Holmes County wrestling teams bring depth, experience and rising talent into new season

The high school wrestling season began Dec. 4. Below are season previews for area schools.

West Holmes

When West Holmes coach Scott Vaughn opened the practice room Nov. 14 for the first official practice of the season, 26 wrestlers hit the mats to get the 2025-26 wrestling season underway.

“I am really excited about the group of guys we have on the team this season,” said Vaughn, who enters his ninth season at the helm. “So far this season, they are very receptive to coaching and working very hard. That is 75% of the battle.”

The Knights return 15 letter-winners including state champion Louden Dixon (wrestling at 157 pounds this season) and state qualifiers Peyton Martin (126) and Camden McCluggage (190), all seniors. Returning district qualifiers are seniors Dylan Sours (285) and Gabe Umstead (132), junior Wyatt Crabb, and sophomore Easton Ross, who captured last season's freshman state championship.

Other returning letter-winners include senior Grady Hawkins (215); juniors Ian Daugherty (138), Jordan Gerber (165), Lincoln Goans (175) and Cohen Wilson (215); and sophomores Liam Angle (120) and Oliver Hiller (144).

Promising newcomers include sophomores Ashton Cornwell (106), Noah Grassbaugh (144) and Oli Roberts (138) and freshmen Colton Garver (113), Logan Leyda (165) and Finn McClintock (165).

“We've got a pretty decent mix of ninth- through 12th-graders,” Vaughn said. “Most have been wrestling for a while, which allows us to start the season hitting the ground running. I anticipate that most of our starters will be returning letter-winners and starters from last year.”

Vaughn is excited to see how his talented freshman class fares in their first season of high school competition.

“I do think we have a couple guys that could break the lineup,” Vaughn said of his frosh class. “Freshmen Colton Garver, Finnigan McClintock and Logan Leyda are returning junior high state qualifiers. We also have a few guys that weren't in the lineup (last season) that should contend for a starting spot. Wrestle-offs could be interesting this year.”

The Knights bring experience and talent into the season. Now it’s a matter of building and improving as the season progresses.

“Top to bottom I think our lineup should be really solid,” Vaughn said. “I don't see many weaknesses, which makes our dual team exciting. I also think that we have some strong individuals that should be pushing to wrestle deep into the district tournament or even the state tournament."

—Bret Curren

Garaway

The Pirates were sectional champions and district runners-up last season and appear poised for even bigger things in 2025-26.

“We had a number of kids that invested a lot of time in the offseason wrestling freestyle,” ninth-year coach Greg Miller said. “I think this will help us improve our ability to score on our feet. I also feel that our lineup has become more solid bottom to top.”

Garaway returns two All-Ohioans — Mitchell Tetreault (eighth at 144 pounds last season) and Matt Frey (eighth, 165) — and three other state qualifiers in Lukas Miller, Braylon Books and Colton Domer. Braylon Books and Domer won district titles.

Including the state qualifiers, returning letter-winners are Bryce Books (106), Lukas Miller (113), Parker Miller (120), Bryce Johnson (126), Nate Gintz (132), Mycah Schlabach (138), Braylon Books (144), Tetreault (150) Alex Hamsher (157), Domer (165) Frey (175), Wyatt Gordon/Cole Westfall/Tommy Grimm (190), Dillon King (215) and Dwayne Yoder (285).

Bryce Books represented Team Ohio at Fargo Nationals. Grimm was an NHSCA national champion as an eighth-grader, but he was injured last season as a freshman. King was an NHSCA All-American as a freshman but has battled injuries the last two seasons.

“We have five returning state qualifiers, two of which were All-Ohioans, and Dillon King will be available all season,” coach Miller said. “He has not been available all season since his freshman year. Those six will be the core of our lineup.”

Promising newcomers include Lewey Soehnlen (157), Dominic McCullough (215/285) and Bobby Bowers (285). McCullough was an NHSCA All-American as an eighth-grader last season while Bowers was an OAC state placer as an eighth-grader last season.

“I know there will be wrestlers that will be making their way to the weight class they want to finish the season in,” coach Miller said. “Until that happens, we will probably have some wrestlers out of position or several wrestlers in the same weight class and a vacant weight class here or there.”

The Pirates finished third at last year’s Inter-Valley Conference Tournament.

“We have the ability to win our league tournament,” coach Miller said. “The most important thing is that we are wrestling our best on that day, and the rest will take care of itself. I feel like our league has a lot of parity, which will make for an exciting tournament that will come down to a few weight classes, I’m sure.”

Waynedale

It was business as usual a year ago for Waynedale’s wrestling team, and nothing within the horizon suggests that will change. A veteran team returns for coach Brenden Stanley.

The biggest change, of course, is in Stanleys, as Brenden is replacing his father, Louie, in charge of the Golden Bears. All the legendary Louie Stanley did in 32 seasons at the helm was lead the program to 587 dual wins, 22 league titles and a state championship.

The Golden Bears dominated the Wayne County Athletic League a year ago, nearly lapping the field. Waynedale had nine conference champions and three runners-up among the 14 weight classes and captured a 14th consecutive WCAL title.

“We have a large group of seniors that have put the work in the past four years,” Stanley said. “Our upper weights have gained a lot of experience and maturity that aligns with our buzzsaw of a light-weight group.”

Among the seniors are 132-pounder Stephen Patterson (2025 state qualifier and WCAL champ at 126), 157-pounder Lane Troyer (2025 district qualifier and WCAL runner-up), 190-pounder Gradey Posey (2025 district qualifier and WCAL runner-up) and heavyweight Brandon Walters (2025 district qualifier and WCAL runner-up).

After running through the WCAL, the Bears went on to place third in the state in Division III, sending eight athletes to the state tournament. Three of those graduated including 190-pound state runner-up Robert McCrork, 138-pound state placer Caden Schmeltzer and state alternate Ethan Garrod.

Returning with the seniors this year are juniors Brock Beckler (120, sixth in the state, district champ and WCAL champ in 2025 at 113), Isaak Skelly (126, third in the state, district champ and WCAL champ in 2025 at 120), Riley Greathouse (144, state qualifier and WCAL champ at 144 in 2025), DJ Oberly (150, third in the state, district champ and WCAL champ in 2025 at 150) and Reece Campbell (175).

The sophomore class features 138-pounder Sebastian Schmeltzer (seventh in the state, district champ and WCAL runner-up at 132 in 2025), 165-pounder Maddox Kidd (district qualifier and WCAL champ at 165 in 2025), Branton Tapp (113, district qualifier in 2025) and Tyson Kronenberger (144).

“We are solid top to bottom,” Stanley said. “Our team’s experience will help us win duals and tournaments.”

Triway

Last year was a struggle for the Titans, who finished last in the eight-team Principals Athletic Conference. They lost just two wrestlers from that team but don’t return much either, a product of low numbers in the program, something many schools Triway’s size must deal with.

“With our numbers and youth, we know we’re not entering the season as a top contender in the league,” coach Tim Pomfret said. “Our focus is on development, steady improvement and being competitive in every dual. If we keep growing the way I expect, we should surprise some teams by the end of the year and put ourselves in a stronger position moving forward.”

One positive to be found among the low numbers is none of the returners or newcomers on the roster this year are seniors. So though the team will be a work in progress, the progress should be apparent.

Back are junior Logan McCollum and sophomores Andrew Stahl, Liam Krupp, Jonah Krupp, Austin Houser and Landen Harvey. Harvey returns after being a district qualifier a year ago at 215. Liam Krupp was a district alternate a year ago at 132. District qualifier Brody Snyder graduated.

“This season we’re going to look noticeably younger,” said Pomfret, entering year one of his second tenure with the Titans after coaching for seven years two decades ago. “With only 12 wrestlers on the roster — and most of them being freshmen and sophomores — we’ll be relying heavily on underclassmen in our lineup. We don’t have any seniors, so this group will be learning on the fly and growing together week by week. The difference this year is that the team will be gaining experience in real time, and I expect that arc to show by the end of the season.”

New in the fold are junior Jayden Lewis, sophomore Zander Morris, and freshmen Vinny Vizzo, Addison Stahl, Cash Colter and Caleb Mairs.

“Our biggest strength will be the competitiveness and energy of our younger athletes,” Pomfret said. “They’re coachable, eager and hungry to prove themselves. Despite the small roster, the kids we do have are committed to improving. We may not fill every weight class, but the wrestlers we put on the mat will battle hard and bring intensity every night.”