photo: Ty Wright (Eagle-Gazette)
2026 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
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State Tournament Projections
- Bishop Watterson (85)
- Archbishop Alter (78)
- Beaver (59)
- Clear Fork (50)
- DeSales (49)
- New Lexington (48)
- Sandusky Perkins (45)
- Medina Buckeye (44)
- Galion (43)
- Archbishop Hoban (42)
The above projections are based on DubStat’s computer-generated team rankings while also factoring in potent
Bishop Watterson enters the season as the favorite to repeat in Division II, but Archbishop Alter has the firepower to make it a battle for the title.
Those two clearly lead the pack. Beaver sits at No. 3 for now, though there are seven or eight teams capable of pushing them. Either way, Division II is shaping up to have an exciting team race in March.
#1 Bishop Watterson
photo: Ty Wright (Eagle-Gazette)
Returning Qualifiers
Michael Boyle (1st)
Tommy Rowlands (2nd)
James Lindsay (2nd)
Thomas Lindsay (4th)
Other Notable Wrestlers
Trey Straquadine
Miles D’Orazio
Joey Heskett (freshman)
Reigning champion Watterson enters as the early favorite to repeat. They’re led by 2-time state champion Boyle, returning finalists Rowlands and J. Lindsay, and 4th-place finisher T. Lindsay. That core group alone is capable of putting up a huge point total in Columbus, and it may be enough for the Eagles to win even without major contributions from the supporting cast.
However, Straquadine and freshman Joe Heskett both have podium potential as well. If they can add solid points in March, the Eagles will be in excellent position to lock up another Division II title.
#2 Archbishop Alter
photo: Ty Wright (Eagle-Gazette)
Returning Qualifiers
Rod Owens (1st)
Bronson Begley (1st)
Henry Craiglow (Q)
Luke Snyder (Q)
Ryan Morgan Jr. (Q)
Other Notable Returners
Keith Butler
Alter brings back state champions Begley and Owens—who may be the top wrestler in Division II this season. Still, the Knights will need a few more contributors to rise if they want to make a serious run at the team title.
Snyder is better than last year’s state finish suggests and could be in line for a high placement. Sophomores Morgan and Craiglow both have potential, with Morgan especially looking ready to make a big leap. Butler could also chip in valuable points at 215 or heavyweight.
#3 Beaver
photo: Gary Leininger
Returning Qualifiers
Jake Hughes (3rd)
Evan Ours (3rd)
Robert Buchheit (6th)
Other Notable Returners
Christopher Warrick
Jordan Bates (freshman)
Like Alter, Beaver will lean heavily on a small core of wrestlers to generate nearly all of their state tournament points. Jake Hughes was a breakout star as a freshman and has the tools to win a title this season after finishing third a year ago. Returning placers Ours and Buchheit both have legitimate state finalist upside.
Beaver also brings in standout freshman Jordan Bates at 106, and they’ll need him to finish high on the podium if they want to contend for a team trophy.
#4 Clear Fork
photo: Jake Furr (News Journal)
Returning Qualifiers
Anthony Oscar (3rd)
Caleb Snyder (Q) – transfer from Mt. Vernon
Colton Wenger (Q)
Other Notable Returners
Tre Copeland
Sloan McGhee
Lakoda Leedy
Clear Fork is a program on the rise. Sophomore Oscar is lightning in a bottle—he took 3rd last year and won’t be satisfied with anything less than gold this season. Wenger returns after falling one match short of the podium, and he now has an excellent training partner in Snyder, a transfer from Mt. Vernon who also lost in the blood round in Division I. Both should be hungry to break through in March.
The rest of the Colts’ lineup is solid as well. Copeland, McGhee, and Leedy all have state-qualifier potential and could add important points to Clear Fork’s total.
#5 DeSales
photo: Claxon Sports
Returning Qualifiers
Joel Welch (2nd)
Josh Sheets (3rd)
Edward Vitu (Q)
Other Notable Wrestlers
Reed Bodie
Blake Eckelbarger
Mark Mobley (freshman)
Grayson Debevoise (freshman)
Jonah Jenkins (freshman)
Tanner Arledge (freshman)
DeSales is the top-five team with the most upside. Like the other contenders, they return a core group of state-level wrestler. Unlike the rest, their depth is both stronger but largely untested.
Welch and Sheets were outstanding last season and will be legitimate title threats this year. Vitu, a returning qualifier, should contend for a podium finish, while Bodie and Eckelbarger also have qualifying potential.
The Stallions also bring in a talented freshman class that could contribute right away. None are likely title contenders yet, but all are capable of scoring points in Columbus. If this young group develops quickly under Coach Palmer’s guidance, DeSales could find itself firmly in the hunt for a team trophy.
Dual Meet Rankings
- Bishop Watterson
- Clear Fork
- New Lexington
- Galion
- Perry
- Perkins
- Archbishop Alter
- Steubenville
- Bellevue
- Medina Buckeye
The above rankings are based on DubStat’s computer-generated team rankings while also factoring in potential impacts by incoming freshmen.
#1 Bishop Watterson is also the early favorite to claim the dual meet state title. #7 Alter comes out of the Wilmington District as well. They aren’t quite as strong in dual format but should still qualify for the final eight. Jonathan Alder appears to be next in line behind them.
#2 Clear Fork, #4 Galion, #6 Perkins, and #9 Bellevue all emerge from the Norwalk District. Clear Fork has the best depth in this group and is the team most capable of challenging Watterson for the state championship. With only two qualifying spots available, this district will be a dogfight.
#5 Perry leads the Kenston District. While lacking elite firepower, they make up for it with impressive depth and very few lineup holes. #10 Buckeye is the likely second qualifier. They aren’t as strong as they were a couple of seasons ago, but they remain a legitimate top-10 dual meet team—and I may still be underrating them.
In the Steubenville District, #3 New Lexington looks like the clear favorite, followed by #8 Steubenville. Claymont, Indian Valley, and Carrollton all have the potential to push for a state berth as well.
Returning Champions
photo: Ty Wright (Eagle-Gazette)
106: Jarreau Walker (Streetsboro)
113: Gavin Genovese (Woodridge)
120: Maddox Laymon (Sheridan)
126: Bronson Begley (Archbishop Alter)
150: Louden Dixon (West Holmes)
175: Rod Owens (Archbishop Alter)
190: Brydon Feister (Archbishop Hoban)
215: Michael Boyle (Bishop Watterson)
2024: Blake Bartos (Medina Buckeye)
2023: Joe Curry (Licking Valley)
Walker was the best 106-pounder in the state last year. He went a perfect 30–0 and didn’t have a match closer than 8 points at the state tournament. He’ll be the favorite to repeat—likely up at 113.
Genovese had a true Cinderella run last year. He entered the state tournament with seven losses and survived the first round in the tiebreaker before catching fire with a fall and a tech. He capped it off with a sudden-victory takedown to win the title. Expect that momentum to roll straight into this season.
Laymon was phenomenal as a freshman. Not one of his state tournament matches went the full six minutes, and he pinned returning champ Garcia in the finals. This kid is special. He’ll likely jump a few weight classes, but he’ll still be in the mix for title #2.
Begley took out former champ Curry in the semifinals last year, then sealed the championship with a sudden-victory toe-drag finish against Harding (Galion). His path won’t get any easier this season, but he’s a gamer.
Dixon is technically sharp and extremely tough to score on. His biggest challengers look to be sophomores Hughes (Beaver) and Rowlands (Watterson). Early edge goes to Dixon—he’s hard to pick against.
Owens might be the top collegiate prospect in all of Division II if he chooses that route. He also shines on the football field. He was a large 175-pounder last season, so a move to 190 seems likely—and he’ll be a heavy favorite to repeat there.
Feister wrestled like a seasoned veteran as a freshman, which is rare to see at 190. He’s likely up at 215 this year, and at the moment, he looks like the clear frontrunner.
Two-time champ Boyle won last year’s clash of titans against Brayton Feister, 2–1, after an illegal-hold call on Feister proved decisive. Rumor is both will be up at heavyweight this year, setting up a must-watch rematch as Boyle continues his march toward four-timer status.
Bartos and Curry both look to finish their high-school careers back on top after winning state titles in previous seasons.
Top 25 Returning D2 Wrestlers
1. Blake Bartos (Medina Buckeye)
2. Rod Owens (Archbishop Alter)
3. Cael Gilmore (Marengo Highland)
4. Louden Dixon (West Holmes)
5. Maddox Laymon (Sheridan)
6. Jake Hughes (Beaver)
7. Bronson Begley (Archbishop Alter)
8. Colin Wooldridge (LaSalle)
9. Anthony Oscar (Clear Fork)
10. Gradey Harding (Galion)
11. Michael Boyle (Bishop Watterson)
12. James Lindsay (Bishop Watterson)
13. Joseph Curry (Licking Valley)
14. Cannan Smith (Chillicothe)
15. Joshua Sheets (DeSales)
16. Tommy Rowlands (Bishop Watterson)
17. Rocco Czarnecki (CVCA)
18. Joel Welch (DeSales)
19. Tyson Spicer (New Lexington)
20. Cooper Smith (Steubenville)
21. Jarreau Walker (Streetsboro)
22. Evan Ours (Beaver)
23. Brayton Feister (Archbishop Hoban)
24. Thomas Lindsay (Bishop Watterson)
25. Robert Buchheit (Beaver)
HM: Aiden Ohl (Ontario), Dom Prosperi (Canton South), Braxden Martin (Perkins), Brydon Feister (Archbishop Hoban), Michael Gessner (Clyde), Carter Trukovich (Galion)
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.