BOC Celebrates Central Ohio High School Winter Sports State Champions

Published on April 14, 2026

The Franklin County Board of Commissioners opened its April 14, 2026 General Session by recognizing Central Ohio high school winter sports state champions, continuing a tradition the Board holds three times a year to honor student athletes from Franklin County and neighboring communities.

Student athletes, coaches, and families from schools across the region attended the session. This year's recognized champions competed in girls and boys wrestling, girls and boys swimming and diving, and boys bowling.

Schools represented in person included Gahanna Lincoln High School, whose girls wrestler Kylie Tibbs claimed her second consecutive state championship at a different weight class, finishing the season with a 44-2 record. Her teammate Kael Clous won the individual boys bowling state title with a three-game state series of 720, averaging 240 at competition. Olentangy Orange High School's Mackenzie Carter won the girls wrestling title at 120 pounds after two prior runner-up finishes, going 46-2 for the season. Olentangy Berlin's Leah Nebraska won state titles in both the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle and holds eight of her program's eleven female swimming records. St. Charles Preparatory School's boys swimming team won the Division I state championship for the second consecutive year, scoring the fifth most points in the meet's history. St. Francis DeSales High School's Luke DeFrancisco won the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke at the Division II level. Wellington School's Jack Mahaffey became the program's first-ever swimming state champion.

The Board also recognized several state champions who were unable to attend in person, including teams and individuals from Upper Arlington High School, Bishop Watterson High School, Bexley High School, Dublin Coffman High School, New Albany High School, and St. Francis DeSales High School's boys wrestling program.

Representatives from the Greater Columbus Sports Commission and the Ohio High School Athletic Association attended the session. Linda Logan, President and CEO of the Greater Columbus Sports Commission, and Tim Streed, Director of Media Relations for the Ohio High School Athletic Association, each offered brief remarks acknowledging the athletes and their accomplishments.