'I know my goals’: Watterson boys wrestling’s Rowlands ready for another shot at state
Tuesday, December 23, 2025
By Michael Rich
mrichnotwealthy@gmail.com
Watterson sophomore Tommy Rowlands competes at 157 pounds with Asa Yost of Parkersburg South (WV) at the Liberty Classic this past weekend. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Tommy Rowlands couldn’t wait to get back on the mat. So, when the Watterson boys wrestling team opened its season Dec. 6, the sophomore grappler was there. Rowlands was in Hebron that morning after helping the Eagles football team to its second consecutive state championship in Canton the day before.
Rowlands, a linebacker and running back, had two tackles in Watterson’s 30-0 win over Toledo Central Catholic to earn a Division III state title.
While his football teammates were celebrating the fruits of their labor, Rowlands was ready for wrestling season. He was home and in bed before midnight and up early the next morning.
“It was hard, but I had to get through it,” said Rowlands, who took first at Lakewood’s Josh Taylor Memorial Invitational at 157 pounds. “I know my goals. Just having that experience before the (Olentangy Liberty Classic Dec. 19-20), which was a real test, helped me a lot.”
This is a season of unfinished business for Rowlands, whose father of the same name won two national titles at Ohio State and is a member of the National Wrestling Hall of Fame. The elder Rowlands won two state titles at Ready.
The younger Rowlands had a goal of winning four state titles. But he took second place at last year’s Division II state tournament,
Even though he helped the Eagles capture their first championship as a team, an 18-0 technical fall loss to Hartley’s Aiden King in the 138 final left a bitter taste in his mouth.
“I had my chance,” said Rowlands, who finished 38-8 as a freshman. “I didn’t really take advantage of it. I wrestled (King) multiple times last year and they were all close – the week before (at district) was in overtime (before King won 8-5). Going into (state), I was really nervous and I kind of let it get to me.”
Watterson senior Michael Boyle, a two-time state champion, takes control of his 215-pound match with Olentangy Liberty’s Jackson Lane at Liberty last Saturday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
Rowlands has finished in first place in all three tournaments in which he’s participated in this season, including the Watterson Invitational Dec. 23.
“Tommy does everything right and he puts in the extra work,” first-year coach Kevin Petrella said. “He was working out with us the whole time. Heck, he wrestled the day after winning the state title (in football).
“He had narrowed the gap (with King). They had wrestled several times (last season). But that day just wasn’t his day. It was a great experience for Tommy. If he’s in that position again, it’s going to be a little bit easier to deal with.”
The Eagles won their own invite with 247 points ahead of Sandusky Perkins (159.5), who finished second of 15 scoring teams.
Sophomore Thomas Lindsay (144), senior James Lindsay (150), junior James Krzyzewski (175), sophomore Landon Lucas (190) and junior Michael Boyle (215) each won top honors, for the Eagles, who compete next at the West Jefferson Invitational Dec. 29-30.
Petrella led rival Hartley for the last 15 seasons before resigning in May. He didn’t plan to return to coaching so soon, but the opportunity to coach the Eagles was too good to pass up.
Patrella succeeds Felix Catheline, who resurrected the program in 2018 after a two-year hiatus.
“Honestly, (taking over the program) was pretty unexpected,” Petrella said. “The original plan was to volunteer a little bit and catch my breath. (It’s) a great opportunity. They just have everything in line. There’s a lot of good people involved and a lot of good families involved.”
Watterson senior James Lindsay prepares to wrestle Dublin Jerome’s Daksh Adengada in the 150-pound bracket at the Liberty Classic Saturday. Photo: Kevin Rouch
The Eagles have started strong this season. They were second (264.5) of 13 scoring teams behind Barnesville at Lakewood to open the season and scored 216 points to finish third of 24 scoring teams at the Liberty Classic.
They also finished with 47 points to finish 12th of 13 scoring teams with just four wrestlers at London’s Harry Steel Invitational Dec. 13.
“There’s just so many people helping – people like coach (Ross) Thatcher, Phil Anglim and (the elder) Tommy Rowlands,” Petrella said. “The biggest thing for me is they have a blueprint that’s worked. I feel like my job is to bring added value, not change.”
The younger Rowlands is one of four returning state qualifiers along with Boyle, James Lindsay and Thomas Lindsay.
The Eagles scored 108 points to win their first state championship, besting second place and rival DeSales (74.5) in Division II as 81 teams scored.
Boyle won his second state title, finishing 25-2 at 215, James Lindsay finished second at state last year at 150 and finished 46-5, and Thomas Lindsay went 3-2 at 132 to finish 28-4. Boyle, an Ohio State commit, won his first title as a freshman at 165.
“There’s more pressure that comes with winning (another state championship),” Boyle said. “You just have to make it a non-factor. You just have to make it about getting better and wrestling to the best of your ability every time.”
Boyle, a first-team all-Ohio selection as a defensive end in football, has evolved over the last couple of years.
“Freshman year (was about being) in the best shape I possibly could be and go out and wrestle 100%,” he said. “This year, that’s still a focus of mine. But I want to use wrestling – get better at the actual wrestling – than using just straight willpower. At the next level, I’m going to need both, so I might as well start now.”
Thomas Lindsay, a Watterson sophomore, wrestles Big Walnut’s Cian Salonsky in the 138-pound semifinal at the Liberty Classic this past weekend. Photo: Kevin Rouch