Wayne County wrestling teams look to build on experience, depth in 2025-26

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.”

The following is a look at other area wrestling teams heading into the 2025-26 season.

Dalton

The Bulldogs were WCAL runners-up a year ago, a position everyone in the league is battling for behind Waynedale. Dalton had three conference champions and four runners-up. Most of that team returns this year.

“I think this is a team with a very high ceiling,” said first-year coach Tim Knipl, a one-time standout at Wadsworth. “We have a lot of kids that aren’t overly experienced, but we see a lot of potential in them. I think we have a team that will be much better at the end of the season than we will be at the beginning of the season.”

Among those not back is Jaxon Ryder, a district qualifier last year at 175, who was lost to a football injury. Conference champ and district qualifier Kaden Russell and state-placing heavyweight Cohen Riggenback, also a conference champ, graduated.

Senior 190-pounder Aiden Pelfrey, a conference champ and district placer a year ago, leads the group of returnees. Senior 165-pounder Sam Ediger (a district champ in 2025) also returns.

Back with them are WCAL runners-up Ethan Houmard (junior, 120 pounds, district placer at 106 last season), Axl Ryder (junior, 113, district qualifier at 113 in 2025) and Karson Russell (sophomore, 150, state qualifier in 2025). Dylan McKean (126) also returns.

New to the lineup are freshmen Brandon Berkey (138/144) and Steven Curtis (150/157).

Smithville

The Smithies are going to be a work in progress this year, but progress should be the keyword there. They lost no letter-winners from the 2024-25 squad and stand to come close to doing that again, with just two seniors in the fold.

“We are going on the attack this season, looking for any opportunity to score, set the pace of our matches and out-aggress our opponents,” Smithville coach Matthew Tilton said.

One of the two seniors is 2025 state qualifier Karson Moore, who last year as a 190-pounder was WCAL runner-up, losing only to eventual state runner-up Robert McCrork of Waynedale. The other is Mason Haines, who returns to the squad after missing his junior season following an injury as a sophomore.

Sophomore Chase Perry was a WCAL placer a year ago at 132 pounds, as was his classmate Zachary Lanneaux at 157. Kai Kerstetter and Logan Smith also return after lettering as freshmen.

Braylen Hudson and Cayden Start were letter-winners as sophomores a year ago, and both are back as well. Matthew Lanneaux joins them in the junior class. Rogan Clark and Xander Finkenbinder will look to make noise as freshmen.

“Our team is gaining confidence, led with the drive from our two seniors,” Tilton said. “They both are pushing this young team hard to progress and develop.”

Orrville

The Red Riders were in the middle of the pack in the Principals Athletic Conference a year ago and are looking to replace nine letter-winners from that squad. They will lean hard on a pretty experienced senior class.

The group includes Landon Grimes (132), Brahm Hostetler (285), Cameron Gillis (165) and Sarah Wellert (120). They will be backed by juniors Mayra Mendoza (125), Mateo Snyder (190) and Owen Landis (215) and sophomore Sylus Walsh (138).

“We will have a lot of new faces in our lineup this season,” fifth-year coach Jamie Keeney said. “We will be depending on our senior and junior classes to be our top performers.”