WADSWORTH GRIZZLIES
COACH: Justin Todd, 14th year overall, 115-46; 10th season at Wadsworth, 80-34 LAST YEAR: 11-1, 7-0 Suburban League National Conference POSTSEASON: Division II, Region 5
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Wadsworth football’s returning lettermen (27)
Donny Jr. Bettis, WR-DB, 6-2, 180, Sr. Reid Close, WR-DB, 6-1, 180, Jr. Nicholas Dean, OL-DL, 6-0, 260, Sr. Brandon Dishauzi, WR-DB, 5-11, 180, Jr. Crew Eddy, TE-LB, 6-2, 215, Jr. Joshua Garcia, OL, 6-2, 295, So. Carson Glass, OL-DL, 6-0, 215, Jr. Brysen Hall, QB, 6-1, 205, Jr. Jude Haller, RB-LB, 6-0, 215, Jr. Jay'len King, WR-DB, 6-2, 190, Jr. Luke Kinser, TE-LB, 6-3, 220, Sr. Grady Liehr, WR-DB, 5-11, 180, Jr. PJ Megyes, RB-LB, 5-10, 180, Jr. Aiden Meisterics, OL-DL, 6-0, 225, Sr. Adam Neville, DB, 6-0, 175, Jr. Cal Pierce, WR-DB, 6-0, 170, Sr. Landyn Provance, LB, 6-3, 215, Jr. Carter Raymond, OL-DL, 6-1, 225, Sr. Noah Ries, RB-LB, 5-10, 185, Jr. Kyle Schmeltzer, WR-DB, 5-10, 165, Sr. Nathan Shipley, OL-DL, 6-0, 275, Sr. Braden Sterpka, TE-LB, 6-2, 180, Jr. Anderson Tetzel, OL-DL, 6-3, 275, Sr. DJ Thompson , DB, 5-11, 170, Jr. Augustus Titus, OL-DL, 6-2, 215, Sr. Braydan Todd, WR-DB, 6-0, 185, Jr. Cole Wilson, TE-DL, 6-2, 215, Jr.
Wadsworth impact players Power Four recruit Brysen Hall returns for his junior season as a three-year starter at quarterback. Last season, he was first-team Division II All-Ohio adter he completed 139 of 215 passes for 2,490 yards and 29 touchdowns with just four interceptions. The standout has offers from Pittsburgh, Kent State, Toledo, Miami (Ohio), UConn, USF, Buffalo and Syracuse. ... Calix Lemp (46 receptions, 999 yards, 15 TDs) is catching passes at Air Force but the Grizzlies have a burner in Jay'len King. Add Kyle Schmeltzer, Donny Bettis and Kolbey Ostervich to the mix and the passing attack is amazing. "I think we've got big bodies that are possession based," Todd said. "We've got shifty dudes on the inside that are a matchup nightmare. In the pass game, we present more problems than we have since 2017." ... That 2017 team was led by Mr. Football Joey Baughman, who rushed 154 times for 1,533 yards and 20 touchdowns and was 219-for-326 passing (.672) for 3,060 yards, 36 touchdowns and three interceptions through the air in 12 games.
What's new with Wadsworth football in 2026 Wadsworth has a transfer from Hoban in junior wide receiver/cornerback Liehr and two move-ins in Orrville senior tight end/linebacker Kinser and Lake wide receiver/cornerback senior Pierce. ... Running back will be the biggest point of emphasis with all-state running backs Cooper Gray (156 carries, 1,189 yards, 17 TDs) and Gavin Madigan (107 carries, 1,102 yards, 21 TDs) lost to graduation. Haller will be the primary ball carrier this season. ... "Jude runs very comparable to Gavin," Todd said. "He's got the ability to run around you, but his physicality at 215 pounds lets him run through you. He was our primary ball carrier in middle school. He's a really talented runner with great vision. Regardless of how good the quarterback is, we're not going to throw it every play. We've got to establish the line of scrimmage. Our RPO game is something our quarterback does well, but if you can run the football it just becomes pass option. I'm excited about the way our offensive line, tight ends and running game is coming together." Wadsworth football’s outlook The Grizzlies lost 17 starters and 26 letterwinners to graduation last season but are loaded at the skill position, which is the ultimate leveler when it comes to high school football. Todd mentioned the 2017 team, which was a headache matchup for any defense. If Hall, who is 21-3 as a starter, looks anything like Baughman, Wadsworth could be must-see TV. ... "I think we have chance to be really good," Todd said. "We're young but I think we have a lot of hungry guys who are relatively talented. It's going to be about health up front and how quickly these guys mature emotionally. Playing on Friday nights is significantly different than Saturday. ... By the end of the season, we'll have a nightmare of a football team to deal with." Wadsworth football schedule for 2026
Aug. 21 at Cleveland Heights Aug. 28 at Hilliard Davidson Sept. 4 at Jackson Sept. 10 SOLON Sept. 18 at North Royalton Sept. 25 MEDINA Oct. 2 at Stow Oct. 9 HUDSON Oct. 16 at Highland Oct. 23 NORDONIA
Home games in all CAPS. All games at 7 p.m., unless noted Brad Bournival can be reached by email at bbournival@usatodayco.com and is on X at @bbournival. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Wadsworth High School football schedule, lettermen, 2026 preview