NWO High Schools With the Most Wrestling State Champions
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The heyday of high school wrestling in Ohio was dominated by the Cleveland and Akron area. Once Richard Stagg of Whitmer finally broke through for a state title in 1956, Northwest Ohio got a hold of the mat.
While many associate wrestling in Ohio with powerhouses like St. Edward’s and St. Paris Graham, Northwest Ohio has dynasties of its own. The following are the ten high schools in Ohio with the most individual wrestling state champions.
10. Cardinal Stritch - 11
Cardinal Stritch as a school was created in the 1960’s as a response to the baby boom. Like most catholic schools at the time, they placed a huge emphasis on wrestling. Pat Corley won the first state title for the Cardinals in 1967. The program then had six state champions in the 1970’s and four in the 1980’s. Their final title coming from Scott Zapadka in 1988.
9. Archbold - 12
Archbold had the first wrestling state champion ever from Fulton County and the NWOAL when John Cowell took the 126 lbs. crown in 1973. It wasn’t for another 17 years that the Blue Streaks reached the pinnacle again. Archbold had six state champions in the 90’s, headlined by 3x state champion and Michigan Wolverine Clark Forward. The Blue Streaks have had five state champions since, including two in a row from current Michigan State wrestler Brodie Dominique.
7 (Tied). Edison - 14
Edison had three individual state champions from 1985 to 2010. The 2010’s were a turning point for the program. Since 2011, the Chargers have had eleven state champions. The team won last year’s state title as a team and won the dual team tournament in 2018 and 2019.
7 (Tied). Clyde - 14
Clyde won its first state title in 1983 when Rich Rosen took the title at 98 lbs for the Fliers. In the 90’s, Clyde had eight individual state champions, including a team title in 1995. Since the turn of the century, the Fliers have added another five titles to their trophy case.
5 (Tied). Perrysburg - 17
Perrysburg had two state champions just over fifty years ago, Jerry Metcalf in 1972 and Robin Rayfield in 1974. It wasn’t for another forty years that a Yellow Jacket took the title. Rocco Caywood got the modern Perrysburg dynasty started when he took the 182 lbs. title in 2014. Perrysburg has won fourteen state titles since Caywood ignited the program’s resurgence. Multiple athletes from the program have gone onto division one colleges and current senior Marcus Blaze is one the best wrestlers in his age group in the world.
5 (Tied). Monroeville - 17
Monroeville won a lot of state titles in a hurry. Logan Stieber, Hunter Stieber, Cam Tessari and Chris Phillips each won four straight titles, Logan from 2007-2010 and the rest form 2008-2011. The Eagles won a team title in 2010 and Logan Stieber went on to win four national titles for Ohio State. The Eagles added another state title in 2023 from Ashton Homan.
4. Genoa - 20
Genoa had four state champions before the turn of the century. It wasn’t until Nick Purdue won back-to-back titles in 2006 & 2007 that the Comet dynasty got rolling. From 2011 to 2019 Genoa had fourteen individual state champions, headlined by four time state champion and current Ohio State Buckeye and All-American Dylan D’Emilio. As a team, the program won the state tournament title and dual tournament title in both 2018 and 2019.
3. Oak Harbor - 25
Oak Harbor has been winning titles in wrestling since the 1970’s. Four of their state champions have gone on to compete for Ohio State. Two have gone on to be NCAA All-Americans (JD Bergman at Ohio State and Ian Miller at Kent State). The Rockets won twelve state titles before the turn of the century and thirteen since, showing remarkable consistency across generations.
1 (Tied). Sandusky St. Mary’s
Sandusky St. Mary’s won six individual state titles in the 1970’s and 80’s. Once the calendar flipped to the 1990’s, the Panthers reached a whole ‘nother level. The Panthers had nine state champions that decade, including four straight from Jared Opfer and a team title in 1994. In the 2000’s the program won six team titles on the backs of fourteen individual champions.
1 (Tied). Delta - 29
Delta won its first team and individual state titles in 1989 and they haven’t look back since. From 1989 through 1999 the Panthers won four state team titles on the backs of eleven individual champions. Jamison Moss kept the tradition alive with back-to-back titles in 2004 & 2005. From 2012 to present, the Panthers have had sixteen individual state champions, helping lead to one state title and two dual tournament state titles. The Panthers have sent multiple athletes to major division one universities.