Columbus East High School

Olympians Stand Tall: Columbus East Grapples to Top 10 Finish at State INDIANAPOLIS — The lights of Gainbridge Fieldhouse have a way of magnifying both the pressure and the glory of the IHSAA State Championship. For the Columbus East Olympians, the bright lights served as a backdrop for a masterclass in resilience. After a strong opening Friday night, the "O’s" carried their momentum into Saturday’s championship rounds, battling their way to an impressive 8th place team finish in the state with 48.5 points. In a field dominated by the state's elite programs, Columbus East proved they belong among the best, finishing ahead of perennial powerhouses like Indianapolis Cathedral and Evansville Mater Dei. The Leaderboard: Top 10 Team Scores | Rank | School | Points | | --- | --- | --- | | 1st | Center Grove | 137 | | 2nd | Brownsburg | 133.5 | | 3rd | Crown Point | 86.5 | | **8th** | **Columbus East** | **48.5** | | 9th | Indianapolis Cathedral | 47.5 | | 10th | Evansville Mater Dei | 40.5 | Individual Heroics: Five Olympians Reach the Podium The Olympians' Top 10 finish was fueled by five individual wrestlers who fought through grueling brackets to earn their spots on the podium. The Bronze Standard: Cooper and McMahon Lincoln Cooper (175 lbs)and Colin McMahon (190 lbs) both capped off spectacular seasons by claiming 3rd place in the state. Cooper showcased his dominance early with a 19-3 Tech Fall in the round of 16 and a clinical 6-0 shutout in the quarterfinals. After a tough semifinal loss, he bounced back in the 3rd-place match, outlasting Crown Point’s Griffin Van Tichelt in a 6-2 Tiebreaker. McMahon followed a similar path of destruction, racking up a 17-0 Tech Fall and a 14-6 Major Decision to reach the semis. He secured his 3rd place medal with a thrilling 11-8 Sudden Victory over Cathedral’s Kyle Harden. Gritting it Out: Miller, Kirkpatrick, and Redman Clayton Miller (215 lbs): Miller showed incredible heart in the consolation bracket. After a quarterfinal setback, he stormed back to win a 7-2 decision in the consolation semis and edged out New Palestine’s Colin Whetsel 7-6 to claim 5th place. Caleb Kirkpatrick (150 lbs): Kirkpatrick stayed composed under pressure, winning his opening round 6-4. He finished his tournament on a high note, dominating Cowan’s Ashton Goney 7-1 to secure 7th place. Hank Redman (285 lbs): In the heavyweight division, Redman provided one of the tournament's highlights with a dramatic pin (5:41) over Leo’s Isaiah Coolman in the opening round. He battled through a tough Saturday to finish as the 8th place medalist in the state. A Proud Legacy The 2026 State Finals will be remembered as a weekend where Olympian Nation saw its wrestlers give everything they had on the mat. With five state placers and a Top 10 team ranking, the Orange and Brown have once again solidified their status as a wrestling force in Indiana. Congratulations, O's!