Columbus East High School

The Columbus East wrestling team made a statement at Gainbridge Fieldhouse this Friday, putting on a clinic during the opening round of the IHSAA State Championship. In a high-stakes afternoon in Indianapolis, the Olympians showed exactly why they belong on the big stage, securing five victories out of six matches to keep their podium dreams alive. The Olympians also had the lead at the end of the evening for team scoring. It was awesome to see! Friday’s Opening Round Results It was a dominant showing for East, characterized by technical superiority and a "never quit" attitude. Here is how the individual matches shook out: | Weight | Result | Match Highlights | | **285** | Hank Redman (W) | Defeated Isaiah Coolman (LEO) via Fall at 5:41. | **215** | Clayton Miller (W) | Defeated Robert McKinney (LAJE) via Tech Fall, 16-0. | **190** | Colin McMahon (W) | Defeated Calvin Stewart (CPHS) via Tech Fall, 17-0. | **175** | Lincoln Cooper (W) | Defeated Michael Morton (RONC) via Tech Fall, 19-3. | **157** | Linkin Carter (L) | Caleb Cooper fell to Linkin Carter (EAST) in a 12-8 Decision. | **150** | Caleb Kirkpatrick (W) | Defeated Caden Rodgers (INCA) via 6-4 Decision. The Road to the Podium The Olympians were particularly lethal in the middle-to-heavyweight classes, racking up three Technical Falls. Clayton Miller (215), Colin McMahon (190), and Lincoln Cooper (175) all ended their matches early by building leads of 15 points or more, signaling that they are in peak form heading into the weekend. In the heavyweight division, Hank Redman provided the highlight of the session by pinning a 41-1 opponent in the final minutes of the match, proving that rankings don't matter once the whistle blows in Indy. While Caleb Cooper fought a tough battle in a narrow 12-8 decision against the states #1 wrestler, the momentum remains firmly with Columbus East. Five wrestlers have "punched their tickets" and will return to the mats today for the chance to be crowned State Champions. What’s Next? The action resumes today at 9:00 a.m. for the final rounds. It’s "all for the marbles" now as these five Olympians look to climb the podium and bring some hardware back to Columbus. Good luck, Olympians! Bring It!