A weight-by-weight look at the OHSAA Division II state wrestling tournament
For Ohio high school wrestling fans, it's the most wonderful time of the year.
This year's OHSAA Division II state tournament could be the most competitive in decades.
The big question in the team race: Can anyone unseat St. Paris Graham for the first time since the turn of the century? Medina Buckeye and Columbus St. Francis DeSales look to have as good a chance as any in recent memory.
Of course, there's going to be intrigue in every weight class. That's where we come in.
Here’s a weight-by-weight prognostication of Division II:
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OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 106 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Javaan Yarbrough, Copley; Dom Prosperi, Canton South; Owen Nelson, CVCA; Blake Bartos, Medina Buckeye
Favorite: Yarbrough. The Greco-Roman national champion is the lone returning All-Ohioan at 106.
Who's in the way: Ethan Burkhart, New Lexington. Undefeated seniors are rare at 106.
Dark horse: Nelson. This battle-tested senior could surprise people.
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OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 113 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Rocco Czarnecki, CVCA; Colyn Limbert, Buckeye; Aiden Bean, Marlington
Favorite: Mason Taylor, West Holmes. The returning state runner-up looks ready for the title.
Who's in the way: Limbert. He took third at 106 last year as a freshman.
Dark horse: Tate Hisey, St. Mary's Memorial. Undefeated and looking to improve on fifth place last year.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 120 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Braden Hahlen, CVCA; Anthony Perez, Streetsboro
Favorite: Perez. The former CVCA All-Ohioan has looked focused and relaxed this season with the Rockets.
Who's in the way: Anthony Ohl, Ontario. The returning state runner-up at 106 pounds wants gold.
Dark horse: Gradey Harding, Galion. He upset Ohl in the district final at Norwalk.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 126 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Kolten Barker, Louisville; Bryce Skinner, St. Vincent-St. Mary
Favorite: Skinner. If the defending state champion is healthy, Skinner has the best motor in the field.
Who's in the way: Collin Twigg, Wauseon. This returning All-Ohioan moved up four weight classes.
Dark horse: Barker. This Leopard pushed Skinner to the limit at the Garfield Heights district.
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OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 132 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Dylan Rhoads, Louisville; Danny Beckett, Buckeye; Donovan Paes, Streetsboro
Favorite: Brogan Tucker, Graham. The defending state champion at 113 pounds leads what might be the best weight in Division II.
Who's in the way: Paes. He has looked unbeatable at times this year and likes to pin after falling behind.
Dark horse: Rhoads. He beat Paes at Garfield Heights and comes from one of Louisville's best wrestling families.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 138 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Jesse Badiu, Buckeye; Braden Dunlap, STVM
Favorite: David McClelland, DeSales. The defending state champion at 132 pounds moves into solid weight class.
Who's in the way: Josh Carmen, Carrollton. The two-time All-Ohioan could see McClelland in the quarterfinals.
Dark horse: Hayden Hughes, Graham. Being on the other side of the bracket could allow him to reach the final.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 145 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Nick Brunst, Buckeye; Rylan Hurley, STVM
Favorite: Mitchell Younger, Columbus Bishop Watterson. The defending state champion has not been challenged much on his way back to the title.
Who's in the way: Lance Overmyer, Clyde. With only one loss this season, Overmyer has proven he's elite.
Dark horse: Hurley. This third-generation Irish wrestler is peaking at the right time.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 150 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Dominic Hoffarth, Louisville; Cohen Klimak, Streetsboro; Tristan Craddock, Cloverleaf
Favorite: Hoffarth. The defending state champion at 138 pounds has looked just as strong at this weight.
Who's in the way: C.J. Spencer, Indian Creek. He's the only other returning state placers at 150.
Dark horse: Eli Jacks, Graham. Another Falcon on the opposite side of the bracket? We've seen plenty of state champions from this spot.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 157 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Kaden King, Buckeye; Calvin Gwinn, STVM; Anthony Lahoski, Woodridge
Favorite: Dominic Paterra, Indian Creek. The state runner-up at 150 last year has a straightforward path to the title.
Who's in the way: Luke James, Graham. Let's see if dropping down from from 165 helps this All-Ohio sophomore.
Dark horse: King. It's impossible not to root for this kid, who thrives on the comeback.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 165 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Phoenix Porter, Marlington; Steven Duffy, Woodridge
Favorite: Gunner Cramblett, Graham. A two-time All-Ohioan and state runner-up, Cramblett wants his first state gold.
Who's in the way: Duffy. He's the nicest wrestler one could hope to meet off the mat. On the mat, his cradle is dangerous.
Dark horse: Oliver Byerly, Jonathan Alder. He's looking to avenge a loss to Cramblett at districts.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 175 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Quinton Hancock, Marlington; Eddie Neitenbach, Buckeye
Favorite: Dylan Newsome, Bishop Hartley. Having finished second and third the last two years, Newsome is desperate for gold.
Who's in the way: Neitenbach. The Bucks' beast moved all the way up from 138 pounds and looks locked in.
Dark horse: Lincoln Shulaw, DeSales. He's the younger brother of a projected state champion.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 190 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Kyle Snider, CVCA
Favorite: Snider. After dropping down to 190, Snider looks a lot like the wrestler who won the 215-pound state title as a sophomore.
Who's in the way: Max Ray, Tiffin Columbian. This two-time All-Ohioan looks to improve upon sixth-place finishes.
Dark horse: Hunter Hutcheson, Madison Comprehensive. This All-Ohioan looks to trip up Snider in the quarterfinals.
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OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 215 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Aiden Mozden, Alliance; Bryson Getz, STVM; Davian Greenlee, Buchtel
Favorite: Max Shulaw, DeSales. Undefeated and the defending state runner-up at 215, Shulaw might be the best pound-for-pound wrestler in Division II.
Who's in the way: Getz. A state runner-up two years ago, Getz looks to rebound after going 0-2 in Columbus last year.
Dark horse: Mozden. After overcoming injuries, Mozen dominated the Garfield Heights district, beating Getz and Greenlee on his way to the title.
OHSAA Division II State Tournament - 285 pounds
Greater Akron/Canton area wrestlers: Todd Allen, Buckeye
Favorite: Allen. He looks much more like the wrestler who won the state title as a sophomore than last year's seventh-place finisher.
Who's in the way: Elisha Baldridge, West Holmes. With only one loss this season, Baldridge has to be a threat.
Dark horse: Jeffery Blair, Dayton Chaminade-Julienne. Only a sophomore, Blair wants to prove he can take the title.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Projected 2023 OHSAA wrestling state champions in Division II
