2026 Ohio High School Wrestling Preview (D1)
What you’ll find in this article:
- State Tournament Team Projections
- Dual Meet Team Rankings
- Returning State Champs
- Top 25 Wrestlers in D1
D2 Preview
D3 Preview
Girls Preview
subscribe today with a 7-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 7-day free trial.
State Tournament Projections
- St. Edward (167)
- Massillon Perry (160)
- Dublin Coffman (151)
- Perrysburg (138)
- Brecksville (106)
- Archbishop Moeller (69)
- Medina Highland (53)
- Ashland (52)
- Mount Vernon (48)
- St Xavier (47)
The above projections are based on DubStat’s computer-generated team rankings while also factoring in potent
Division I is shaping up for a much tighter team race this season with the continued rise of Massillon Perry and Dublin Coffman. St. Edward remains the early favorite to continue its dominance, but the path to title number 39 won’t be easy.
Perrysburg takes a slight step back compared to last year but is still firmly inside the top five. There’s a noticeable gap between Brecksville at #5 and the rest of the field.
#1 St. Edward
photo: Ben Nichols
Returning Qualifiers
Karson Brown (1st)
Andrew Mlynarczyk (3rd)
Aiden Peterson (3rd)
Jacob Kiehl (4th)
Frank Pieffer (4th)
Connor Whitely (5th)
Other Notable Wrestlers
Cooper Driscoll
William Schork
Kolten Hmel
AJ Bechlem (freshman)
Ryker Leonard (freshman)
Bradley Bauman (freshman)
St. Edward enters the season as the clear favorite to extend its Division I dominance and capture the program’s 39th state title—and 11th in a row. Karson Brown headlines Ohio wrestling this year as he pursues his fourth state championship.
The Eagles also return a deep group of contenders in Mlynarczyk, Peterson, Kiehl, Pieffer, and Whitely, each with state finalist upside. b, who was a top-3 caliber wrestler last season but couldn’t break into the lineup, will be an immediate title contender as well.
As usual, St. Edward reloads with an outstanding freshman class. Bechlem, Leonard, and Bauman all project as podium threats right away. Schork and Hmel return and could also contribute valuable state points.
#2 Massillon Perry
Returning Qualifiers
Mason Rohr (1st)
Liston Seibert (2nd)
Caige Horak (3rd)
Sam Adams (4th)
Brennan Warwick (5th)
Xander Horak (5th)
Lincoln Rohr (7th)
Cameron Plotts (Q)
Other Notable Returners
Trace Johnson
Tony Perry
Brandon Veno
Seth Cavazos
Gavin Cantera (freshman)
Massillon Perry brings back the most depth in Division I with eight wrestlers who have state experience—including seven placers. Defending champion Rohr will look to secure a second title, while Seibert, both Horaks, and Warwick all enter the season as legitimate contenders at their weights.
Lincoln Rohr is already a two-time state placer and should improve on last year’s 7th-place finish. Adams, who took 4th at 106, is also capable of another podium run at a higher weight class.
Plotts, Johnson, Perry, Veno, and Cavazos all have state-level ability and could add meaningful points for the Panthers in March. Add in talented freshman Cantera, and this lineup has very few—if any—weak spots.
People have been wondering for a few years if Perry could finally break through, and this might be the season. If the Panthers get hot in March, they have the firepower to challenge St. Edward for the crown.
#3 Dublin Coffman
Returning Qualifiers
Loc Webber (1st)
Tommy Wurster (2nd)
Eli Esguerra (3rd)
Michael Feeney (5th)
Blaze Van Gundy (Q)
Braylon Wright (Q)
Luca Eger (Q)
Isaiah Callahan (Q)
Other Notable Returners
Grayson Woodcock – transfer from Western Reserve Academy
Oliver Lester (Q) – transfer from Olentangy Liberty
Mason Parrill
Ja’Shaun Cade
Cole Woodruff
Coffman also returns eight state qualifiers—four of them placers—and adds two key transfers who instantly elevate the Shamrocks into team-trophy contention.
Webber is coming off a state title at 106 as a freshman and will again be a finals threat up a weight. Wurster and Esguerra both have the talent to claim titles of their own, and Feeney is a legitimate finalist contender as well.
Van Gundy, Wright, Eger, Callahan, and Perill are all podium-level wrestlers. Van Gundy already proved it by placing 5th at 120 as a freshman.
The X-factor for Coffman comes from their transfers. Woodcock, who placed twice for the Shamrocks before spending a year at Western Reserve Academy, returns for his senior season as another bona fide title threat. Lester, a state qualifier last year for Olentangy Liberty, also has podium potential and brings valuable points to Coffman’s team-race outlook.
#4 Perrysburg
Returning Qualifiers
Grey Burnett (1st)
Alex Denkins (2nd)
Urijah Lopez (3rd)
Ayden Dodd (4th)
Brody Bauman (5th)
Connor Bagdonas (7th)
Other Notable Returners
Shane Saito
Chase Davis
Beckett Walters
Ben Takats
Collin Bagdonas
Joe Foels
Sully Karmon (freshman)
Perrysburg is rarely out of the team-trophy hunt, and this year is no different—except the path is a bit tougher with three legitimate title contenders currently standing ahead of them. The Yellow Jackets return six state placers along with former qualifier Saito, who missed last postseason due to a severe leg infection.
Burnett anchors the lineup and will be pursuing his third state title; he’ll enter as a sizable favorite to get it done. Denkins is again a finalist contender, Lopez is in that mix as well, and Dodd is looking to finally break through for that elusive title as a senior.
Bauman earned his spot late last season when Blaze bumped up two weights to open the door for a better postseason lineup. He made the most of the opportunity and placed 5th. He and Bagdonas will look to climb higher on the podium this year.
Walters has the ability to score meaningful points in March, and Takats, Collin Bagdonas, and Foels could all contribute as well. Perrysburg also adds talented freshman Karmon, who should make an immediate impact.
#5 Brecksville
Returning Qualifiers
Rylan Seacrist (1st)
Jace Jett (3rd)
Lucas Schultz (5th)
Cole Speer (6th)
EJ German (6th)
Other Notable Wrestlers
Zachary Aquila
Cole Ditzig
Andrew Moro
Tyler Soeder
Paul Gallo
The Brecksville Bees are led by returning state champion and Fargo champion Rylan Seacrist. Jett is another title threat, depending on where he settles in the lineup, as he appears to be up a few weight classes from last season.
Schultz, Speer, and German also return as state placers and should deliver a large chunk of points for the Bees in March.
Aquila placed 4th as a freshman two years ago, was ranked #1 last year, but was sidelined late in the season due to injury. If he’s healthy, he’s absolutely a title contender.
Ditzig and Moro are potential placers, and Soeder and Gallo could provide valuable points as well if they can qualify out of the tough Hoover district.
Dual Meet Rankings
- Dublin Coffman
- Massillon Perry
- St. Edward
- Perrysburg
- Brecksville
- Archbishop Moeller
- Medina Highland
- Olentangy Liberty
- Ashland
- Louisville
The above rankings are based on DubStat’s computer-generated team rankings while also factoring in potential impacts by incoming freshmen.
#1 Dublin Coffman is the dual-meet favorite on paper, though the gap between the top three teams is razor thin.
Coffman is a heavy favorite to qualify to the state tournament out of the Darby district, with one of #8 Olentangy Liberty or Marysville likely taking the second berth.
#2 Massillon Perry and #5 Brecksville should advance out of the Hoover district, with #7 Medina Highland likely being the odd team out.
#3 St. Edward leads the Perrysburg district. I expect #4 Perrysburg to opt out of the state duals again, which opens the door for #9 Ashland as the early favorite for the district’s second qualifying spot.
At Fairmont, #6 Moeller is the clear favorite to advance. Springboro, Harrison, and Elder appear to be the next tier and will battle for the remaining state berth.
Returning Champions
106: Loc Webber (Dublin Coffman)
113: Rylan Seacrist (Brecksville)
120: Grey Burnett (Perrysburg)
126: Karson Brown (St. Edward)
132: Mason Rohr (Massillon Perry)
138: Kane Shawger (St. Xavier)
285: Alex Taylor (Mt. Vernon)
2024: Brandon Bickerton (Medina Highland)
Webber dominated Division I as a freshman and didn’t have a single match go the distance at the state tournament, finishing with a 15–0 tech fall in the finals. If he’s up at 113, he’ll face stiffer competition from Seacrist, but I still wouldn’t count him out for title number two.
Seacrist broke through last year for his first state title and followed it up with a Fargo national championship. He’s certified at 113, where I expect him to stay and be the favorite. His toughest test will likely be Webber or Bickerton.
Burnett returns as a two-time state champion and will enter his junior season as a heavy favorite to secure title number three. He appears to have separated himself from the rest of the field in Ohio.
Brown is probably the best wrestler in Ohio this season as he continues his march toward the prestigious four-timer club. I don’t see anyone in Division I capable of stopping him.
Rohr battled through a brutal bracket last year and captured his first state title as a junior. Division I middleweights are always deep, so his path won’t get easier, but he’s technically sharp and extremely tough to score on.
Shawger earned his first state title as a sophomore. He has the talent of a future three-timer, but he should see strong competition regardless of which weight he lands on.
Taylor finally broke through last season, claiming his first title after placing as both a freshman and sophomore. I expect him to dominate again as a senior, and I don’t see anyone preventing him from securing title number two. The only question is whether his celebration can top last year’s.
Bickerton won his 2024 title in a wild final over Dodd. It appears he may be back down at 113 this season, where he’ll be right in the mix with Seacrist and Webber.
Top 25 Returning D1 Wrestlers
- Karson Brown (St Edward)
- Grey Burnett (Perrysburg)
- Kane Shawger (St Xavier)
- Mason Rohr (Massillon Perry)
- Liston Seibert (Massillon Perry)
- Alex Taylor (Mount Vernon)
- Alex Denkins (Perrysburg)
- Eli Esguerra (Dublin Coffman)
- Rylan Seacrist (Brecksville)
- Jace Jett (Brecksville)
- Aiden Peterson (St Edward)
- Garrison Weisner (Oregon Clay)
- Zachary Aquila (Brecksville)
- Caige Horak (Massillon Perry)
- Huggy Williams (Olentangy Liberty)
- Urijah Lopez (Perrysburg)
- Cooper Driscoll (St Edward)
- Grayson Woodcock (Dublin Coffman)
- Austin Bickerton (Medina Highland)
- Mason Bauer (Ashland)
- Tommy Wurster (Dublin Coffman)
- Brennan Warwick (Massillon Perry)
- Brandon Bickerton (Medina Highland)
- Ayden Dodd (Perrysburg)
- Guardian Miller (Ashland)
HM: Blaze Van Gundy (Dublin Coffman), Brody Bauman (Perrysburg), Connor Whitely (St. Edward), Xander Horak (Massillon Perry), Kyle Jardine (Wadsworth), Loc Webber (Dublin Coffman)
Rankings are based solely on DubStat’s Elo Ratings with the top 25 rated wrestlers listed.
Full Set of Individual Rankings – ~12,000 wrestlers ranked!
subscribe today with a 7-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 7-day free trial.