Waynedale wrestling scores statement win over Highland

As the area’s winningest high school wrestling program over the last several decades, Waynedale usually comes into dual matches as the favorite.

That wasn’t the case when Waynedale visited Medina Highland for a dual Jan. 3.

The Hornets were ranked No. 6 in the state in Division I while the Golden Bears were No. 3 in Div. III.

The headline on the Waynedale wrestling Facebook page said it all afterward: “UPSET Victory, Waynedale Bears 35-24.”

Bears fans are used to big wins, but the small-school Waynedale wrestlers outdid themselves to open the 2026 portion of the schedule by taking down a Div. I power.

“It was a really, really good win for us coming out of Christmas break,” said first-year coach Brenden Stanley, who took over the reins after his father, national Hall of Fame coach Louie Stanley, retired following 32 years at the helm.

Waynedale improved to 14-2 in dual matches this season. The Bears have firsts at their own invitational and the 19-team Cuyahoga Heights Invite and were third out of 25 teams at Wheeling, West Virginia.

Five Bears are ranked in the top six for their weight classes in Div. III by borofanohio.net: junior Riley Greathouse (20-1, No. 2 at 144 pounds), junior Isaak Skelly (21-0, No. 3 at 126), junior DJ Oberly (19-2, No. 3 at 150), junior Brock Beckler (18-2, No. 4 at 120) and senior Stephen Patterson (16-0 at 132, No. 6 at 138).

Also ranked are sophomore Branton Tapp (21-0, 106, No. 19), sophomore Sebastian Schmeltzer (14-5, 138, nine at 132), senior Lane Troyer (14-4, 157, 12), sophomore Maddox Kidd (13-5, 165, 21) and senior Brandon Walters (18-3, 285, 14).

Walters iced the win over Highland with a dramatic pin over Nolan Farley.

“It essentially came down to the last match, and we have one of the best heavyweights in the area,” Brenden Stanley said. “(Walters) locked it down for us and got the pin.”

Tapp got things started fast with a pin at 106.

Landen Hasseman (113) and Beckler (120) dropped decisions, with projected Div. I state champ Brandon Bickerton edging Beckler 11-5.

“Brant started things really well for us, and the next two matches we dropped to very good kids,” Stanley said.

Waynedale won six straight matches from there as its powerful middleweights were outstanding.

Skelly got the run started with a 19-4 tech fall over Caleb Berger at 126. Many fans had hoped to see Skelly take on third-ranked Austin Bickerton, but he was held out due to an injury.

Schmeltzer, Patterson and Greathouse then won decisions. Greathouse won a hard-fought 6-4 battle against 10th-ranked freshman Leonidas Giatis.

Next, Oberly pinned No. 9 Brennan Kicker, and Troyer won a narrow 10-8 decision.

Highland fought back with four straight wins (165, 175, 190, 215) to cut the margin to 29-24 before Walters saved the day.

“I'd say 138 and 144 were good swing matches for us with Patterson and Greathouse getting big wins by decisions,” Stanley said. “We had a senior really step up in Lane Troyer at 157. He didn't ice it for us, but he got it as close as he could before we dropped a few matches. I'm very happy where we’re at at this point in the season. It will be a long January stretch. We will go to Cleveland a couple times and Lima. Then tournament time will be here.”

Once the tournament trail begins, Waynedale will be heavily favored to win its 15th straight Wayne County Athletic League title.

The Bears trail only St. Paris Graham and Mentor Lake Catholic in the Div. III state rankings.