2026 Ohio High School Wrestling Preview (Girls)
photo: Geoff Blankenship (The Enquirer)
What you’ll find in this article:
- State Tournament Team Projections
- Dual Meet Team Rankings
- Returning State Champs
- Top 25 Wrestlers
D1 Boys Preview
D2 Boys Preview
D3 Boys Preview
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State Tournament Projections
- Olentangy Orange (82)
- Harrison (63)
- Massillon Perry (60)
- Gahanna Lincoln (48)
- Archbold (43)
- Marysville (41)
- Lebanon (39)
- Loveland (37)
- Perry (36)
- Poland Seminary (35)
The above projections are based on DubStat’s computer-generated team rankings while also factoring in potent
Olentangy Orange enters the season as a sizeable favorite to win its third straight team title as their firepower and depth sets them apart from the field.
2023 champion Harrison and a rising Massillon Perry squad appear to be their top challengers. Gahanna Lincoln is also strong enough to make a run at a team trophy.
Beyond that, several evenly matched teams look poised to battle for spots inside the top five.
Let’s take a closer look at the top 5 contenders.
View full girls team rankings (freshmen not factored in)
#1 Olentangy Orange
Returning Qualifiers
Mackenzie Carder (2nd)
Lacie Knick (4th)
Chloe Tompkins (4th)
Lexie Riley (6th)
Other Notable Wrestlers
Alanna Smith
Peyton Johnson
Alina Walton
Sarah Amonette
Madi Ford
Delaney Tackett (freshman)
Tara Davis (freshman)
Tamia Davis (freshman)
Olentangy Orange returns four state placers from last season, and that core alone may generate enough firepower to secure another team title.
They’re led by two-time state finalist Carder and former state champion Knick. Tompkins has finalist potential as well, and Riley will look to climb higher on the podium after finishing 6th a year ago.
The Pioneers also bring back a deep supporting cast. Smith and Johnson have podium potential, and Walton, Amonette, and Ford all have the ability to qualify for Columbus and score valuable team points.
They also add standout freshman Tackett, a three-time OAC runner-up who should make an immediate impact and contend for a state medal. Freshmen Tara Davis and Tamia Davis are also talented additions; where they ultimately fit into this already-loaded lineup is uncertain.
#2 Harrison
Returning Qualifiers
Rylee Dearwester (3rd)
Leah Willen (4th)
Haylynn Littleton (8th)
Caiden Baird (Q)
Olivia Olive (Q)
Veronica Decaluwe (Q)
Other Notable Returners
Scarlett Phelps
Harrison returns all six of its state contenders from last season. Willen, already a three-time state placer, and Dearwester both have legitimate finalist potential.
To seriously challenge Olentangy Orange for the team title, they’ll need Littleton, Baird, Olive, and Decaluwe to take a step forward from last year’s state finishes.
At 235, Phelps is another athlete who could make a meaningful impact at the state level if she makes a jump this season.
#3 Massillon Perry
Returning Qualifiers
Carolyn Geckler (1st)
Emma Shephard (4th)
Mia Foreberg (7th)
Other Notable Returners
Delaney Grim
Massillon Perry will rely heavily on its three returning state placers to generate most—if not all—of its team points at the state tournament.
That won’t be an issue for returning champion Geckler, the best girls wrestler in Ohio and only a sophomore. She’ll be a heavy favorite to repeat.
Shephard has placed 4th in both of her state tournament appearances and should be squarely in the mix to reach the finals this season. Returning 7th-place finisher Foreberg could also climb the podium, and her improvement will be key if Perry hopes to surpass Harrison and bring home a team trophy.
Grim is another athlete to watch. Only a sophomore, she should continue to make steady gains training alongside Perry’s core group of high-level wrestlers.
#4 Gahanna Lincoln
Returning Qualifiers
KyLee Tibbs (1st)
Jordan Mills (6th)
Other Notable Returners
Mackenzie Stevenson (Teays Valley transfer)
Mykah Bailey (Hilliard Darby transfer)
Mina Gee
Emma Abrams
Gahanna Lincoln returns a strong core of state points in defending champion Tibbs and 6th-place finisher Mills. They also add two key transfers in Stevenson and Bailey, both of whom could contribute at the state level.
Stevenson was sidelined partway through last season and missed the postseason, but she has clear state-placer potential. Bailey was a state alternate last year—if she breaks through the district this season, she has a real chance to reach the podium as well.
Gee and Abrams are solid contributors but would need to take a big step forward this season to make an impact at the state level.
#5 Archbold
Returning Qualifiers
Vivi Legato (3rd)
Gabby Oregon (3rd)
Other Notable Wrestlers
Lila Nichols
Kate Brenneman
Archbold returns both of its state placers from last year—and they’re strong ones. Legato placed 3rd as a freshman and is a legitimate title threat this season.
Oregon also finished 3rd and has finalist potential after splitting matches with runner-up Miller (Indian Lake) last year.
It appears Archbold will rely primarily on Legato and Oregon for the bulk of its state-tournament points, but Nichols and Brenneman are solid contenders as well. They have the ability to surprise and elevate Archbold’s team finish.
Dual Meet Rankings
- Olentangy Orange
- Marysville
- Lebanon
- Delaware Hayes
- Elyria
- Harrison
- Gahanna Lincoln
- Jackson
- Fremont Ross
- Sandusky
The above rankings are based on DubStat’s computer-generated team rankings while also factoring in potential impacts by incoming freshmen.
#1 Olentangy Orange’s depth will simply be too much for the rest of the state in a dual-meet format. I expect them to cruise to another state title.
They come out of the Big Walnut district, where #2 Marysville is the clear favorite to take the second state berth—leaving #4 Hayes, #7 Gahanna Lincoln, and #8 Jackson on the outside looking in.
#3 Lebanon has the depth to push Marysville if they meet in the state semifinals. Lebanon, along with #6 Harrison, should claim the top two qualifying spots out of the Harrison district.
#5 Elyria is the team to beat in the Findlay district. #9 Fremont Ross and #10 Sandusky appear to be next in line and will battle for the district’s second state berth.
The Mentor district lacks a true top-end dual-meet squad. On paper, Massillon Perry and Steubenville look like the two strongest teams to advance.
Returning Champions
105: Ashlynn Brokaw (Mt. Vernon)
110: Camryn Gresham (Lakota East)
115: Carolyn Geckler (Massillon Perry)
120: Talea Guntrum (Steubenville)
125: Kelsey King (Lakota West)
140: KyLee Tibbs (Gahanna Lincoln)
235: Deionna Borders (Berea-Midpark)
2024: Kayla Moroschan (Chippewa)
2024: Lacie Knick (Olentangy Orange)
2023/2024: Elizabeth Madison (Loveland)
Brokaw placed 3rd as a freshman and won it all as a sophomore, edging Nigh (Urbana) 7–6 in a tough finals match. She’ll be right back in the hunt for title number two.
Gresham pinned her first three opponents at last year’s state tournament before defeating Leng (Marysville) 4–1 in the finals. She’ll be favored to repeat as a junior.
Geckler is the best girls wrestler in Ohio—and she’s only a sophomore. She should cruise to her second state title.
Guntrum won a loaded bracket last season that included three returning state champions and a runner-up. She’ll be chasing her third title in as many tries.
King caught fire last season and delivered a dominant state run with three first-period pins and a technical fall. Behind Geckler, she may be the second-best wrestler in the state.
Tibbs capped a perfect 47–0 season with a wild 15–12 finals victory over Hendricks (Greeneview). She’ll be a favorite to repeat, though Hendricks is also back and will be her biggest obstacle if they land in the same weight again.
Borders also went 47–0 on her way to her first state title. She’s extremely tough to score on and is favored to repeat, though runner-up Miller (Indian Lake) and third-place finisher Oregon (Archbold) could challenge her.
Moroschan, Knick, and Madison will all look to climb back to the top of the podium after falling short of repeating last season. Madison, in particular, is chasing her third career state title.
Top 25 Returning Girls Wrestlers
- Carolyn Geckler (Massillon Perry)
- Kelsey King (Lakota West)
- Talea Guntrum (Steubenville)
- Mackenzie Carder (Olentangy Orange)
- Camryn Gresham (Lakota East)
- Kayla Moroschan (Chippewa)
- Auston Brown (United)
- KyLee Tibbs (Gahanna Lincoln)
- Lacie Knick (Olentangy Orange)
- Lillian Hendricks (Greeneview)
- Elizabeth Madison (Loveland)
- Kandice Spry (Tri-Valley)
- Ashlyn Brokaw (Mount Vernon)
- Cameron Leng (Marysville)
- Alora Strauser (Archbishop Alter)
- Libertie Nigh (Urbana)
- Deionna Borders (Berea-Midpark)
- Anna Madi (Brecksville)
- Lila Krull (Miamisburg)
- Paige Cowan (East Liverpool)
- Brooklyn Whited (Logan)
- Bella Graziani (Tinora)
- Ella Thomas (Poland Seminary)
- GG Dominish (Perry)
- Emma Shephard (Massillon Perry)
HM: Noami Gearheart (Ashland Crestview), Maddie Miller (Indian Lake), Vivi Legato (Archbold), Liberty Johnson (Clermont Northeastern), Riley Alborn (Carrollton), Naura Simison (Greenon), Gabby Oregon (Archbold)
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.