​Stark County wrestling could stand to be more balanced this winter with a trio of high-profile transfers joining a league rival, reshaping the competitive landscape. All-Americans Caige and Xander Horak, along with Lincoln Rohr—state placers at Perry, a powerhouse in the Federal League—will compete for Jackson High School after moving in during the offseason. The three athletes all reside in Jackson Township, so the transition feels less like a transfer and more like a return home for them.
The Horak brothers and Rohr contributed to Perry’s strong finish last season, helping the Panthers tie for third place as a team at the Ohio High School Athletic Association Division I state wrestling tournament. For the 2025-26 school year, Caige and Xander Horak competed for Jackson, while Rohr has already completed the transfer of his academic and athletic paperwork and is set to join Jackson for the start of the upcoming school year. Because Perry operates with open enrollment, the trio can move to their home district without having to sit out any time on the mat.
Caige Horak, a Pitt commit and a three-time state placer, finished last season as the Division I state runner-up at 190 pounds and earned Fargo All-American honors. His move to Jackson is part of a broader plan to elevate the program’s trajectory. His father, John Horak, explained, “It was just time. Jackson has a great school system, and we’re looking forward to the opportunity to change the program’s trajectory.” He added that Jackson’s resources and facilities resemble those of a Division I program, and the family hopes their arrival will draw new attention to the program and open up additional opportunities for the team.
Xander Horak, despite missing much of the previous season due to injury, is also a state placer and Fargo All-American. He will be entering his junior year at Jackson, continuing to build on a résumé that includes elite national recognition and a commitment to wrestling at the highest levels.
Rohr, the grandson of Perry legend Dave Riggs, is a three-time state placer and a Fargo All-American. Riggs noted that Rohr is returning to his home school with the goal of surrounding himself with familiar faces and enhanced training opportunities. “He’s going back to his home school,” Riggs said, “and he just wants to have another environment for himself to train in and be with the Horaks and be at Jackson with all the Jackson kids and coaches.” Rohr’s move is significant not only for him personally but for the Jackson program as well, which has benefited from Riggs’s decades of wrestling experience at Perry and now gains his guidance as an assistant coach.
Riggs, who will serve as an assistant coach for the Polar Bears next season under Jackson head coach Ronnie Hepner, brings a remarkable legacy to the program. Over 35 years of coaching, including 29 at Perry, Riggs has mentored 30 state champions, 18 runners-up, 106 state placers, and 175 state qualifiers. Perry’s accomplishments under his leadership include a team state title in 2014, nine runner-up finishes, a dual state title in 2014, and 21 Federal League championships. His impact on Perry’s wrestling culture and success is widely recognized, and his decision to join Jackson’s staff signals a meaningful crossover of coaching expertise and competitive know-how between the two programs.
With the Horaks and Rohr heading to Jackson, the dynamic within Stark County’s wrestling scene shifts significantly. The move is framed by statements from Riggs and the Horaks’ father that emphasize returning home, leveraging Jackson’s training environment, and elevating the overall level of competition. For Jackson, bringing these three standout athletes to the program should translate into immediate on-mat impact and serve as a catalyst for attracting additional talent and resources.
As the upcoming season approaches, the landscape promises to become more balanced and dynamic. Jackson’s roster is strengthened by these transfers, and the national profiles of Caige and Xander Horak, along with Rohr’s established success, will likely draw increased attention from wrestling enthusiasts and scouts alike. The ongoing narrative centers on Jackson’s potential to capitalize on this opportunity, harness the talent pool, and demonstrate that the program can compete at the highest levels while providing a pathway for its athletes to pursue elite competition and collegiate opportunities.