20 Stark County-area high school wrestlers to watch this winter
Grit, determination and perseverance are just some of the traits ingrained in the culture her in Northeast Ohio and nowhere is it more evident than in the impressive number of high-quality high school wrestlers the area produces each year.
The Perry Panthers are well represented with a young core poised for bigger and better things. Louisville has a new head coach but returns one of the most talented individual wrestlers in the state. Minerva has a trio of state qualifiers back in Division II who should make a lot of noise. Sandy Valley and Tuslaw each return a pair of state qualifiers in Division III.
The Canton Repository presents our top 20 area high school wrestlers heading into the 2022-23 season.
Brandon Batson
GlenOak, jr.
Batson placed eighth in the 175-pound weight class at the state tournament this past season. He eclipsed 100 career wins last season as a sophomore. Batson should be a threat to finish higher this season.
AJ Dolph
Hoover, so.
Dolph qualified for the state tournament last season at 157 pounds. He is moving up to 165 pounds this year but should once again be a threat to reach Columbus, despite the depth in the state at that weight class. Also helped Hoover’s football team reach the playoffs this fall.
Dominic Hoffarth
Louisville, sr.
Hoffarth went 43-5 last year en route to winning an individual state championship at 138 pounds. He is committed to wrestle in college for Ohio University. Hoffarth is the No. 1 ranked wrestler in the state in his weight class in Division II by Borofanohio.net.
Kolten Barker
Louisville, jr.
Barker is a returning state qualifier at 113 pounds who reached 40 wins as a sophomore last year. He posted a first-place finish in his weight class at the Grappler Fall Classic in October.
Dylan Rhoads
Louisville, jr.
Rhoads reached the state tournament last season at 126 pounds. He finished the year with a record of 35-10 and should be a featured wrestler for the Leopards again.
Kaiden Haines
Minerva, sr.
Haines placed sixth at 215 pounds in the Division II state tournament last year. Haines was one of a school-record six wrestlers to reach the state tournament for the Lions last season.
Andrew Strader
Minerva, sr.
Strader qualified for the state tournament at 120 pounds last season. Posted a record of 32-11 going into the state tournament last season.
Connor Norris
Minerva, jr.
Qualified for the state tournament at 113 pounds last season. Had a record of 39-6 before heading into the Division II state tournament last season.
Austin McBurney
Perry, sr.
McBurney placed at the state tournament each of the last two seasons. He was sixth at 120 pounds last year and third at 106 pounds as a sophomore. Committed to wrestle in college at Brown University. McBurney was sixth at the USA Wrestling Central Regional tournament in May and was sixth in the IndianaMat Hoosier Preseason Open in September.
Nate Dulcie
Perry, jr.
Duclie is a returning state qualifier at 113 pounds. He should once again be a force in the lower weight classes for the Panthers.
Charles Curtis
Perry, jr.
Curtis is a returning state qualifier who reached Columbus at 126 pounds last season. He also qualified for state as a freshman at 113. Curtis should be a reliable scorer for the Panthers once again.
Marshall Geckler
Perry, so.
Geckler qualified for the state tournament as a freshman at 132 pounds last season. Geckler is part of a Perry team looking to put itself in the conversation for state team championship this season.
Landen Johnson
Perry, so.
Johnson reached the state tournament at 138 pounds last season. He is part of a promising young core of wrestlers who should keep Perry in the state conversation all season long.
Christian Glitz
Perry, sr.
Glitz returns for his senior season after reaching the state tournament for the first time as a junior. Glitz will be motivated to repeat that success this season.
Aidan Fockler
Perry, jr.
![Perry's Aidan Fockler raises his arm after beating Fremont Ross' Ethan Green in a 285 pound semifinal match in the Division I OHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at Hilliard Darby High School, Sunday, March 14, 2021, in Hilliard, Ohio. [Jeff Lange/Beacon Journal]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/8CVMegf9Z_Nlu_JZBjZOfw--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTc0OA--/https://media.zenfs.com/en/the-repository/7499a6b054c8065ff924f8ac08da3349)
Fockler has placed at the state tournament in both seasons as a varsity wrestler. He was third in the state at 285 pounds last year and second at 285 pounds as a freshman. Fockler will have his eyes on the top prize in the state this season.
Emeric McBurney
Perry, so.
Took sixth place at the state tournament at 106 pounds as a freshman. He should be a state contender once again. He won his weight class in May at the USA Wrestling Central Regional tournament.
Branden Boggs
Sandy Valley, sr.
Boggs surpassed 40 wins as a junior and qualified for the state tournament at 106 pounds. He will be one of the top wrestlers in the coverage area in Division III this season.
Evan Natale
Sandy Valley, jr.
Made it to the tournament for the first time as a sophomore last season at 120 pounds. Natale will have his eyes on a return trip this season.
Maxwell Cooper
Tuslaw, sr.
Cooper is a returning state qualifier at 144 pounds in Division III. He should help lead the Mustangs again this season.
Jacob Lyons
Tuslaw, jr.
Surpassed 40 wins as a sophomore and reached the state tournament at 150 pounds in Division III. Should form a tough duo for opponents with Cooper in the middle weight classes in dual matches.
This article originally appeared on The Repository: Canton-area high school wrestlers to watch for the 2022-23 season
