Columbus East High School

The Orange Pit was electric Thursday night as the Class 3A No. 1 Columbus East Olympians and Class 3A No. 3 Franklin Grizzly Cubs faced off in an intense wrestling match that lived up to its billing. In a contest filled with grit and determination, the Olympians clawed their way back from an early deficit to secure a thrilling 39-25 victory, solidifying their status as the team to beat in Class 3A Indiana wrestling. The energy in the gym mirrored the intensity on the mat, as the crowd roared with every takedown, reversal, and pin. This showdown between two powerhouse teams evoked memories of a classic movie line from Red Dawn (1984): Person One: “What started it?” Person Two: “I don’t know. Two toughest kids on the block, I guess. Sooner or later, they’re gonna fight.” Though this match wasn’t a war, it was a physical and emotional confrontation between two teams battling for supremacy, and Columbus East answered the call. Match Highlights The action began at 215 pounds, with Columbus East’s James Moss setting the tone for the night. Moss dominated his match with a 10-1 major decision over Colin Fellure, giving the Olympians an early 4-0 lead. Franklin quickly responded with back-to-back wins. Kellen Fellure pinned Dominic Piper in just 29 seconds at 285 pounds, and Landon Yeager secured a forfeit victory at 106 pounds, pushing Franklin ahead 12-4. The Olympians regained their footing with Ethan Poling’s hard-fought 4-0 decision at 113 pounds and Talon Jessup’s nail-biting 5-4 win at 120 pounds, closing the gap to 12-10. Franklin extended its lead again with a major decision at 126 pounds, as Oscar Garcia overpowered Wyatt Behnke 13-3. But Columbus East surged back thanks to a technical fall by Gage Rutan at 132 pounds (20-4) and another technical fall by Caleb Kirkpatrick at 144 pounds (17-2), swinging the momentum in their favor. The Turning Point Caleb Cooper’s dominant 16-5 major decision at 150 pounds and Lincoln Cooper’s technical fall at 157 pounds (20-5) gave the Olympians a commanding lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Clayton Miller followed with a 12-1 major decision at 165 pounds, solidifying East’s control. Franklin managed one last push, as Cori Tonte edged Hank Redman with an 8-5 decision at 175 pounds, but the night belonged to Columbus East. Colin McMahon sealed the victory with a dramatic third-period pin at 190 pounds, capping off a remarkable team performance. Final Results | Weight Class | Winner** | Result |Team Points | |------------------|-------------------------------------------|-----------------------|-----------------| | 215 | James Moss (Columbus East) | MD 10-1 | East 4-0 | | 285 | Kellen Fellure (Franklin Community) | Fall 0:29 | Franklin 6-4 | | 106 | Landon Yeager (Franklin Community) | Forfeit | Franklin 12-4 | | 113 | Ethan Poling (Columbus East) | Dec 4-0 | Franklin 12-7 | | 120 | Talon Jessup (Columbus East) | Dec 5-4 | Franklin 12-10 | | 126 | Oscar Garcia (Franklin Community) | MD 13-3 | Franklin 16-10 | | 132 | Gage Rutan (Columbus East) | TF 20-4 | East 15-16 | | 138 | Owen Trimpe (Franklin Community) | Fall 0:29 | Franklin 22-15 | | 144 | Caleb Kirkpatrick (Columbus East) | TF 17-2 | East 20-22 | | 150 | Caleb Cooper (Columbus East) | MD 16-5 | East 24-22 | | 157 | Lincoln Cooper (Columbus East) | TF 20-5 | East 29-22 | | 165 | Clayton Miller (Columbus East) | MD 12-1 | East 33-22 | | 175 | Cori Tonte (Franklin Community) | Dec 8-5 | East 33-25 | | 190 | Colin McMahon (Columbus East) | Fall 3:42 | East 39-25 | The Olympians Stand Tall This clash of titans showcased the best of Indiana wrestling, with Columbus East emerging victorious through a combination of power, skill, and determination. With the win, the Olympians cemented their position as a powerhouse in Class 3A and sent a message to future opponents: the road to the championship runs through Columbus East.