Columbus East High School

As the Columbus East Olympians gear up for their inaugural IHSAA-sanctioned season, excitement fills the air. Leading the charge is Head Coach Ty Olds, ready to guide his team into uncharted territory as they prepare for their first meet on November 6th at Jennings County High School. In this Q&A session, Coach Olds shares his thoughts on the upcoming season and what fans can expect. What excites you the most about this season, especially with girls wrestling being a newly sanctioned sport? Coach Olds: "I think giving the girls an opportunity to develop through the sport of wrestling is exciting. I know what this sport can do for a young athlete, mentally and physically." Who are the key wrestlers returning or joining the team, and how do you see them leading or impacting the team? Coach Olds: "We are very lucky to be led by a great group of seniors. Monica and Grace McMahon have stepped into leadership roles. Eden Knight, Saige Plummer, and Madison Mount are also very key to the success and growth of our team. These five have put in a lot of time in the offseason, from recruiting to helping set up a brand-new program. Because of their efforts, we have some outstanding new recruits. With many underclassmen joining our team, we feel we can maintain our momentum moving forward." How have the wrestlers been preparing for this first official season in terms of technique and conditioning? Coach Olds: "Many of the girls competed during the offseason in our club. You could see the difference it made by dedicating so much time to their craft. That has rubbed off on our new wrestlers, and even in a short time, they are progressing quickly." What weight classes do you feel the team will be strongest in this season? Coach Olds: "Our returning girls are spread out through the lineup; we have a nice mixture of light weights, middle weights, and upper weights. But our upper weights are definitely going to be a problem for a lot of teams." Are there any specific tournaments or matchups you’re particularly excited about? Coach Olds: "I’ve tried to put us in some of the toughest tournaments I could find. I wanted to make sure we are tested during the season, so I believe everywhere we go, we will find good competition. I think I am really looking forward to Senior Night on December 10th vs. Bloomington South. We wrestled with many of them during the offseason, so we know they have been working very hard and will be ready to go." How do you plan to develop the newer wrestlers who are just starting their wrestling journey? Coach Olds: "Our newer wrestlers have already started making strides. Our experienced girls understand we need everyone competing at a high level to achieve our goals. We have made time to have them work together during practice to show them the right way to do things." What are your goals for postseason competition, such as sectionals, regionals, and potentially state? Coach Olds: "From day one, our goal is to win an IHSAA State Title and an IHSAA Team Dual State Title. We believe we have the athletes in place to be able to compete for both of those goals. It will take a lot of hard work and a total team effort to pull it off, but if they continue to develop at the pace they are now, it's attainable." With a strong group of returning seniors and a talented influx of underclassmen, Coach Olds and the Columbus East Olympians are ready to make waves in their first official season. Fans won’t want to miss the action as they chase state titles and build a legacy on the mat!