Welcome to the Top 10 of the Richland 25.
Our next three teams put up enough success in 2026 that they each established some extremely high expectations in 2027. Let’s see what they can do with their returning talent this year.
10. Ontario Boys and Girls Swimming
The Ontario swim program is rolling right now. The boys finished as the Division II state runner-up as a team with 204 points last year, falling just behind University School with 216. Had diving points not been a factor, Ontario would have easily won a state championship. The girls team finished seventh in the state with 95 total points and both teams have some exceptional talent returning.
For the boys, Owen Walter, Jackson Swiatek, Carson Smith and Jack Rietschlin are all back after teaming up to take third in the 400-yard freestyle relay. They could compete for a state title in that event in 2027. Smith was also an All-Ohioan in the 200-yard breaststroke and the 200-yard individual medley, and Rietschlin and Swiatek were ones in the 100-yard backstroke along with Colton Montgomery, who took fourth in the event. Montgomery, Rietschlin and Walter were members of the state championship and state record-setting 200-yard freestyle relay team along with outgoing senior Grantham Trumpower, who will be desperately missed next season. Rietschlin was 16th in the 500-yard freestyle, Montgomery was 10th in the 100-yard butterfly to earn All-Ohio honors and Swiatek was ninth in the 200-yard individual medley. Montgomery, Smith and Walter teamed with Trumpower to take runner-up honors in the 200-yard medley relay. Connor Robinson ended his freshman year as a state qualifier in the 200-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley and Walter was a state qualifier in the 100-yard freestyle. All but Trumpower will be returning in 2027.
For the girls, Ava Zehe, Mirielle Trumpower are returning members of the sixth-place 400-yard freestyle relay team. Trumpower was one of the best swimmers in the state after taking runner-up honors in the 100-yard backstroke, runner-up honors in the 100-yard butterfly and being a member of the 200-yard freestyle relay team that finished third in the state. Zehe was also a member of the state-qualifying 200-yard medley relay team. They both will lead a young team with extremely high expectations in 2027.
9. Clear Fork Wrestling
The Clear Fork Colts had a historic 2026 season where the program won its first sectional and district team championship. And if the roster stays how it ended last year, the Colts could be back in the thick of more championship races in 2027.
It all starts with the program’s first individual state champion in Anthony Oscar. He netted the 144-pound state championship as a sophomore finishing the year with a 41-4 overall record as he dominated his way to a state championship outscoring his opponents 53-6.
Caleb Snyder’s sophomore year ended with a fourth-place finish in the 113-pound weight class and a 36-9 record. Luke Lee will also return in the 157-pound weight class after finishing the season 34-14 and earning a state-qualifying spot, along with Lakoda Leedy who went 34-12 with a state qualifying spot in the 175-pound weight class.
The Colts had 10 Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference placers last year with nine of them scheduled to return in 2027. Drayden Tscantz was third at 126, Dylan Wanger was fifth at 132, Jesse Schmidt was second at 138, Oscar was first at 144, Sloan McGhee was second at 150, Lee was second at 157, Leedy was second at 175, Alex Schloss won the 190-pound title and Luke Remy was third at 285.
If everyone returns, the Colts could be dangerous.
8. Ontario Softball
The Ontario Warriors won the Division III district championship in 2026 and all signs point to them continuing to rack of district titles for the next few years. In 2027, they return four players who earned postseason honors including one All-Ohioan.
Ellie Dawson had a historic sophomore year after hitting .524 with 43 hits, seven doubles, two triples, 13 home runs, which ties the program record for single-season homers, with 37 RBIs and 48 runs scored. She drew an insane 32 walks making her one of the most feared hitters in the state. She earned first team All-Ohio, first team All-Northwest District and first team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference honors. Lilly Gray is also back after earning honorable mention All-Northwest District and second team All-Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference after hitting .425 with 37 hits, 13 doubles, three home runs, 24 RBIs and 18 runs scored. She was a wall behind the plate catching 96 2/3 innings with just three passed balls.
Saylor Smith was a second team All-MOAC selection and caught the other 89 innings. She hit .337 with 32 hits, four doubles, a triple, seven home runs, 20 RBIs and 39 runs scored. Sophie Schuster was an honorable mention All-MOAC selection after hitting .274 with 23 hits, three doubles, a triple, three home runs, 16 RBIs and 17 runs scored while also being the ace of the pitching staff by going 11-1 with two saves, a 3.59 earned run average and 93 strikeouts in 93 2/3 innings of work. She will see those innings jump in 2027 after the graduation of Morgan Pearson.
Brylee Ireland and Kylie Corwin will also return along with Callie Fagan and Emryn Fanello, who all have varsity experience. The Warriors are loaded yet again and shoudl see a long postseason run in 2027.
This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Success in 2026 sets high bar for Richland 25 Nos. 8-10 in 2027
Reporting by Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal / Mansfield News Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jake Furr, Mansfield News Journal | USA TODAY Network
