Columbus St. Francis DeSales posted a 3-0 record to win the Central Catholic League high school wrestling duals for the second consecutive year on Wednesday night, Feb. 8 at DeSales. 

Columbus Bishop Watterson finished with a 3-1 record. The Eagles’ lone loss came against DeSales 48-33.

Columbus Bishop Hartley went 1-2, and Columbus Bishop Ready and Columbus St. Charles Preparatory School each finished 1-3.

DeSales and Hartley were the only teams not to face one another. They had met on Saturday, Feb. 4 in the Division II district duals, with the Stallions winning 49-24. 

Among the individual competitors in the CCL duals was Watterson’s Mitchell Younger, who went 4-0 in his matches at 144 pounds. Younger won a Division II state title last year.

Also competing were DeSales’ David McClelland, the defending Division II state champion at 132 pounds, and Max Shulaw, the state running up in 2022 at 215 pounds.

The teams are gearing up for the Ohio High School Athletic Association sectional tournaments on Feb. 25 and hoping to make their way to the state meet on March 10-12 in the Schottenstein Center at Ohio State University. St. Charles will compete in Division I, Hartley, DeSales and Watterson in Division II and Ready in Division III.

Ready was wrestling in the CCL duals for the last time. The Silver Knights are moving to the new Central Buckeye League for the start of the next school year.

DeSales wrestler David McClelland intently eyes a Stallions7 match during the CCL meet on Feb. 8 at DeSales. Photos courtesy John Hulkenberg
DeSales assistant coach Jay Landolfo makes a point during the CCL meet.
DeSales coach Collin Palmer reacts during the CCL meet.
DeSales assistant coach Carlin Yetts looks on during the CCL meet.
Mark Younger, father of Watterson wrestler Mitchell Younger, watches a match during the CCL meet.
Watterson’s Ryan Grim (right) and St. Charles’ Thomas Fickle shake hands at 126 pounds in the CCL wrestling meet.
St. Charles assistant coach Mike Fickell eyes the action during the CCL meet.
DeSales was the host site for the CCL wrestling meet.
St. Charles coach Chris Furuta watches a match during the CCL meet.
DeSales’ Rae Betton looks to the stands after his win over Watterson’s Luka Michtich at heavyweight.
DeSales’ Max Shulaw returns to the sidelines after his win over Watterson’s Blaise Strausbaugh.
Official Cole Haverdill works during the CCL wrestling meet.
Hartley’s Caleb Jackson (right) tangles with St. Charles’ Jackson Homan at 215 pounds in the CCL wrestling duals.
Ready’s Preston Tirey (top) has control over Watterson’s Landon Purcell at 165 pounds in the CCL wrestling duals.
Hartley’s Aiden King was the winner at 126 pounds over Watterson’s Joe Curry in the CCL wrestling duals.
Watterson’s Greyson Conyers was the winner over Hartley’s Michael Smith at 113 pounds in the CCL wrestling duals.
Steve Farmer officiates a match during the CCL duals.
Official Cole Haverdill starts the match between Watterson’s Mitchell Younger (left) and DeSales’ Aidan Rush at 144 pounds in the CCL duals.
Watterson’s Joe Curry has control of St. Charles’ Isaac Robinson at 132 pounds in the CCL wrestling duals.
Watterson assistant coach John Mikkelson reacts during a match.
Ready coach Anthony Aiello reacts during the CCL meet.
Ready’s Bo Sweetman works during his 138-pound match with Hartley’s Cooper Rathburn.
Official Jay Landolfo starts a match.
Watterson’s Luka Michtich (left) takes on St. Charles’ Fritz Manuel at heavyweight during the CCL duals.
Watterson’s Landon Purcell (top) battles St. Charles’ Austin Fraley at 165 pounds during the CCL meet.
Purcell (top) battles Fraley.
Ready’s German Martinez (top) looks to the sidelines during his match with Hartley's Jay Zang at 165 pounds.
Hartley coach Kevin Petrella reacts during the CCL meet.
Hartley’s Bryson Winbush looks to the Hawks’ coaching staff in his match with Ready’s Eli Miller at 144 pounds.

.