A weight-by-weight look at the OHSAA Division III state wrestling tournament
It’s the most wonderful time of the year for the year for wrestling fans.
The OHSAA state wrestling tournament is back — and back in its rightful place at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus after two years of pandemic disruptions
Three days of wrestling in three divisions? How do you keep track of it all? That’s where we come in.
What follows is a weight-by-weight breakdown of the Division III tournament, which should be the most competitive in terms of the team race.
Defending state champion Xenia Legacy Christian should be the favorite to repeat, as the Knights coach have as many as five individual state champions. Runner-up Milan Edison will have something to say as well, while perennial powers Delta and Mechanicsburg also are in the mix.
This list is by no means meant to be a predictive guide. Far too much happens on the mats in Columbus to say this is a sure thing.
The abbreviations before each wrestler in the pairing indicates district finish. GH-1, for instance, means first place at Garfield Heights district. “RO” is Rossford, “HE” is Heath and “TR” is Troy.
106 pounds
Pairings: RO-1 Hunter Lacy, Attica Seneca East, (12), 34-0 vs. TR-4 Carson Taylor, Covington, (10), 39-8; GH-3 Hunter Newell, North Lima South Range, (11), 43-6 vs.. HE-2 C.J. Graham, Procterville Fairland, (9), 43-7; GH-2 Caiden Heller, Apple Creek Waynedale, (12), 36-4 vs. HE-3 Tristen Rossiter, Sarahsville Shenandoah, (10), 44-5; RO-4 Adam Mattin, Delta, (9), 37-10 vs. TR-1 Kyle Schroer, Troy Christian, (11), 21-6; GH-1 Cole Schulke, Columbia Station Columbia, (11), 29-0 vs. HE-4 Tanner Allen, Albany Alexander, (10), 33-8; RO-3 Abe Hermes, Milan Edison, (9), 46-10 vs. TR-2 Gage Murphy, Reading, (9), 39-4; RO-2 Casper Caizzo, Norwalk St. Paul, (10), 36-4 vs. TR-3 Corbin Kimmel, Haviland Wayne Trace, (9), 36-5; GH-4 Owen Martin, Ravenna Southeast, (12), 27-18 vs HE-1 Branden Boggs, Magnolia Sandy Valley, (11), 43-1
Favorite: Cole Schulke, Columbia. The lone returning state placer in this bracket and undefeated on the season, Schulke looks to become the first state champion from Columbia since 1995.
Contender(s): Hunter Lacy, Seneca East. A rare senior in the lightest weight class, Lacy dropped from 113 pounds and dominated the proceedings at Rossford.
Match to look for: Schulke vs Lacy. A battle of undefeated wrestlers for the state title Sunday night at Schott? That would be a perfect way to open up the finals.
113 pounds
Pairings: HE-1 Cowin Becker, Galion Northmor, (9), 44-7 vs. RO-4 Nick Roberts, Plymouth, (12), 38-10; 3. GH-3 Dominic Leone, Youngstown Liberty, (12), 41-8 vs. TR-2 Eli Campbell, Xenia Legacy Christian Academy, (10), 20-6; 5. GH-2 Drew Spreng, Loudonville, (10), 36-9; TR-3 Jericho Quinter, Covington, (10), 31-5; HE-4 Trace Williams, Richwood North Union, (11), 42-5 vs. RO-1 Max Hermes, Milan Edison, (11), 54-3; TR-1 Cooper Shore, Casstown Miami East, (11), 26-0 vs. GH-4 Owen McDevitt, North Jackson Jackson-Milton, (11), 18-2; HE-3 Dylan Ward, Martins Ferry, (11), 37-4 vs. RO-2 Trevor Wilcox, Tontogany Otsego, (10), 33-7; HE-2 Kyle Miller, Sugarcreek Garaway, (12), 36-3 vs. RO-3 Zachary LaPlante, Toledo Christian, (12), 44-7 15. TR-4 Khadyn Jacobs, Brookville, (11), 33-12 vs. GH-1 Brady Funk, Mogadore, (12), 34-3
Favorite: Max Hermes, Edison. The defending state champion at 106 pounds and the son of the Edison head coach, Hermes looks to lead the Chargers toward another state team trophy.
Contender(s): Cooper Shore, Miami East and Eli Campbell, Legacy Christian. Shore comes from a family of state champions at Miami East, while Campbell wrestles in the toughest room in Division III. Bofh of them are looking to finish one step higher after finishing as state runners-up last March.
Match to look for: Hemes vs Campbell. The brackets have set up a potential rematch of last year’s 106-pound state final in the semifinals. The winner likely will face the undefeated Shore in the title match.
120 pounds
Pairings: TR-1 Dillon Campbell, Xenia Legacy Christian Academy, (10), 32-2 vs. HE-4 Ethan Dixon, Coshocton, (12), 29-5; GH-3 Patrick Reineke, Gates Mills Hawken, (12), 28-4 vs. 4. RO-2 Eli Guyton, Millbury Lake, (12), 24-6; GH-2 Brock Durbin, Ashland Mapleton, (10), 34-4 vs. RO-3 Hayden Herman, Edgerton, (12), 40-6; TR-4 Ramakrishna Gandhi, Reading, (12), 41-8 vs. HE-1 Dakota King, Barnesville, (10), 42-3; GH-1 Landen Duncan, Southington Chalker, (11), 32-5 vs RO-4 Nathan Parks, Attica Seneca East, (10), 41-6; TR-3 Michael Hagan, Covington, (10), 40-4 vs. HE-2 Brian Luft, Newark Catholic, (10), 26-8; TR-2 Gavin Caprella, Lima Central Catholic, (12), 34-4 vs. 14. HE-3 Evan Natale, Magnolia Sandy Valley, (10), 36-8; GH-4 Mason Daniels, Mantua Crestwood, (12), 34-10 vs. RO-1 Phoenix Contos, Genoa Area, (9), 37-4
Favorite: Dillon Campbell, Legacy Christian. Campbell destroyed the field at 113 last year and followed it up by winning All-American honors at Junior Nationals in freestyle. He might be the best sophomore wrestler in Ohio regardless of division.
Contender(s): Gavin Caprella, Lima Central Catholic. A returning state placer and multiple time champion this year. He lost to Campbell in the district final at Troy and will be looking for revenge.
Match to look for: Campbell vs. Patrick Reinke, Hawken. An early roadblock to Campbell’s path to the title could come in the form of two-time All-Ohioan Reinke in the quarterfinals. This match could show if the 120 bracket will be a battle or a coronation.
126 pounds
Pairings: GH-1 Caden Schmeltzer, Apple Creek Waynedale, (9), 41-5 vs. HE-4 Reece Butler, Crown City South Gallia, (11), 39-1; TR-3 Logan Attisano, Xenia Legacy Christian Academy, (12), 30-9 vs. RO-2 Antonio Salazar, Gibsonburg, (9), 36-9; TR-2 Chase Vanderhorst, Covington, (10), 28-3 vs.. RO-3 Connor Robbins, Willard, (12), 25-8; GH-4 Clayton Kramer, North Lima South Range, (12), 35-12 vs. HE-1 Wesley Wydick, Utica, (12), 42-3; RO-1 Carson Chiesa, Delta, (12), 39-7 vs. TR-4 Jesse Stroud, Mechanicsburg, (12), 40-8; HE-3 Drake Kanyuch, Sarahsville Shenandoah, (11), 41-11 vs. GH-2 Mason Amodio, Ravenna Southeast, (12), 40-8; HE-2 Gabe Hansen, Richwood North Union, (12), 46-4 vs. GH-3 J.P. Wrobel, Mantua Crestwood, (10), 34-4; RO-4 Jackson Bartels, Liberty Center, (9), 33-18 vs. TR-1 Max Shore, Casstown Miami East.
Favorite: Max Shore, Miami East. If not for the pandemic cancellation in 2020, Shore would be looking to become a four-time state finalist this year. The backbone of Miami East’s ascent into the state’s elite, he should be the prohibitive favorirte.
Contender(s): Caden Schmeltzer, Waynedale. On the other side of the bracket from Shore, Schmeltzer has a chance to prove he is the latest super frosh to come out of Apple Creek.
Match to look for: Carson Chiesa, Delta, vs. Jesse Stroud, Mechanicsburg. Anytime there’s a matchup of two returning state placers in the first round, the heat is on.
132 pounds
Pairings: 1. HE-1 Daxton Chase, Marion Pleasant, (10), 38-6 vs. TR-4 Jason Shaffer, Troy Christian, (11), 11-2; GH-3 Will Davidson, Kirtland, (12), 40-2 vs. RO-2 Hayden Kuhn, Ashland Crestview, (11), 46-6; 5. GH-2 Jeremiah McKee, Wellington, (12), 44-3 vs. RO-3 Cristian Lecki, Millbury Lake, (12), 36-4; HE-4 Jesse Maple, West Lafayette Ridgewood, (11), 39-7 vs. TR-1 Hunter Long, Haviland Wayne Trace, (12), 41-1; GH-1 Raymond Cmil, North Lima South Range, (12), 38-1 vs. RO-4 Joey Manley, Tontogany Otsego, (11), 29-13; HE-3 Michael Fister, Johnstown Northridge, (11), 41-11 vs. TR-2 Brayden Brown, Xenia Legacy Christian Academy, (10), 25-6;. HE-2 Griffen Stephen, Barnesville, (12), 45-8 vs. TR-3 Trey Allen, Mechanicsburg, (12), 45-4; GH-4 Jake Sundberg, Apple Creek Waynedale, (12), 34-13 vs. RO-1 Alec Homan, Monroeville, (12), 26-2.
Favorite: Hunter Long, Wayne Trace. Unlike like previous two weight classes, 132 should be a competitive one, though Long seems to have the edge. The champion at Troy came out of a very strong field.
Contender(s): Alec Homan, Monroeville. A two-time All-Ohioan, Homan looks to become Monroeville’s first state champion since the days of Monoreville’s Big 4.
Match to look for: Will Davidson, Kirtland vs. Hayden Kuhn, Crestview. How stacked is this weight class? There’s a match between two of last year’s third-place finishers in the first round.
138 pounds
Pairings: HE-1 Skyler King, Barnesville, (10), 44-5 vs. RO-4 Jeff Camp, Hamler Patrick Henry, (11), 39-6; TR-3 Troy Kennedy, Troy Christian, (12), 32-5 vs. GH-2 Michael Markulin, North Lima South Range, (12), 45-4; TR-2 Arlie Benson, Springfield Greenon, (12) vs. GH-3 Zach Lyons, Massillon Tuslaw, (12), 46-7; HE-4 Parker Knapp, Gahanna Columbus Academy, (10), 26-14 vs. RO-1 Gavin Owens, Pemberville Eastwood, (12); TR-1 Camron Lacure, Xenia Legacy Christian Academy, (12), 19-4 vs. GH-4 Mason Duncan, Atwater Waterloo, (12), 25-8; RO-3 Owen Miller, Oak Harbor, (11), 43-12 vs. HE-2 Anwar Alli, Marion Pleasant, (11), 42-3; RO-2 Ashton Homan, Monroeville, (10), 43-5 vs. HE-3 Brock Wygle, Utica, (12), 44-8; TR-4 Layton Hughes, Casstown…
Read More: A weight-by-weight look at the OHSAA Division III state wrestling tournament