Columbus East High School

The Columbus East Olympian boys wrestling team showcased resilience and determination at the 46th Annual Al Smith Invitational, a prestigious event featuring some of Indiana's top high school wrestling programs, including #2 and #3 in the 4A class and four of the top Class 3A teams. Despite forfeiting two weight classes at 106 lbs and 215 lbs, the Olympians managed an impressive 10th place finish in the team standings. Team Scores: 1 CROWN POINT HIGH SCHOOL 293.5 2 CENTER GROVE HIGH SCHOOL 261.5 3 LOWELL HIGH SCHOOL 165.0 4 BLOOMINGTON SOUTH HS 164.5 5 WARREN CENTRAL 145.5 6 GARRETT HIGH SCHOOL 144.0 7 PENN HIGH SCHOOL 143.0 8 NEW PRAIRIE HIGH SCHOOL 141.5 9 PORTAGE HIGH SCHOOL 132.5 10 COLUMBUS EAST HIGH SCHOOL 131.5 11 WESTFIELD HIGH SCHOOL 123.0 12 MERRILLVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 120.5 13 INDIANAPOLIS CATHEDRAL 119.5 14 ZIONSVILLE HIGH SCHOOL 94.5 15 CHESTERTON HIGH SCHOOL 86.0 16 PRAIRIE HEIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL 79.0 17 HOBART HIGH SCHOOL 75.5 17 MISHAWAKA HIGH SCHOOL 75.5 19 ELKHART HIGH SCHOOL 73.0 20 LAKE CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL 70.5 21 BELLMONT HS 67.5 22 WARSAW HIGH SCHOOL 66.0 23 FT WAYNE SNIDER 65.0 24 WAWASEE HIGH SCHOOL 56.0 25 SB RILEY HIGH SCHOOL 44.5 26 NORTHWOOD HIGH SCHOOL 43.5 26 PERU HIGH SCHOOL 43.5 28 JIMTOWN HIGH SCHOOL 39.0 29 WESTERN HIGH SCHOOL 38.5 30 PLYMOUTH HIGH SCHOOL 29.0 31 LAPORTE HIGH SCHOOL 28.5 32 MOUNT VERNON 24.0 Key Performances The Olympians were led by standout performances across multiple weight classes, with several athletes placing and contributing significant team points. 150 lbs: Lincoln Cooper stole the spotlight, claiming 1st place with dominant victories throughout the tournament, including a decisive 8-2 win in the championship match. Cooper’s undefeated performance earned him 27.5 team points. 132 lbs: Gage Rutan continued his strong season, battling to a 4th-place finish and scoring 18.5 team points. His run included multiple technical falls and major decisions. 138 lbs: Caleb Kirkpatrick mirrored Rutan’s success, also finishing 4th and earning 20.0 team points. Kirkpatrick’s aggressive style resulted in several pins and tightly contested matches against tough opponents. 144 lbs: Caleb Cooper placed 6th, showcasing grit in a deep bracket to contribute 12.5 points to the team score. 190 lbs: Colin McMahon fought his way to a 6th-place finish, adding 12.0 points with a series of technical falls and a thrilling sudden victory win in the quarterfinals. 165 lbs: Clayton Miller secured 8th place, adding 13.5 points with a mix of technical falls and hard-fought decisions. Overcoming Adversity With forfeits at the 106 lbs and 215 lbs weight classes, the Olympians faced a steep uphill battle. Yet, the team displayed remarkable depth and tenacity, with key contributions from athletes like Ethan Poling (113lbs), who notched two falls early in the tournament, and Talon Jessup (120 lbs), who started strong before being sidelined due to injury. Jessup, who is also in contention to medal/win for the Olympians, was injured on Friday and was not allowed to wrestle on Saturday, which also hurt the Olympians in team scoring category. His injury status is unknown at the time of this post. A Team Effort While individual performances highlighted the event, the Olympians’ collective effort underscores their ability to compete at a high level against elite competition. The top-10 finish at the Al Smith Invitational is a testament to the team’s preparation, grit, and determination to overcome challenges. As the season progresses, the Columbus East Olympians will use the Al Smith experience, setting their sights on a upcoming January 8th dual with 4A #7 Indianapolis Cathedral and the IHSWCA Team State Duals on January 11th. Depending on the O's injury status, they could be one of the three teams who are favored to win the 3A team state duals.