THE TOP PREP TEAMS TO WATCH IN OHIO IN 2026
By Kyle Holsinger
Welcome back for the Division VI preview. Last season, I picked Regions 21, 22, and 24 correctly and also picked Kirtland correctly as champ.
My apologies for having it out several hours late. My laptop wouldn't cooperate this morning before work. Division VII should be on-time tomorrow morning.
Here we go.
County: Lake.
Enrollment: 134.
Nickname/Mascot: Hornets.
Colors: Navy Blue & Gold.
Conference: Chagrin Valley Conference - Valley Division.
Head Coach: Tiger LaVerde (18th at Kirtland, 259-21; 21st overall, 279-31).
Last Season: 15-0; D-6 state champions; Region 21 champions; and CVC Valley champions.
Class of 2027: 45-2 (.957); two state titles; one state runner-ups; three state semifinals appearances; and three CVC Valley titles.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 4 at Perry.
Key Games: Aug. 22 vs. Cincinnati Taft (at Ridgewood HS); Aug. 28 at Poland Seminary; and Oct. 16 vs. Fairview Park Fairview.
2025 Region 21 Final: Kirtland defeated Sugarcreek Garaway, 21-7, at Louisville High School Leopard Stadium.
Team Preview: Hornet QB Mario Lorber, honorable mention all-district, will be the starter after throwing for 463 yards and eight TDs in 2025. Lorber’s top returning receiver is Tommy Caimi. Caimi had eight receptions for 303 yards. Mat Rus is the team’s leading returning rusher with 80 yards on 16 carries.
On the O-line, Lucci Cantini and Jack Turk were first team and second team All-Ohio, respectively. Vince Prusock made honorable mention all-district.
Kicker Marco Valentic earned first team All-Ohio honors.
Linebacker Zander Perko (131 tackles, nine TFL, three sacks) was first team All-Ohio and DB Sebastian Becker (101 tackles, 14 TFL, two sacks, and an INT) made second team All-Ohio.
County: Henry.
Enrollment: 148.
Nickname/Mascot: Tigers.
Colors: Orange & Black.
Conference: Northwest Ohio Athletic League.
Head Coach: Casey Mohler (10th at LC, 106-16).
Last Season: 15-0; D-5 state champions; Region 18 champions, and NWOAL champions.
Class of 2027: 45-2 (.957); one state title; two state runner-ups; three state semifinals appearances; and three NWOAL titles.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 23 vs. Archbold.
Key Games: Aug. 21 vs. Defiance Tinora; Aug. 28 at Pemberville Eastwood; and Sept. 25 at Hamler Patrick Henry.
2025 Region 22 Final: Bascom Hopewell-Loudon beat Carey, 35-0, at Findlay Donnell Stadium.
Team Preview: The Tigers drop down to Division VI after winning the Division V title last season.
Tiger RB Garrison Kruse returns after being selected first team All-Ohio and Division V co-offensive player of the year. Kruse rushed for 1,915 yards and 32 TDs on 144 touches while also catching 18 passes for 244 yards and five TDs.
Blocking upfront for him is first team All-Ohioan Kellen Wymer, and second team All-NWOAL Sawyer Bockelman. Jaxton Lawniczak returns after catching 27 balls for 646 yards and seven TDs—Lawniczak made first team All-NWOAL offense and second team on defense.
Defensively, Kruse also made 106 tackles, 26 TFL, and four sacks. Lawniczak made 80 tackles, 11 TFL, six sacks, and two INTs. Ethan Gray made first team All-NWOAL as a DB and second team All-NWOAL as a WR. Junior Isaiah Badenhop was honorable mention All-NWOAL.
County: Tuscarawas.
Enrollment: 138.
Nickname/Mascot: Pirates.
Colors: Red, Royal Blue, & White.
Conference: Inter-Valley Conference - South Division.
Head Coach: Jason Wallick (26th at Garaway, 198-78).
Last Season: 11-3; Region 21 runner-ups; and IVC South runner-ups.
Class of 2027: 35-7 (.833); one state semifinals appearance; one regional runner-ups; one regional semifinalists; one IVC South title; and two IVC South runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Oct. 9 vs. Gnadenhutten Indian Valley.
Key Games: Aug. 28 at Dalton; Sept. 4 at Creston Norwayne; and Sept. 18 vs. Girard.
2025 Region 23 Final: North Robinson Colonel Crawford defeated West Jefferson, 35-7, at Marengo Highland High School Covrett Stadium Fishburn Family Field.
Team Preview: Pirates junior QB Grady Miller returns after an honorable mention All-Ohio performance in 2025. Running back Matthew Frey also made honorable mention All-Ohio.
Defensively, DB Wyatt Reifenschneider earned honorable mention All-Ohio. Junior Wyatt Gordon, Braylon Brooks, were honorable mention all-district.
Jason Wallick was awarded district co-coach of the year last season.
County: Mercer.
Enrollment: 113.
Nickname/Mascot: Redskins.
Colors: Red & White.
Conference: Midwest Athletic Conference.
Head Coach: Josh Werling (3rd at St. Henry, 21-6).
Last Season: 14-1; D-7 state champions; Region 28 champions; and MAC runner-ups.
Class of 2027: 26-14 (.650); one state title; one state semifinals appearance; three playoff appearances; and one MAC runner-ups.
Toughest Opponent: Sept. 25 vs. Maria Stein Marion Local.
Key Games: Aug. 28 vs. Archbold; Oct. 9 at Minster; and Oct. 16 vs. Coldwater.
2025 Region 24 Final: Coldwater beat Anna, 14-12, at Piqua High School Alexander Stadium.
Team Preview: Offensive lineman Nick Lefeld was awarded honorable mention All-Ohio last season. Wideout Tate Boeckman was honorable mention All-MAC a year ago.
Defensively, LB Drew Langenkamp was honorable mention All-Ohio.
HEART OF OHIO SPORTS PREP PIGSKIN PREVIEW
DIVISION I - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-i-2026/
DIVISION II - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-ii-2026/
DIVISION III - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-iii-2026/
DIVISION IV - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-iv-2026/
DIVISION V - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-v-2026/
DIVISION VII - https://heartofohiosports.com/heart-of-ohio-sports-prep-pigskin-preview-division-vii-2026/
