Columbus East High School

Olympians Punch Tickets to State: 12 Wrestlers Advance from South State Qualifier The future of Columbus East wrestling continues to shine as a dozen young Olympians officially secured their spots for the Indiana Frosh-Soph State Championships. Following a grueling day of competition at the 10th Annual South State Qualifier, Columbus East will be heavily represented when the action moves to Southport in two weeks. The qualifying roster includes a mix of battle-tested tournament veterans and rising stars who navigated one of the toughest regional brackets in the state. The Road to Southport: 2026 State Qualifiers According to the coaching staff, the following wrestlers have officially qualified to represent Columbus East at the State Finals: 106: Joel Smith (Auto-Qualifier) 113: Kade Stephens 144: Will Cochran, Colton Foster, Jayden Dehart, & Cameron Cooper (Auto-Qualifier) 150: Draven Day 165: Mario Mota 175: Henry Eickmeyer 190: Henry McMahon & Brady Cleary 285: Austin Ruse Note: Standouts Joel Smith (106) and Cameron Cooper (144) enter the Frosh-Soph state tournament as automatic qualifiers due to their Semi-State appearance during the IHSAA varsity season. Tournament Highlights: Grit on the Mats The Olympians didn't just participate; they dominated large stretches of the qualifier. Kade Stephens (113) led the medal count for the active competitors, carving through the consolation bracket to take 3rd Place with a 17-2 technical fall. The upper weights proved to be a " Orange " stronghold. At 190 lbs, Brady Cleary and Henry McMahon both stormed into the semifinals, finishing 4th and 6th respectively to lock in their state berths. At 175 lbs, Henry Eickmeyer put on a clinic in technical wrestling, racking up two tech falls and two pins on his way to a 4th-place finish. The middleweights saw a massive contingent advance at 144 lbs. Will Cochran, Colton Foster, and Jayden Dehart all battled through deep brackets to join teammate Cameron Cooper in the state lineup, giving the Olympians a formidable presence in that weight class. Building the Legacy This tournament is specifically designed for freshmen and sophomores who did not place at the IHSAA State Finals, providing a high-level atmosphere for the next generation of leaders. With 12 qualifiers heading to Southport, the Columbus East pipeline is clearly flowing with talent. The Olympians will spend the next two weeks refining their technique before taking the mat at Southport High School to chase state hardware. Feb. 28th - March 1st