlers

Trey Straquaine
CJ Youell

Freshmen

Tommy Rowlands (JH 1st)
Thomas Lindsay (JH 4th)


Watterson is anchored by three returning wrestlers with serious state championship potential.

Younger, already a 2x state champion, brings proven experience and is eager to end his career on top.

Boyle claimed the challenging 165-pound title as a freshman last year, while Lindsay, narrowly missed the top spot in last year’s finals. They are both title threats in 2025.

Conyers, a district finalist, faced a tough draw at state and went 0-2, but he has the skills to make an impact this year. Youell and Straquaine also have the talent to contribute, though Straquaine may end up in a less-than-ideal weight class due to Watterson’s depth in the middle weights.

The Eagles’ roster gets a big boost with two outstanding freshmen: Tommy Rowlands and Thomas Lindsay. Watterson has produced a freshman state champion for three consecutive years, and Rowlands, a 2x junior high state champion, is as likely as any freshmen to win it all.

If Watterson can put 3-4 wrestlers into the finals and secure additional state placements, they could well establish themselves as the new powerhouse in Division 2 wrestling.


#2 Columbus DeSales

Lincoln Shulaw DeSales Wrestling

Returning Qualifiers

Lincoln Shulaw (2nd)
Andrew Barford (3rd)
Joel Welch (Q)

Other Notable Wrestlers

Edward Vitu

Freshmen

Josh Sheets


DeSales has a few “big dogs”—a crucial advantage at the state tournament. But with a thin supporting cast, they’ll need their stars to perform come March.

Shulaw, after two runner-up finishes, is ready to capture his first gold. He’ll need to rack up bonus points to boost his team’s chances.

Barford, a 3rd-place finisher last year, is a strong contender for the title this season. Sophomore Welch, had an underwhelming state tournament last year after defeating state runner-up Overmyer at Districts. He will no doubt be in the title hunt as well.

Freshman Josh Sheets joins the Stallions and is already a contender for a high placement.

This team has a realistic shot at pushing four wrestlers into the state finals, though depth beyond that is limited, with Vitu a potential contributor.

If Shulaw, Barford, Welch, and Sheets perform to their potential, DeSales could claim its 4th state wrestling title—the first since 1977.


#3 Wauseon

Zavian LaFountain Wauseon Wrestling

Returning Qualifiers

Zavian LaFountain (4th)
Jordan Cook (5th)
Carter Stuckey (7th)
Joseph Lugabihl (8th)
Antonio Torres (Q)

Other Notable Wrestlers

Kale Waxler
Kahle Albright
Ben Tule
Mykale Schneider


Wauseon has a bit more depth than Watterson and DeSales, though they lack the same top-level firepower.

LaFountain, Cook, Stuckey, and Lugabihl—all of whom placed last year—will need to match or surpass that success to keep Wauseon in the trophy hunt.

Torres and Waxler also have podium potential. Waxler, in particular, seemed poised for a bigger impact last season. Tule, a formidable 215-pounder, competes in a depleted weight class and could very well find himself in contention to place.

It’s been 40 years since Wauseon last brought home a team trophy from the state tournament. With a solid all-around performance, they could break that drought in 2025.


#4 Medina Buckeye

Blake Bartos Medina Buckeye Wrestling

Returning Qualifiers

Blake Bartos (1st)
Danny Beckett (3rd)
Austin McKee (Q)

Other Notable Wrestlers

Brody Zoul
Curtis Gunkelman
Mavern Reid
Liam Neitenbach

Freshmen

Ryan Lino (JH 4th)
Collin Bartos


The state runner-ups from last season lost considerable talent to graduation, but with Graham moving to Division 3 and the absence of dominant “super-teams” in Division 2, they remain a top-5 contender. Their strong coaching staff ensures they’ll be ready to compete for another team trophy come March.

Like DeSales, Buckeye has little margin for error and will rely heavily on Bartos, Beckett, and McKee to carry the bulk of the scoring at the state tournament.

Zoul, Reid, and Neitenbach are poised to improve and could add valuable points. They’ll need to step up to strengthen the team’s chances. Gunkleman and freshman Bartos are also worth noting.

Buckeye will bring a large group to the district tournament, but how many will make a significant impact at state remains uncertain.


#5 Sandusky Perkins

Kaiyon McKinney Sandusky Perkins Wrestling

Returning Qualifiers

Kaiyon McKinney (3rd)
Braxden Martin (6th)

Other Notable Wrestlers

Sawyer Smith
Haiden Bollini
Eli Sanchez
Marco Muratori

Freshmen

Law Davlin (JH 3rd)


Perkins boasts a solid team led by state placers Kaiyon McKinney and Braxden Martin. McKinney will be a serious title contender at any weight, with rumors suggesting he may compete at 215 this year.

Smith, Bollini, and Sanchez are all talented wrestlers who fell short of their potential last postseason. They’ll be eager to prove themselves this year, and I expect at least two of them to make the podium.

Freshman Davlin, a 3rd-place finisher at junior high state last season, will make an immediate impact in a middle weight.

If Perkins can place 4-6 wrestlers on the state podium, they should confidently secure a spot in the top 5.


Dual Meet Rankings

  1. Wauseon
  2. Perry
  3. Bishop Watterson
  4. Indian Valley
  5. Medina Buckeye
  6. Tippecanoe
  7. Steubenville
  8. Columbus DeSales
  9. Benjamin Logan
  10. Logan Elm

Dual meet rankings are based on DubStat’s computer-generated team rankings while also factoring in potential impacts by incoming freshmen.

Wauseon boasts the best depth in Division 2, making them an excellent dual meet team. Perry, moving up from Division 3, may be the surprise contender. While they lack the superstars of the rest of the top 5, their depth is impressive, returning 11 wrestlers ranked in the top-25 and several others in the top-50. They’ll compete with any team in Division 2, though they could face matchup challenges with Watterson and Buckeye.

Indian Valley and Tippecanoe both field solid teams with few weaknesses. The wildcard here is DeSales, which has a handful of weight classes locked down but remains vulnerable in others. Their success will depend heavily on favorable individual matchups when competing against the top 5.

Dual Meet Predictor Tool
Full D2 Team Rankings


Returning Champions

Marius Garcia Bexley Wrestling

Marius Garcia (Bexley)
Blake Bartos (Buckeye)
Tate Hisey (St. Mary’s Memorial)
Aiden King (Bishop Hartley)
Brody Saccoccia (Steubenville)
Michael Boyle (Bishop Watterson)
Joe Curry (Licking Valley)
Mitchell Younger (Bishop Watterson)

Younger is the only wrestler on this list with multiple state championships, having won back-to-back titles as a freshman and sophomore before finishing 4th last year. As a senior, he’s determined to reclaim the top spot.

Boyle was the only freshman state champion in Division 2 last year and now will attempt to stay on the path to the rare “four-timer” status.

Curry, a state champion as a freshman for Watterson, was unable to defend his title last season. He’s now transferred to Licking Valley, where he’ll look to make another run at a title.

Garcia had an outstanding season last year, going undefeated enroute to the 106-pound title. As a senior, he’ll look to close out his high school career with another championship.

Bartos, still a junior, is on track for a second title as he moves up a weight or two this season.

Hisey is a gamer and will certainly be in the mix for a second title, though it won’t come easily.

King is one of the top wrestlers in Division 2 and enters as a strong favorite to win his second title.

Saccocia delivered one of the most impressive state tournaments last season, knocking off 2x state champion Younger along the way. In my eyes, he’s the top wrestler in Division 2.


Top 25 Wrestlers in D2

  1. Brody Saccoccia (Steubenville)
  2. Aiden King (Bishop Hartley)
  3. Mitchell Younger (Bishop Watterson)
  4. Kaiyon McKinney (Perkins)
  5. Lincoln Shulaw (DeSales)
  6. James Lindsay (Bishop Watterson)
  7. Blake Bartos (Medina Buckeye)
  8. Tate Hisey (St. Mary’s Memorial)
  9. Cannan Smith (Chillicothe)
  10. Gradey Harding (Galion)
  11. Michael Boyle (Bishop Watterson)
  12. Coltyn Reedy (Sheridan)
  13. Mason Turnbaugh (Ontario)
  14. Joseph Curry (Licking Valley)
  15. Rod Owens (Archbishop Alter)
  16. Bronson Hertenstein (St. Mary’s Memorial)
  17. Cael Gilmore (Highland (Marengo))
  18. Danny Beckett (Medina Buckeye)
  19. Anthony Kroninger (Jonathan Alder)
  20. Andrew Barford (DeSales)
  21. Robert Buchheit (Beaver)
  22. Marius Garcia (Bexley)
  23. Tucker Campbell (Franklin)
  24. Gage Murphy (Reading)
  25. Christopher Maloney (Benedictine)

HM: Christopher Maloney (Benedictine), Zavian Lafountain (Wauseon), Jordan Cook (Wauseon), Louden Dixon (West Holmes), Will Greenberg (Hawken)

These rankings are based solely on DubStat’s Elo Ratings with the top 25 rated wrestlers listed.

Full Set of Individual Rankings – ~10,000 wrestlers ranked!


subscribe today with a 14-day free trial

View DubStat’s full set of high school wrestling rankings and use our predictor tools to project winners of individual matches and dual meets with a 14-day free trial.

Sign me up!

Learn More

Rule Changes for the 2024/25 Season

OHSAA Wrestling has enacted changes for takedowns, near-fall, and out-of-bounds scoring to align with college wrestling rules, encourage more offense, and reduce stalling.

  1. 3-point Takedowns: The value for a takedown has increased from two points to three points.
  2. 4-Point Near-Falls: Offensive wrestlers will now earn 2, 3, or 4 near-fall points based on the duration they hold their opponent in near-fall criteria.
  3. Out-of-Bounds: A wrestler is considered inbounds if either wrestler has one point of contact inside the boundary line.

2025 Ohio High School Wrestling Preview (D2)

Category: Division 2

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