Columbus East High School

EVANSVILLE, Ind. — The road to Gainbridge Fieldhouse runs through Evansville this Saturday, as the Columbus East wrestling team sends 11 qualifiers to the Ford Center for the IHSAA Semi-State. Coming off a strong runner-up finish at the Jeffersonville Regional, the Olympians are poised to battle for spots in the State Finals. The stakes are simple but high: the top four place winners in each weight class will advance to next weekend's state championship in Indianapolis. Crucial Fan Information: Time Zone Alert For Olympian fans traveling to support the team, please remember that Evansville is in the Central Time Zone, which is one hour behind Columbus (Eastern Time). Location: Ford Center, 1 SE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Evansville, IN 47708 Start Time: Wrestling begins at 9 a.m. CT (which is 10 a.m. ET). Plan your travel accordingly to arrive on time. Tickets and Streaming Fans are encouraged to purchase tickets digitally in advance. Official Ticket Link: Purchase Semi-State Tickets Here: https://public.eventlink.com/tickets?t=171913&p=262205 For those unable to make the trip, the IHSAA is offering a streaming option. Watch Online: IHSAAtv.org https://www.ihsaatv.org/ihsaachampionsnetwork/?B=3615043 Cost: A bundled package covering all four semi-state sites plus next weekend's state finals is available for $25. A semi-state only pass is $15. Apps: Available on iPhone, Android, Roku, Amazon Firestick, AppleTV, and Android TV via the IHSAAtv suite. First Round Matchups: The Olympians first round opponents from across southern and central Indiana. Here is the slate for the first round: 106 lbs: Joel Smith (18-16, Fr.) vs. Samuel Madsen (26-6, Fr.) — Evansville Mater Dei 126 lbs: Ty Brueche (16-12, Jr.) vs. David Bowman (30-2, Sr.) — Monrovia 132 lbs: Ethan Poling (21-3, Jr.) vs. Maddex Salee (26-11, Jr.) — Mt. Vernon (Posey) 144 lbs: Cameron Cooper (26-10, Fr.) vs. Traevaun Hopkins (26-5, Jr.) — Bloomington North 150 lbs: Caleb Kirkpatrick (33-5, Sr.) vs. Chase Kline (30-8, Jr.) — Avon 157 lbs: Caleb Cooper (30-5, Sr.) vs. Nolan Thomas (23-12, Jr.) — Whiteland Community 165 lbs: Aiden Miller (23-17, Sr.) vs. Sam May (29-7, Sr.) — Terre Haute South Vigo 175 lbs: Lincoln Cooper (35-1, Jr.) vs. Jedidiah McKinley (21-8, Sr.) — Tecumseh 190 lbs: Colin McMahon (33-4, Jr.) vs. James Smith (26-13, Jr.) — New Albany 215 lbs: Clayton Miller (31-6, Jr.) vs. Braydon Hughes (34-5, Sr.) — South Spencer 285 lbs: Hank Redman (33-4, Jr.) vs. Angus Machen (28-9, So.) — Tell City Good luck to all the Columbus East wrestlers as they look to punch their tickets to the State Finals!