Columbus East High School

The Orange Pit was buzzing with excitement Thursday night as the Class 3A No. 4 Columbus East girls wrestling team faced off against the Class 3A No. 3 Franklin Grizzly Cubs in a tightly contested battle. Franklin, ranked No. 3 in the IndianaMat State Dual rankings and No. 7 in the Power Poll, narrowly edged out East, 40-33, in a match that showcased match strategy and top-tier wrestling talent. The evening began with Franklin taking an early lead thanks to a forfeit at 115 pounds. Columbus East quickly responded with back-to-back pins from fifth-ranked Taylor Engelking (120 pounds) and 11th-ranked Saige Plummer (125 pounds), giving the Olympians a 12-6 advantage. Franklin countered with a pin at 130 pounds, but Maddie Swartzentruber brought the crowd to its feet with a pin at 135 pounds, extending East's lead to 18-12. The Grizzly Cubs surged ahead with two pins and a major decision, flipping the scoreboard to 28-18. However, the Olympians weren’t finished. A decision from fourth-ranked Grace McMahon at 170 pounds and pins from top-ranked Monica McMahon (190 pounds) and 14th-ranked Maddie Schrader (235 pounds) catapulted East to a 33-28 advantage. The final three matches would decide the contest. With no entry at 100 pounds, Columbus East looked to secure an edge at 105 and 110 by adjusting its lineup. Despite the strategic move, Franklin closed the night with back-to-back pins to secure the narrow victory. The match was a showcase of the Olympians’ resilience and depth, especially in the upper weight classes. Despite the loss, Columbus East demonstrated why they’re a formidable force in the Indiana wrestling scene, holding their own against a higher-ranked Franklin squad. This thrilling dual meet highlighted the high stakes and intense competition of girls wrestling in Indiana, proving that both teams are among the elite in Class 3A. Columbus East will look to bounce back in their next matchup as they continue their pursuit of excellence. Sorry - Match stats were not available at the time of this post.