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Ohio high school wrestler rankings | State champ goes wire to wire in Greater Akron/Canton

brad bournival, akron beacon journal
·6 min read

The good stuff in high school wrestling starts in three weeks.

That gave the USA Today Network enough time to come out with one final Greater Akron/Canton individual rankings story.

No. 1 stayed the same, but there was movement in 16 places.

One wrestler debuted, another returned and two stars made big jumps.

Here’s what we came up with:

1. Jaxon Joy, Wadsworth

150 pounds, senior

Previous: 1

Wadsworth's Jaxon Joy drives North Royalton's Luke Koprowski to the mat during the championship match in 150 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.
Wadsworth's Jaxon Joy drives North Royalton's Luke Koprowski to the mat during the championship match in 150 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024.

Need a tournament title? Joy has 21 of them, and can win three more before his time is done. Joy is three wins away from breaking the career win record at Wadsworth (179) and already holds the Division I Ohio record for takedowns (855). He’s ranked fourth in the nation by MatScouts.com.

2. Eddie Neitenbach, Buckeye

190 pounds, senior

Previous: 3

Eddie Neitenbach of Buckeye, right, wrestles Lincoln Shulaw of St. Francis Desales during their 190 pound match in the semifinals of the Wadsworth Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Eddie Neitenbach of Buckeye, right, wrestles Lincoln Shulaw of St. Francis Desales during their 190 pound match in the semifinals of the Wadsworth Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Wadsworth, Ohio.

All you need to know about the Wyoming commit came two weeks ago at the Grizzly Invitational Tournament. Dublin Coffman’s Lincoln Shulaw, who he is projected to face in the state final, met him in the GIT semifinals. Neitenbach won 15-0 and then went on to beat reigning Division III state champ Keegan Sell of Garrettsville Garfield. He is ranked ninth in the nation by MatScouts.com.

3. Aidan Fockler, Perry

285 pounds, senior

Previous: 2

Perry 285 pounder Aidan Fockler pins Gage Counts of Marysville on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Brecksville, Ohio, at Brecksville High SchoolÕs Brecksville Invitational Holiday Tournament. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]
Perry 285 pounder Aidan Fockler pins Gage Counts of Marysville on Friday, Dec. 29, 2023, in Brecksville, Ohio, at Brecksville High SchoolÕs Brecksville Invitational Holiday Tournament. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal]

The Central Michigan commit hasn’t lost since a fifth-place finish at the Ironman. That includes two wins by fall and two wins by major decision at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament. The reigning state champion is ranked 14th in the nation by MatScouts.com.

4. Colyn Limbert, Buckeye

120 pounds, senior

Previous: 4

Colyn Limbert of Buckeye wrestles Mack Moscovic of Detroit Catholic Central during their 120 pound match in the finals of the Wadsworth Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Colyn Limbert of Buckeye wrestles Mack Moscovic of Detroit Catholic Central during their 120 pound match in the finals of the Wadsworth Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Wadsworth, Ohio.

Limbert has won the Medina Invitational Tournament, Maumee Bay Classic, JC Gorman Memorial Tournament, Grizzly Invitational Tournament and West Holmes Invitational in the last five weeks. The reigning state champion is headed to Pitt in the fall.

5. Brayton Feister, Hoban

215 pounds, freshman

Previous: 8

Archbishop Hoban's Brayton Feister works his way to a pin against Brunswick's Dominic May in the 215 pound championship round of Bill Dies Memorial wrestling tournament at Firestone High School on Saturday Jan. 13, 2024.
Archbishop Hoban's Brayton Feister works his way to a pin against Brunswick's Dominic May in the 215 pound championship round of Bill Dies Memorial wrestling tournament at Firestone High School on Saturday Jan. 13, 2024.

We predicted Feister’s jump in the rankings, and he has come through. He has entered three tournaments this season — the Hudson Holiday Tournament, Bill Dies Tournament and Josh Hephner Memorial Tournament — and won them all. In his 19 matches at those tournaments, he has 17 pins, one technical fall and one major decision.

6. Keegan Sell, Garrettsville Garfield

190 pounds, senior

Previous: 5

Garrettsville 190-pounder Keegan Sell, left, takes down Cy Finnen of Edison in the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.
Garrettsville 190-pounder Keegan Sell, left, takes down Cy Finnen of Edison in the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.

The reigning state champion has wins at the Solon Comet Classic, Brecksville Holiday Tournament, Portage County Tournament and Eastern Ohio Wrestling League Tournament. It took No. 2 Eddie Neitenbach to beat him at the Grizzly Invitational Tournament.

7. Kaden King, Buckeye

157 pounds, senior

Previous: 6

Kaden King of Buckeye, top, wrestles Tyler Deericks of Olentangy Liberty during their 157 pound match in the semifinals of the Wadsworth Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Kaden King of Buckeye, top, wrestles Tyler Deericks of Olentangy Liberty during their 157 pound match in the semifinals of the Wadsworth Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Wadsworth, Ohio.

King won the Medina Invitational Tournament and JC Gorman Tournament. The reigning state champion finished second at the Maumee Bay Classic and Grizzly Invitational Tournament. King is expected back from injury this weekend when the Bucks compete at the regional level of the State Duals.

8. Charles Curtis, Perry

138 pounds, senior

Previous: 7

Perry's Charles Curtis has control of Lake's Julian Pniewski in their 144-pound match, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.
Perry's Charles Curtis has control of Lake's Julian Pniewski in their 144-pound match, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.

The two-time state placer hasn’t lost a match since the Ironman. That includes the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, where the projected state runner-up scored bonus points in three matches and beat Arizona state runner-up Giosue Hickman of Canyon View by major decision.

9: Brandon Bickerton, Highland

106 pounds, freshman

Previous: 10

Highland's Brandon Bickerton drives Wadsworth's Blake Frantz to the mat in the championship match in 106 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Highland's Brandon Bickerton won the match to take the championship.
Highland's Brandon Bickerton drives Wadsworth's Blake Frantz to the mat in the championship match in 106 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Highland's Brandon Bickerton won the match to take the championship.

The national freestyle champion won the Solon Comet Classic, Perrysburg Invitational, Grizzly Invitational and Suburban League Tournament. He also placed at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament and won the U.S. Open in Las Vegas.

10. Mason Rohr, Perry

120 pounds, sophomore

Previous: 9

Mason Rohr of Perry takes down Lake's Peyton Lovell in their 126-pound matchup, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.
Mason Rohr of Perry takes down Lake's Peyton Lovell in their 126-pound matchup, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.

Rohr scored bonus points in three of his matches on the way to a runner-up finish at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament. The returning state placer also beat reigning state champion Abe Hermes of Edison in the semifinals. He is projected as the state runner-up.

11. Austin Bickerton, Highland

113 pounds, freshman

Previous: 17

Highland's Austin Bickerton grapples with Aurora's Johnny Green in the championship match in 113 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Highland's Austin Bickerton won the match to take the championship.
Highland's Austin Bickerton grapples with Aurora's Johnny Green in the championship match in 113 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Highland's Austin Bickerton won the match to take the championship.

Bickerton avenged a loss to Aurora’s Johnny Green with an 8-6 decision to win the Suburban League Tournament. He has runner-up finishes at the Solon Comet Classic and Brecksville Holiday Tournament. He placed at the Perrysburg Invitational Tournament and Grizzly Invitational Tournament and was a U.S. Open finalist.

12. Israel Petite, Nordonia

144 pounds, senior

Previous: 12

Nordonia's Israel Petite checks the clock as he handles Wadworth's Jack Dinwiddie during the championship match in 144 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Nordonia's Petite won the match.
Nordonia's Israel Petite checks the clock as he handles Wadworth's Jack Dinwiddie during the championship match in 144 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Nordonia's Petite won the match.

The two-time state placer has won the North Coast Classic, Perrysburg Invitational Tournament, Top Gun and Suburban League Tournament. He has runner-up finishes at the Doan Ford Invitational and Grizzly Invitational Tournament.

13. Liston Seibert, Perry

113 pounds, sophomore

Previous: 13

Perry's Liston Seibert, top, works over Mentor's Jack DeBoe during a 120-pound Division I semifinal at the North Canton district, Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Perry's Liston Seibert, top, works over Mentor's Jack DeBoe during a 120-pound Division I semifinal at the North Canton district, Saturday, March 4, 2023.

Seibert showed just how good he can be with a third-place showing at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, where he beat Michigan state champions Wyatt Lees of Detroit Catholic Central and Haydn Nutt of Dundee. He’s projected to be a state semifinalist.

14. Lincoln Rohr, Perry

106 pounds, freshman

Previous: 15

Perry 106-pounder Lincoln Rohr, left, pins Braden Schrein in the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.
Perry 106-pounder Lincoln Rohr, left, pins Braden Schrein in the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.

Expect this to be the lowest Rohr sits in these rankings the rest of his career. He already has a win over national freestyle champion Brandon Bickerton of Highland, who is ranked ninth on this list. The projected state runner-up also beat Dundee’s Mason Katschor at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament. Katschor is ranked fourth in Michigan’s rankings.

15: Emeric McBurney, Perry

120 pounds, junior

Previous: 14

Emeric McBurney of Perry has control of Lake's Cole Carson in the 132-pound match, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.
Emeric McBurney of Perry has control of Lake's Cole Carson in the 132-pound match, Thursday, Jan. 25, 2024.

McBurney is coming off a third-place finish at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, but if you’ve met the two-time state placer you know his goals are much higher than that. His only loss at the state tournament a year go came to eventual state champion Ethan Timar of St. Edward.

16. Johnny Green, Aurora

113 pounds, junior

Previous: 11

Aurora 113-pounder Johnny Green, right, takes down Tommy Slack of Lake Catholic in the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.
Aurora 113-pounder Johnny Green, right, takes down Tommy Slack of Lake Catholic in the Brecksville Holiday Tournament, Friday, Dec. 29, 2023.

The two-time state placer won the Solon Comet Classic, Portage Country Tournament and Top Gun. He was a runner-up at the Suburban League Tournament and placed at the Brecksville Holiday Tournament. He is ranked sixth in Ohio.

17. Blake Bartos, Buckeye

120 pounds, sophomore

Previous: 18

Blake Bartos of Buckeye, top, wrestles Bronson Begley of Alter during their 113 pound match in the finals of the Wadsworth Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Blake Bartos of Buckeye, top, wrestles Bronson Begley of Alter during their 113 pound match in the finals of the Wadsworth Grizzly Invitational Tournament, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Wadsworth, Ohio.

Bartos counts wins at the Edison Invitational, JC Gorman, Grizzly Invitational Tournament and West Holmes Invitational. The returning state placer was a runner-up at the Medina Invitational Tournament and Maumee Bay Classic.

18. Kolten Barker, Louisville

126 pounds, senior

Previous: 16

Kolten Barker of Louisville, left, grapples with Collin Twigg of Wauseon during their 126-pound Division II quarterfinal match in the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.
Kolten Barker of Louisville, left, grapples with Collin Twigg of Wauseon during their 126-pound Division II quarterfinal match in the OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center, Saturday, March 11, 2023, in Columbus, Ohio.

The returning state placer won the Eastern Ohio Wrestling League Tournament. He has runner-up finishes at the Solon Comet Classic and Hoover Holiday Tournament. Barker also placed at the Maumee Bay Classic and is ranked fifth in the state.

19. Jace Jett, Brecksville

138 pounds, sophomore

Previous: Not ranked

Brecksville's Jace Jett, left, looks for an angle during his win over Wadsworth's Kade Mellon.
Brecksville's Jace Jett, left, looks for an angle during his win over Wadsworth's Kade Mellon.

Jett has really turned it on as of late and last weekend’s Suburban League Tournament showed it. He scored two pins in pool play and then pinned Solon’s Aiden Hays in a semifinal and then won the tournament with a 5-0 victory over Wadsworth’s Kade Mellon.

20. Robert Davis, Stow

132 pounds, senior

Previous: Not ranked

Brecksville's Mason Artino tries to break free from Stow's Robert Davis during the championship match in 132 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Stow's Davis won the match.
Brecksville's Mason Artino tries to break free from Stow's Robert Davis during the championship match in 132 lbs. weight class at the 2024 Suburban League tournament at Highland High School in Medina on Saturday, Jan. 27, 2024. Stow's Davis won the match.

Davis returns to the top 20 after a strong showing at the Suburban League Tournament. The returning state placer rolled through pool play with two technical fall wins and a pin. He beat Highland’s Conner Haney by technical in the semis and then did the same in a 16-0 win over Brecksville’s Mason Artino in the final.

Also considered: Preston Bello, Southeast; Blaine Chrisman, Medina; Chase Crutchley, Highland; Jack Dinwiddie, Wadsworth; Steven Duffy, Woodridge; Braden Dunlap, St. Vincent-St. Mary; Blake Frantz, Wadsworth; Harrison Hafner, Brecksville; Marshall Geckler, Perry; EJ German, Brecksville; Luke Green, Aurora; Rylan Hurley, St. Vincent-St. Mary; Jake Lyons, Tuslaw; Cody Miller, Canton South; Camryn Mitchell, Marlington; Gino Perrine, Nordonia; Evan Rizzo, Brecksville; Brett Stanley, Brecksville; Andy Vanscoy, St. Vincent-St. Mary; Taggert Wade, St. Vincent-St. Mary

Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Greater Akron/Canton high school wrestler rankings bring big movement