COLUMBUS — The greatest day in high school wrestling is here.
The Ohio High School Athletic Association’s state tournament concludes March 15 at Value City Arena with 56 champions crowned.
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Final top 10 team scores
Division I
Division II
Division III
Girls
Cliff Nicholson wins Division I title at heavyweight
Cliff Nicholson (Medina) d. Jacob Earnest (Wadsworth), 9-7
Earnest scores a takedown 10 seconds in and lets Nicholson go. Nicholson scores a takedown of his own with 35 seconds left. It’s 4-3 Nicholson after one. Nicholson almost in on a takedown, but Earnest hits a granby and scores. Nicholson escapes. It’s 6-6. Earnest in deep, Nicholson counters. It’s tied after the second period. Earnest chooses down to start the third. Nicholson keeps Jordan down despite a few switches. Another granby and its 7-6. Nicholson takes down Earnest with three seconds left.
Frankie Pieffer wins Division I title at 190 pounds
Frankie Pieffer (St. Edward) d. Caige Horak (Perry), 4-1 (OT)
What a defensive duel. A tremendous match. Pieffer, in his first state finals, made the winning move midway through overtime. He barreled his head right into Horak’s torso and bowled him over in sudden victory. As the score indicates, it was a defensive battle. They were locked up nearly the entire first period. They had an escape apiece in the following periods. Not only were there not a ton of points, but there weren’t a ton of close calls either, until the extra period, anyway. Horak ends his junior season with a 45-3 record and his highest state placement yet. The Panthers junior is a three-time state placer, finishing seventh, third and now second.
Rod Owens wins Division II state title at190 pounds
Rod Owens (Kettering Alter) m.d. Paul Tepley (CVCA) 12-3
Owens took the lead late in the first period, after hitting Tepley with a single-leg takedown. Tepley chose to start the second period down. He drew a stalling call on Owens, who then chose to stand Teply up and make it 3-1 with a minute left in the period. Owens then hit a double-leg and took a 6-1 lead after two periods. Starting the third period neutral, Owen spun behind for another takedown with a 1:20 left. Tepley escaped, but Owens hit another takedown with 10 seconds left and won 12-3 to take the title.
Brennan Warwick wins Division I state title at 175 pounds
Brennan Warwick (Perry) t.f. Drake Brasiel (Perry), 18-3
Warwick scores a takedown 70 seconds in and allows an escape soon after. Warwick with the quick takedown and it’s 6-1 after one. Braisel chooses down and escapes in 10 seconds. Warwick on a single leg to go up seven. Brasiel escapes. Warwick goes up 12-3 after two after another takedown. Warwick chooses down to start the third. Warwick escapes and takes Braisel down to his back.
Zack Aquila wins Division I state title at 165 pounds
Zack Aquila (Brecksville) d. Niko Giatis (Highland), 4-1, OT
Aquila overcooked a shot on Giatis and the Highland senior countered but now points were scored. It’s scoreless after one. Giatis chooses down to start the second and escapes early to go up one. Aquila took down to start the third and got out early to tie it at one. Giatis hit with a stall with 30 seconds left. It’s headed to overtime. Aquila scores a takedown with two seconds left.
Emma Shephard wins girls state title at 140 pounds
140: Perry’s Emma Shephard d. Nora Johnson (Columbus Bishop Hartley), 15-11
Shephard got the first point on a technical violation by Johnson. Johnson fended off two shots by Shephard, but Shephard’s third blast double gave her the takedown. Johnson escaped and then hits Shephard hit a single leg, tying the score at 4-4 after one. In the second, Shephard shot on Johnson, but Johnson switched behind to get the takedown. Johnson was called for stalling, making it 7-5 after two periods. Johnson chose to start the third period down, but Shephard drove her onto her back, for a three-point nearfall. Shephard then turned Johnson onto her back for a four-point nearfall before Johnson escaped. Another blast double gave Shephard a six-point lead with 30 seconds left. Johnson escaped and drew a stalling point on Shephard, but Shephard held on for a four-point win and her first state title.
Noah Jackson wins Division I title at 157
Noah Jackson (Moeller) d. Drew Moro (Brecksville), 4-1
Moro fights off a deep shot and the two tumble out of bounds 30 seconds into things. It remains scoreless after one. Jackson chooses down to start the second. Throughout the first minute, every time it looks like Jackson was going to get out, Moro put the boots in to stay on top. Jackson escapes with 50 seconds left. It’s 1-0 Jackson to start the third. Moro chooses down and escapes in 11 seconds to tie it up. Jackson scores a takedown with 44 seconds left.
Caleb Greenwood wins Division III at 157 pounds
Caleb Greenwood (Beachwood) t.f. Logan Haer (Tuslaw), 20-4
In a rematch of their Independence district final, Beachwood senior Caleb Greenwood again topped Tuslaw sophomore Logan Haer en route to his second straight state title. This match was quite a bit closer than last week’s. After Greenwood prevailed via tech fall (21-5) in Independence, the two actually wrestled a scoreless first period at the Schottenstein Center. In comparison, Greenwood led 6-1 after a period in their district match. Greenwood got going in the second with an escape and takedown, later adding a takedown and near fall for an 11-point second. He clinched the match in the third, adding a 157-pound state title to last year’s championship at 150. For Haer, it was a brilliant sophomore season. He finished the year with a 45-3 record. After going 1-2 at state as a freshman, he made it to Ohio high school wrestling’s biggest stage as a sophomore, gaining valuable experience for the next two years.
Carolyn Geckler wins girls state title at 130 pounds
Carolyn Geckler (Perry) p. Elanor Polkin (Cin. Oak Hills), 1:47
The play by play her is short but sweet for Geckler. The sophomore scored a quick takedown and grabbed an armbar on Polkin 13 seconds in. She then turned Polkin and switched to a bundle, scoring the pin at 1:47
Garrison Weisner wins Division I state title at 144 pounds
Garrison Weisner (Oregon Clay) d. Mason Rohr (Perry), 7-4, OT
Weisner scores a takedown 40 seconds into things and Rohr escapes almost immediately. It’s 3-1 Weisner after one. Weisner chooses down to start the second period and escapes early in the second period. Weisner hit for stalling. Rohr escapes immediately and it’s 4-2. Wiesner hit with stalling and it’s a one-point match with 1:11 to go. Weisner hit again and it’s tied at four with 30 seconds left. This one is going to overtime. Rohr hit with a stall with 28 seconds left in overtime. Weisner scores a takedown off of Rohr’s moved to win with one second left.
Jordan Neal wins Division III state title at 144 pounds
Jordan Neal (Lima Central Catholic) p. Gavin Cantera (Southeast), :39
Cantera, the talented freshman, took a good shot in the opening seconds. Neal, the savvy junior, was able to repel the original shot and eventually turn Cantera on his side and wrap his arm around Cantera’s neck en route to the first-period pin. Neal repeats as the Division III 144-pound champion. And Cantera gets the experience of wrestling a state title match as a freshman.
Blake Bartos wins Division II state title at 138 pounds
Blake Bartos (Buckeye) m.d. Desmond Childers (Copley 8-0
Bartos got the opening takedown on Childers with a single leg. He tried to tilt Childers onto his back, but the lead stayed at 3-0 after one period. Starting the second period neutral, Bartos hit another single leg to take Childers down and then drew a stalling point. Down 7-0 to start the third, Childers chose to start the period down. Bartos forced another stalling call on Childers and ended up with an 8-0 win to claim his second state title.
Antwain Adams wins Division III state title at 138 pounds
Antwain Adams (Lima Central Catholic) d. Dominic Kemble (Southeast), 7-1
It was a defensive stalemate early as the two seniors wrestled a scoreless opening period. Adams took the lead with an escape to start the second. He really took control with the leg lift and kick for a takedown toward the end of the second. Still, what a tournament from Kemble, who went from fifth in the state a year ago to second this season. He ends his career as a three-time state qualifier and two-time state placer.
Aiden Ohl wins Division II state title at 120 pounds
Aiden Ohl (Ontario) d. Gavin Genovese (Woodridge) 7-1
Ontario’s Aiden Ohl scored the first takedown just before the end of the first period and then escaped to start the second. Off a scramble, Ohl got a a second takedown on Genovese to take a 7-0 lead after two periods. Genovese started the third period down and escaped. However, Genovese could not generate any further offense and lost 7-1.
Rylan Seacrist repeats as Division I state champion at 113 pounds
Rylan Seacrist (Brecksville) d. Brandon Bickerton (Highland), 4-3
A lot of posturing the first minute as the two look for angles. They’ve locked up twice in the first 90 seconds. It’s scoreless after the first period. Bickerton wins the toss and chooses down. Seacrist immediately kicks him and they’re back on their feet. Seacrist takes down Bickerton with 1:01 left in the second period. He goes optional to start and it’s 3-2 and stays that way after two. Seacrist takes down and escapes to go up two in the third. Bickerton attempts the flying squirrel and gets denied. Seacrist gets his second stalling call but wins by one.
Streetsboro’s Jarreau Walker repeats as Division II champion
Jarreau Walker (Streetsboro) d. Nolan DeShon (STVM), 4-3
Jarraea Walker got the first takedown on a go-behind and tried to turn Nolan DeShon early, but was hit with a technical violation for locking hands. Up 3-1 after one period, Walker escaped in the second period to lead 4-1 after two. DeShon chose neutral to start the third period, but had to stop for blood on a few occasions. Walker was hit with his second stalling call and then a third to make it 4-3 in the waning seconds.
Mia Forberg wins girls state title at 105 pounds, clinches team title
Mia Forberg (Perry) p. Isabella Thiel (Walsh Jesuit), 5-4
After a scoreless first period, Mia Forberg escaped to start the second period and then got a takedown by stuffing a throw attempt by Isabella Thiel to lead 4-0 after two. Forberg then forced a stalling point on Thiel and got another takedown on a go-behind. She was able to turn Thiel. Forberg would score the pin at 5:40 to win her first state title and clinch the team title for Perry.
Liston Seibert finishes second in Division I, 132 pounds
Alex Denkins (Perrysburg) by inj. def. Liston Seibert (Perry)
Unfortunately an old injury flared up after the semifinal and the Maryland commit couldn’t go in the finals. The medical forfeit gave Perrysburg’s Alex Denkins the state championship. It’s the the third time Denkins has placed.
Team scores at state wrestling after session four
Division I
Top 10 teams: 1. Perrysburg, 158.5; 2. St. Edward, 154.5; 3. Dublin Coffman, 133; 4. Perry, 123; 5. Brecksville, 99.5; 6. Cincinnati Moeller, 69.5; 7. Highland, 64; 8. Olentangy Liberty, 58.5; 9. Ashland, 52.5; 10. Medina, 49.
Division II
Top 10 teams: 1. Columbus Bishop Watterson, 101; 2. Columbus St. Francis DeSales, 88.5; 3. Kettering Alter, 67.5; 4. Lisbon Beaver, 48; 5. Wapakoneta, 44.5; 6. Clear Fork, 42; 7. New Lexington, 41.5; 8. Marengo Highland, 39.5; 9. Napoleon, 38.5; 10. Gallion, 38.
Division III
Top 10 teams: 1. St. Paris Graham, 133; 2. Lake Catholic, 85; 3. Waynedale, 74.5; 4. Delta, 70.5; 5. Barnesville, 65.5; 6. Lima Central Catholic, 62.5; 7. Eastwood, 72; 8. Southeast, 58; 9. Sugarcreek Garaway, 55; 10. Versailles, 51.
Girls
Top 10 teams: 1. Harrison, 71.5; 2. Perry, 67; 3. Olentangy Orange, 65.5; 4. Marysville, 59; 5. Archbold, 46; 6. Gahanna Lincoln, 41.5; 7. Columbus Bishop Hartley, 32; 8. (tie) Elyria, Berea-Midpark, 31; 10. Little Miami, 30.5.
Area state final pairings
113: Brandon Bickerton (Highland) vs. Rylan Seacrist (Brecksville); 132: Liston Seibert (Perry) vs. Alex Denkins (Perrysburg); 144: Mason Rohr (Perry) vs. Garrison Weisner (Oregon Clay); 157: Drew Moro (Brecksville) vs. Noah Jackson (Moeller); 165: Niko Giatis (Highland) vs. Zack Aquila (Brecksville); 175: Drake Brasiel (Aurora) vs. Brennan Warwick (Perry); 190: Caige Horak (Perry) vs. Frankie Pieffer (St. Edward); 285: Cliff Nicholson (Medina) vs. Jacob Earnest (Wadsworth)
Division II
113: Nolan DeShone (STVM) vs. Jarreau Walker (Streetsboro); 120: Gavin Genovese (Woodridge) vs. Aiden Ohl (Ontario); 138: Blake Bartos (Buckeye) vs. Desmond Childers (Copley); 190: Paul Tepley (CVCA) vs. Rod Owens (Kettering Alter); 285. Brydon Feister (Hoban) vs. Deangelo Spear (Canton South)
Division III
138: Dominic Kemble (Southeast) vs. Antwain Adams (Lima Central Catholic); 144: Gavin Cantera (Southeast) vs. Jordan Neal (Lima Central Catholic); 157: Logan Haer (Tuslaw) vs. Caleb Greenwood (Beachwood);
Girls
105: Mia Forberg (Perry) vs. Isabela Thiel (Walsh Jesuit); 130: Carolyn Geckler (Perry) vs. Elanor Polking (Cincinnati Oak Hills); 140 Emma Shephard (Perry) vs. Nora Johnson (Columbus Bishop Hartley)
Greater Akron/Canton area third-place finishers
Division I
Constantinos Paxos, Hoover, 103
Division II
Dom Prosperi, Canton South, 113; Cole Speer, Brecksville, 144; Dylan Benedum, Mogadore, 215
Greater Akron/Canton area fourth-place finishers
Division I
Taegan Gilmore, Medina, 120; Lincoln Rohr, Perry, 126; Seth Cavazos, Perry, 138; Kyle Jardine, Wadsworth, 157; E.J. German, Brecksville, 215
Division II
Rocco Czarnecki, CVCA, 132; Ian Bee, Tallmadge, 175
Division III
Damian Kemble, Southeast, 120
Greater Akron/Canton area fifth-place finishers
Division I
Dominic Difilippo, Medina, 113; Austin Bickerton, Highland, 120; Kaiden Barker, Louisville, 138; Kolten Mellon, Wadsworth, 144; Lukas Jordan, Lake, 157
Division II
Cole Palma, STVM, 106
Girls
Anna Madi, Brecksville, 125
Greater Akron/Canton area sixth-place finishers
Division I
Paxton Laughlin, Louisville, 113; Cameron Plotts, Perry, 150
Division II
Collin Bartos, Buckeye, 120; Avery Conroy, Streetsboro, 175
Division III
Rocco Wrobel, Crestwood, 126; Tye Berquist, Crestwood, 175
Girls
Riley Diehl, Southeast, 130
Greater Akron/Canton area seventh-place finishers
Division I
Blake Frantz, Wadsworth, 138
Division III
Kaden Lawson, Tuslaw, 132
Greater Akron/Canton area eighth-placer finishers
Division I
Emilio Rodriguez, Perry, 106; Kyle Scavuzzo, Highland, 132; Joel Brink, Green, 138; Aric Criss, Louisville, 144; Brennan Kicker, Highland, 150; Cole Ditzig, Brecksville, 285
Girls
Giulia Zayas, Aurora, 100;
Area third-place competitors
Division I
Constantinos Paxos, Hoover, 106; Taegan Gilmore, Medina, 120; Lincoln Rohr, Perry, 126; Seth Cavazos, Perry, 138; Cole Speer, Brecksville’ Kyle Jardine, Wadsworth, 157; EJ German, Brecksville, 215
Division II
Dom Prosperi, Canton South, 113; Rocco Czarnecky, CVCA, 132; Ian Bee, Tallmadge, 175
Division III
Damian Kemble, Southeast, 120; Dylan Benedum, Mogadore, 215
Area fifth-place competitors
Division I
Paxton Laughlin, Louisville, 113; Dominic Difilipo, Medina, 113; Austin Bickerton, Highland, 120; Kaiden Barker, Louisville, 138; Kolten Mellon, Wadsworth, 144; Cameron Plotts, Perry, 150; Lukas Jordan, Lake, 157
Division II
Cole Palma, STVM, 106; Collin Bartos, Buckeye, 120; Avery Conroy, Streetsboro, 175
Division III
Rocco Wrobel, Crestwood, 126; Tye Berquist, Crestwood, 175
Girls
Anna Madi, Brecksville, 125; Riley Biehl, Southeast, 130
Area seventh-place competitors
Division I
Emilio Rodriguez, Perry, 106; Kyle Scavuzzo, Highland, 132; Blake Frantz, Wadsworth, 132; Kaiden Barker, Louisville, 138; Aric Criss, Louisville, 144; Brennan Kicker, Highland, 150; Cole Ditzig, Brecksville, 285
Division III
Kaden Lawson, Tuslaw, 132
Girls
Giulia Zayas, Aurora, 100
Division I consolation semifinalists
Constantinos Paxos, Hoover, 106; Paxton Laughlin, Louisville, 113; Austin Bickerton, Highland, 120; Taegan Gilmore, Medina, 120; Lincoln Rohr, Perry, 126; Seth Cavazos, Perry, 132; Kaiden Barker, Louisville, 138; Kolten Mellon, Wadsworth, 144; Cameron Plotts, Perry, 150; Kyle Jardine, Wadsworth, 157; Lukas Jordan, Lake, 157; E.J. German, Brecksville, 215
Division II consolation semifinalists
Cole Palma, STVM, 106; Dom Prosperi, Canton South, 138; Rocco Czarnecky, CVCA, 138; Avery Conroy Streetsboro, 175; Ian Bee, 175
Division III consolation semifinalists
Damian Kemble, Southeast, 120; Rocco Wrobel, Crestwood, 138; Tye Berquest, Crestwood, 175; Dylan Benedum, Mogadore, 215
Girls wrestling consolation semifinalists
Anna Madi, Brecksville, 125; Riley Diehl, Southeast, 130
Where can I watch the state wrestling tournament?
The entire state tournament can be viewed on the NFHS Network.
What is the state wrestling tournament schedule?
Divisions I, II, III and the girls tournament run at the on Sunday, March 15. The consolation semifinals run at 9:30 a.m. with the medal matches run at 10:45 a.m. There’s a lengthy break in between sessions with the finals beginning at 5:15 p.m.
How many state qualifiers are there from Greater Akron/Canton?
There are 104 of them. A complete list can be found here: https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/sports/high-school/wrestling/2026/03/07/ohsaa-state-wrestling-tournament-state-qualifiers-akron-canton/89036585007
Updated brackets are also available here: https://www.baumspage.com/ohsaa/wr/2026/pre/pairings.htm
Are there any returning state champions?
Yes. Many.
Here’s the list:
Division I: Brandon Bickerton (Highland, 106), Grey Burnett (Perrysburg, 120), Ethan Timar (St. Edward, 120), **Karson Brown (St. Edward, 126), ***Marcus Blaze (Perrysburg, 150), **Cole Evans (Perrysburg, 157), Matt Kowalski (St. Edward, 190)
Division II: Jarreau Walker (Streetsboro, 113), Gavin Genovese (Woodridge, 120), Joe Curry (Licking Valley, 126), Maddox Laymon (Sheridan, 132), Bronson Begley (Kettering Alter, 132), Blake Bartos (Buckeye, 138), Louen Dixon (West Holmes, 157), Rod Owens (Kettering Alter, 190), **Michael Boyle (Columbus Watterson, 215), Brydon Feister (Hoban, 285)
Division III: Bodey Gibbs (Columbia, 106), Michael Frye (Columbia, 120), Spencer Shore (Miami East, 120), Scotty Fuller (Genoa Area, 126), **Nathan Attisano (Legacy Chr., 132), Jordan Neal (Lima CC, 144), Edward Kessen (Delphos St. John’s, 150), Caleb Greenwood (Beachwood, 157), Danny Zmorowski (Lake Catholic/Twinsburg resident, 215)
Girls: Ashlynn Brokaw (Mount Vernon, 110), Camryn Gresham (Lakota East, 115), Kayla Moroschan (Chippewa, 125), Carolyn Geckler (Perry, 130), Kelsey King (Lakota West, 130), Lacie Knick (Olentangy Orange, 130), **Talea Guntrum (Steubenville, 135), KyLee Tibbs (Gahanna Lincoln, 155), **Elizabeth Madison (Loveland, 170), Deionna Borders (Berea-Midpark, 235)
Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: OHSAA wrestling state tournament results 2026. Day 3 recap
Reporting by Brad Bournival, Michael Leonard and Jonah Rosenblum, Akron Beacon Journal / Akron Beacon Journal
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