St. Edward wrestling within reach of 11th straight OHSAA state championship

The Eagles hold an 8.5-point advantage over Perrysburg heading into Sunday's championship matches with 10 wrestlers placing and four finalists.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 1:58am

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St. Edward is on the verge of winning its 11th straight Division I state wrestling championship, holding an 8.5-point lead over Perrysburg heading into Sunday's championship matches. The Eagles have 10 wrestlers placing and four finalists, including three-time state champion Karson Brown, freshman Bradley Bauman, junior Frankie Pieffer, and senior Aidan Peterson. Perrysburg also has 10 placers and four finalists, setting up a close battle for the team title.

Why it matters

St. Edward has dominated Ohio high school wrestling for over four decades, winning 38 state championships since 1978. The Eagles' quest for an 11th straight title highlights their sustained excellence and the intense rivalry with Perrysburg, one of the few teams capable of challenging their dynasty.

The details

On Saturday, St. Edward went 7-1 in the quarterfinal round, 4-3 in the semifinals, and will have 10 placers out of 11 state qualifiers. They finished Saturday with 142.5 team points, while Perrysburg is second with 134 heading into Sunday's placement matches. Perrysburg went 4-6 in the quarterfinals but a perfect 4-0 in the semifinals to match St. Ed's for finalists. The Eagles' finalists include three-time state champion Karson Brown, freshman Bradley Bauman, junior Frankie Pieffer, and senior Aidan Peterson.

  • The OHSAA state wrestling championships are taking place this weekend in Columbus, Ohio.

The players

St. Edward

A high school wrestling powerhouse that has won 38 state championships since 1978, including 10 straight entering this year's tournament.

Perrysburg

A wrestling program that has emerged as one of the few teams capable of challenging St. Edward's dynasty, currently sitting in second place heading into the final day of the state tournament.

Karson Brown

A three-time state champion wrestler for St. Edward who is seeking his fourth title.

Bradley Bauman

A freshman wrestler for St. Edward who has reached the state championship match in his first season.

Frankie Pieffer

A junior wrestler for St. Edward who is making his second appearance in the state championship match after finishing fourth as a sophomore.

Aidan Peterson

A senior wrestler for St. Edward who is making his first appearance in the state championship match after finishing third last year.

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What they’re saying

“We have a really young team this year, and it's been really cool watching them all come together like they have. All the freshmen have grown through the year, so it's been really cool.”

— Karson Brown, Three-time state champion

“The goal was to not just win, but get as many bonus points for the team. Being a little kid coming to the Schott, watching the parade of champions and all the finals and watching St. Ed's dominate, to get a chance to be part of that is awesome.”

— Frankie Pieffer, Junior wrestler

“It's a great feeling, but you almost expect this. All the hard work we put in during the offseason and the season, the tournaments, the practices, it all leads to this.”

— Aidan Peterson, Senior wrestler

What’s next

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The takeaway

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