Columbus East High School

SOUTHPORT H.S. — The future of the Columbus East wrestling program looks bright after a great performance at this past weekend's Freshman-Sophomore State tournament at Southport High School. The Olympians proved they have plenty of firepower in the pipeline, coming home with three podium finishes and a heap of hard-earned experience. Leading the charge was freshman standout*Cameron Cooper, who marched all the way to the 144-pound championship match, ultimately securing a silver medal in one of the most competitive brackets of the tournament. Cooper’s Path to the Podium Cameron Cooper (144 lbs) was a force of nature early in the tournament. He opened his weekend with back-to-back 16-0 technical falls over opponents from Whiteland and South Central (Union Mills). Cooper didn’t slow down in the later rounds, picking up an injury default win over Tri-West and a second-period pin against Evansville North. In the semifinals, he dismantled his opponent from Franklin Central with a 13-2 major decision. In a razor-thin championship bout, Cooper fell just one point short in a 1-0 defensive battle against Boonville, earning a well-deserved 2nd place. Tough Performances from Stephens and Eickmeyer At 113 pounds, Kade Stephens showed the heart of a marathon runner. After a narrow sudden-victory loss in the Round of 16, Stephens took the long road through the consolation bracket. He reeled off four straight wins—including a pin over Indian Creek and a dominant 8-0 major decision over Lawrence North—to claw his way back to the podium. Stephens finished his marathon weekend with a 1-0 decision over Switzerland County to claim 5th place. Henry Eickmeyer (175 lbs) also found his way to the medal stand, finishing 8th overall. Eickmeyer’s highlight reel included a lightning-fast 15-0 technical fall (1:17) against New Prairie and a 9-2 decision over Bloomington North. Team Depth on Display The Olympians brought a deep squad to Southport, with several wrestlers narrowly missing the podium after multi-win runs: 190 lbs: Henry McMahon had a strong showing, going 3-2 on the weekend. His run included a shutout win over Rensselaer Central and a statement 8-0 major decision over Fishers H.S. 190 lbs: Brady Cleary contributed two pins for the Olympians, including a third-period fall over Fort Wayne North Side. 106 lbs: Joel Smith navigated a massive bracket to go 2-2, highlighted by a 14-1 major decision over Portage. 144 lbs: Jayden Dehart and Colton Foster combined for three wins in the 144-pound consolation rounds, showing the program's depth in the middle weights. Girls 170 lbs: Kyleigh Traylor represented the Orange and Brown in the girls' division, battling through two rounds of tough competition. Top Individual Results Summary | Wrestler | Weight | Place | Notable Win | | --- | --- | --- | --- | Cameron Cooper | 144 | 2nd | 13-2 Major Decision (Semis) | Kade Stephens | 113 | 5th | 1-0 Decision (5th Place Match) | Henry Eickmeyer | 175 | 8th| 15-0 Technical Fall (1:17) | Henry McMahon | 190 | — | 3-2 overall record | Joel Smith | 106 | — | 14-1 Major Decision | Draven Day | 150 | — | 15-0 Technical Fall | The Olympians will now look to carry this momentum into the off-season as they prepare to bolster the varsity lineup next winter. Great job Olympians!