SUNDAY, MARCH 15, 2026 – COLUMBUS
The final weekend of the 2025-26 season closed out a memorable year for the Covington Buccaneers due to senior Caleb Ryman becoming a two-time state placer and sophomore Brody Taylor qualifying at state.
“I am super proud of both of them (Caleb and Brody),” commented coach Eric Vanderhorst. “Brody, he had to fight with a lot of resilience from two different injuries. It is such a fine line from qualifying to placing and to being in the finals. Caleb was a fraction away from one takedown in the quarterfinals and for probably being in the finals tonight. So close and super proud of him.”
“It feels good to be a four-time state qualifier and two-time state placer,” said Caleb Ryman.
Caleb is the fifth Buccaneer wrestler to qualify at state in all four seasons and the 13th wrestler in the history of the program that placed at least twice in a career. Ryman placed fifth at state in 2025 and seventh this year.
Plus, since 2005 the Buccaneers have combined 34 state medals and had at least one state placer every year except in 2007 and 2020 (Covid Year). Caleb Ryman has accumulated the 37th state medal in the history of the program as he placed seventh this weekend in the 157 pound weight class.
In the final match of his high school career, Caleb Ryman defeated Davyn Kunkle (41-7) from Shenandoah with an impressive 23-5 tech fall victory.
Ryman started off the match with an important takedown to take a 3-0 lead in the first period. He then chose on bottom to start the second period and quickly pushed his lead to 4-0 with an escape. Caleb then followed up with another critical takedown that put Kunkle on his back for seven more quick points.
After leading 11-0 heading into the final period, Ryman closed out the match by outscoring Kunkle 12-5 due to an escape, his third takedown and eight more back points.
Caleb Ryman closed out his great senior year with an impressive 55-4 record.
CALEB IS COMPETING FOR SEVENTH PLACE
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026 – COLUMBUS
Buccaneer senior Caleb Ryman is in contention to earn seventh place at state in the 157 pound weight class tomorrow morning.
After Ryman secured his second career state placement with a victory in the second consolation round this morning, he suffered an unfortunate loss to Trace Johnson from Eastwood in a 14-1 major decision Saturday night around 9:00pm.
Ryman started off the match with intention to secure a takedown, but a scramble took place where Johnson was able to build a 3-0 lead at the end of the first period. Johnson then chose bottom to start the second period and Ryman surrendered an escape to go down 4-0. The Buccaneer standout wrestler then tried several times to capture a takedown in the second period, but Johnson was able to hold things off to retain a 4-0 lead heading into the final period.
Once again, Caleb Ryman tried to flip the momentum with aggressive takedown attempts, but Johnson was able to take advantage of every situation by recording two more takedowns and back points to accumulate 10 more points down the stretch. The lone point Ryman was able to score was on an escape.
Even though Caleb suffered a tough defeat, he has an opportunity to close out the final match of his great high school career with a victory against Davyn Kunkle from Shenandoah. Placement matches begin at 10:45am Sunday morning.
RYMAN SECURES PLACEMENT, TAYLOR CLOSES OUT HIS SEASON
SATURDAY, MARCH 14, 2026 – COLUMBUS
Buccaneer senior Caleb Ryman captured an important win to secure his second state placement, while sophomore Brody Taylor came up one match short of placing at state as he ends his season with a 24-9 record.
Ryman opened up Saturday morning with an unfortunate 5-3 loss to Logan Haer from Tuslaw in the quarterfinal match. Early on in the match Ryman came close to recording a takedown, but his attempt ended out of bounds. This led to a 0-0 tie at the end of the first period and Caleb was able to score quickly in the beginning of the second period with a reversal.
Unfortunately, a critical situation in the match put Ryman behind as he let up and escape and Haer followed with a takedown late in the period to take a 4-2 lead. Haer went on the bottom to start the third period and Ryman chose to give up one point for neutral. Trailing 5-2, Ryman was able to close the gap to 5-3 due to stalling by Haer, but the Buccaneer wasn’t able to record a takedown to secure the victory.
After suffering the narrow loss in the quarterfinal, Caleb Ryman responded with a critical victory over Rowan Wiley from Sal. Southern in his first consolation match. Wiley built a 4-0 lead after recording a takedown in the first period and an escape to start the second period. Fortunately, Ryman responded quickly with a takedown that put Wiley on his back to take a 6-4 lead. He then closed out the match with a pin at seven seconds left on the clock in the second period.
Caleb Ryman, now 54-3 on the season, will face Trace Johnson (41-9) from Eastwood later this evening.
Buccaneer sophomore Brody Taylor competed intensely throughout his first appearance at the state tournament as he was able to advance to Saturday in the consolation round. Unfortunately, Brody suffered a loss by pin to Branton Tapp (49-3) from Waynedale.
Brody’s performance throughout this season was extremely impressive as he was able to overcome unfortunate injuries to become a state qualifier. With the hard work and competitive desire he puts in Brody will likely have more success throughout his next two wrestling seasons.
Wrestling resumes tonight at 5:15pm.
BOTH BUCCS MOVE ON TO DAY TWO AT STATE
FRIDAY, MARCH 13, 2026 – COLUMBUS
Caleb Ryman and Brody Taylor captured critical wins to advance to the second day of the state wrestling tournament at the Jerome Schottenstein Center in The Ohio State University.
“I’m so proud of both of them,” commented Covington coach Eric Vanderhorst at the end of the afternoon.
Caleb Ryman started off with a dominating 11-0 major decision victory over Morgan Hash from Bid. River Valley to advance to the quarterfinal against Logan Haer from Tuslaw.
The match started off for Ryman with a critical early takedown and he road out his opponent throughout the rest of the opening period to take a 3-0 lead. Ryman then chose down to start the second period and recorded an escape quickly to take a 4-0 lead.
The only problem in the match was Caleb’s opponent holding off takedown opportunities, but fortunately Ryman held on with a 4-0 lead heading into the final period.
The Buccaneer standout senior then followed up by dominating the final two minutes as he recorded a takedown and four back points to secure an 11-0 victory. He is now one victory away becoming a two-time state placer.
“Caleb’s opponent did a good job scouting and taking away Caleb’s primary offense,” Venderhorst said. “But, Caleb did a nice job adjusting well and finding his rhythm and getting a convincing win.”
Brody Taylor went 1-1 on the first day at the state meet to set himself up for one more victory to secure a spot on the podium.
Unfortunately, the Buccaneer sophomore had so many opportunities to score points in his opening match, but suffered an 2-0 loss to Reed Harney from W.S. Northwestern due to a reversal with one second left.
“In his first match, Brody came so close to scoring in a number of situations, but his opponent defended well,” said Coach Vanderhorst. “Hoping that we could have won in overtime with a takedown, but we got reversed right towards the end of the third period.”
Brody started off aggressive by attempting a takedown, but came up short from picking up the needed points as his opponent locked up his foot. Taylor then locked up a cradle in the second period, but wasn’t able to secure back points that were needed. He then came up short from securing an escape point.
The third period started with Brody Taylor on top and he controlled Harney by riding him out until the final second of the match.
Brody had to face Bryce Myers from Chesapeake in the first consolation round and rebounded with unbelievable toughness by pinning his opponent in 4:10.
He started off with a takedown in the first period to build a 3-0 lead, but fell behind 7-4 heading into the final period. Brody then suffered what appeared to be a serious injury, but returned to the center of the mat after being inspected by a trainer. Taylor then recorded a critical reversal and followed up with a pin to advance to the second consolation round tomorrow against either Branton Tapp from Waynedale or Gabe Brough from Eastwood.
“Brody came out strong with a nice takedown then chose down, but his opponent was good with the legs in and turned us,” Vanderhorst explained. “He tied it with an escape, but gave up a takedown. Down 7-4 on bottom, Brody tweaked something and used all of his injury time. He showed a ton of grit to fight through the injury, getting a sweet reversal to the back and finished with a come-from-behind pin!”
The quarterfinals begin on Saturday at 9:30am and the second consolation round will take place afterward.
