Pick Your Winner: 2026 DI State Champion Prediction

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>As we get set for the Ohio high school season to get started in the coming weeks, its time for some early predictions among a field of top returning teams and talent while considering others that may rise on the radar towards a 2026 Ohio state title. We first look at Division I. The Seton Saints are the two-time defending champions and return a solid collection of talent. Other regional and state competitors from 2025 also bring back teams that feature multiple veterans and a hunger to accomplish more this coming fall.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>VOTE for your top teams! </strong><br>Vote for up to three programs you feel have the best shot at getting to the final weekend and lifting the title trophy. <br><em>*Below the poll is a brief overview of top returning talent for the listed teams. If your team is not listed in the poll, let us hear who you think should be considered.</em></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:embed {"url":"https://poll.fm/17286559","type":"rich","providerNameSlug":"crowdsignal","responsive":true} --> <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-crowdsignal wp-block-embed-crowdsignal"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://poll.fm/17286559 </div></figure> <!-- /wp:embed --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>SETON SAINTS</em></strong> - <strong>League:</strong> GGCL | <strong>2025</strong> = Division I State Champion</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners:</strong> 2027 = [player_tooltip player_id='480837' first='Charley' last='Moeddel'], MH; [player_tooltip player_id='480838' first='Makenna' last='Meibers'], OH; 2028 = [player_tooltip player_id='582224' first='Penelope' last='Reisman'], Setter; [player_tooltip player_id='582218' first='Maggie' last='Timmerman'], 2028 DS/L</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>ST. URSULA BULLDOGS</em></strong> - <strong>League: </strong>GGCL | <strong>2025</strong> = Division I Regional Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners: </strong>2027 = [player_tooltip player_id='480820' first='Lola' last='Waleskowski']; 2028 = [player_tooltip player_id='510903' first='Lowe' last='Long'], OH/RS; [player_tooltip player_id='582221' first='Kelsey' last='Bareswilt'], DS/L; [player_tooltip player_id='582234' first='Belle' last='Haas'], DS/L; 2029 = [player_tooltip player_id='582200' first='Lucy' last='Waleskowski'], S/RS; [player_tooltip player_id='778092' first='Parker' last='Terrill'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='774788' first='Jean' last='DeBow'], MH</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>URSULINE LIONS</em></strong> - <strong>League:</strong> GGCL | <strong>2025</strong> = Division III Regional Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners: </strong>2027 = [player_tooltip player_id='434971' first='Jillian' last='Forrest'], MH/RS; [player_tooltip player_id='592218' first='Alex' last='Morris'], OH; 2028 = [player_tooltip player_id='582202' first='Kelsey' last='Green'], S; [player_tooltip player_id='564942' first='Mina' last='Radaszewski'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='534194' first='Willow' last='Smith'], MH; 2029 = [player_tooltip player_id='774797' first='Natalie' last='Preyss'], DS/L</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>MENTOR CARDINALS</em></strong> - <strong>League:</strong> Greater Cleveland | <strong>2025</strong> = Division I State Runner-Up</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners:</strong> 2027 = [player_tooltip player_id='875509' first='Audri' last='VanHuss'], MH; <strong>Addison Keeper</strong>, S; [player_tooltip player_id='965253' first='Vaiva' last='Apanavicius'], S; 2029 = [player_tooltip player_id='783417' first='Ava' last='Garrett'], DS/L</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>STRONGSVILLE MUSTANGS</em></strong> - <strong>League: </strong>Greater Cleveland | <strong>2025</strong> = Division I Regional Semifinals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners:</strong> 2027= [player_tooltip player_id='481209' first='Payton' last='Beard'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='788216' first='Gianna' last='Grecol'], S; <strong>Ella O'Malley</strong>, DS/L; 2029 = [player_tooltip player_id='781288' first='Calette' last='Hicks'], OH</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>ST. JOSEPH ACADEMY JAGUARS</em></strong> - <strong>League: </strong>Independent | <strong>2025</strong> = Division I District Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners:</strong> 2027 = [player_tooltip player_id='480834' first='Anne' last='Culkar'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='569698' first='Milani' last='Marrero'], DS/L; <strong>Maddy Rosbough</strong>, RS; 2028 = [player_tooltip player_id='930136' first='Lily' last='Sanfilippo'], OH; 2029 = [player_tooltip player_id='740425' first='Stella' last='Welch'], S; [player_tooltip player_id='761537' first='Hadyn' last='Michalski'], OH; <strong>Bea Jarchow</strong>, MH; [player_tooltip player_id='779426' first='Ayla' last='Macecevic'], MH</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>JACKSON POLA BEARS</em></strong> - <strong>League:</strong> Federal | <strong>2025</strong> = Division I Regional Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners: </strong>2027 = [player_tooltip player_id='828347' first='Rebecca' last='Yockey'], MH; [player_tooltip player_id='763937' first='Morgan' last='Rosenberry'], S; 2028 = [player_tooltip player_id='955809' first='Maren' last='Evanto'], DS/L; 2029 = [player_tooltip player_id='503770' first='Brooklyn' last='Brownsword'], OH</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>MILFORD EAGLES</em></strong> - <strong>League:</strong> Eastern Cincinnati | <strong>2025</strong> = Division I Regional Semifinals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners:</strong> 2027 = [player_tooltip player_id='765288' first='Micaela' last='Davis'], S; 2028 = [player_tooltip player_id='582228' first='Lauren' last='Williams'], MH; [player_tooltip player_id='721287' first='Grace' last='Miracle'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='661888' first='Baechle' last='Mathes'], OH; 2029 = [player_tooltip player_id='774812' first='Lydia' last='Berube'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='914702' first='Piper' last='McCormick'], MH;<strong> Madi Long</strong>, S</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong><em>UPPER ARLINGTON GOLDEN BEARS</em></strong> - <strong>League:</strong> Ohio Capital-Central | <strong>2025</strong> = Division I District Finals</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:list --> <ul class="wp-block-list"><!-- wp:list-item --> <li><strong>Top returners: </strong>2027 = [player_tooltip player_id='830009' first='Ava' last='Montgomery'], OH; [player_tooltip player_id='875775' first='Nia' last='Fonoti'], S; 2028 = <strong>Gwen Radlinski</strong>, MH; 2029 = [player_tooltip player_id='774809' first='Roxy' last='Rigo'], OH/S</li> <!-- /wp:list-item --></ul> <!-- /wp:list -->