The Jonathan Alder boys wrestling team headed into the 2025-2026 season with a positive outlook. The boys are coming off of a great season last year, placing second at the Central Buckeye Conference. So far they have been performing well this year, including placing first at their own Ron Thomas Invitational this past weekend.
The boys also had overwhelming success at districts. Current junior Rayce Watson (106) placed 1st, 2025 graduate Ethan Kuhns (150) placed 3rd, 2025 graduate Trenton Modespaugh (126) placed 4th, junior Paul Byerly (175) placed 6th. Other wrestlers there included 2025 graduate AJ Delong, junior Grant Teach, senior Nixon Baker, and 2025 graduate Abraham Peshco. The team placed 7th out of 48 teams. Moving on to states, Watson placed 2nd, and Kuhns placed 7th.
Last season, Rayce Watson received the David Taylor Wrestler of the Year. After a successful year he was optimistic going into this year’s season. “Knowing what outcome I could have keeps me motivated throughout the season,” says Watson. “I definitely hope for a state title this year since I came up short getting second last year.”
As far as pre-season goes, coach Tony Watson seems to always have a positive and encouraging mindset. Going into the season, he mentions repeatedly how he wants the boys to constantly try their hardest no matter what.
“…I beat them up, I make them work hard, I make them test themselves all the time,” says Tony Watson. “So when they can come into this room every day, and do what we do every day, I respect them.”
The boys varsity team has already wrestled in 5 meets so far. The first invitational the boys wrestled at was the Granville Invitational, located at Granville High School, on December 6, 2025. They ended up placing 5th.
Freshman Liam Harpster says, “The first meet was fun. It was enjoyable to be with the team. It was enjoyable to be around the coaching staff that we were blessed to have here, and it was just a blast.”
While he enjoys the team, Harpster notes differences between junior high and high school wrestling.
“In junior high, you can get into positions where people give up easier or that you’re able to score easier,” Harpster says. “In high school, there’s definitely a lot more difficulty. In a lot of positions, people fight through more to where you have to work harder to get something.”
Despite the hard work, these boys are hoping to end the season with no regrets. Senior Nixon Baker talks about his hopes for this season’s outcome. “I’m hoping for the end of the season that everyone achieves their goals. That would be like a perfect world thing.” Baker says, “I hope everyone grows not only as wrestlers, but as people in the process.”
This sentiment seems to be shared by the coaching staff. The mindset the coaches want the boys to have seems to be a mindset the boys also want for each other to have. “That’s why we have success because they know that I want them to be more than just a wrestler,” says Tony Watson. “They understand that I care about them and I think all our coaches are like that.”
While they are optimistic about the season, they know that there are still challenges ahead.
“So long story short, that’s what I’m looking forward to watching each one of them grow and become better people and better athletes,” Coach Watson says, “But, when it gets tough and you don’t believe in yourself or you start feeling bad or you start thinking, ‘they’re better than me’ It’s killer. So that’s one of the biggest things we try to overcome.”
