Columbus East High School

The Columbus East boys wrestling team battled on Saturday, securing an impressive third-place finish at the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association (IHSWCA) 3A State Duals. The Olympians navigated a day filled with intense matchups, showcasing their strength and resilience on the mats. The tournament began with Columbus East receiving a first-round bye, positioning them for a quarterfinal clash against Bloomington South. The Olympians overpowered their opponents with a decisive 42-24 victory, fueled by standout performances from multiple weight classes. Gage Rutan (132 lbs) and Caleb Kirkpatrick (138 lbs) delivered dominant technical falls, while Lincoln Cooper (150 lbs) secured a thrilling 12-10 decision. James Moss (215 lbs) and Dominic Piper (285 lbs) punctuated the win with commanding performances. The semifinals brought a dramatic encounter against Roncalli, a match that came down to the wire. The Olympians fell just short in a 36-33 nail-biter, with a forfeit at the 106-pound weight class proving to be the pivotal difference. Despite the setback, several wrestlers shone, including Aiden Miller (157 lbs) and Lincoln Cooper (150 lbs), both delivering crucial pins. Colin McMahon (190 lbs) continued his dominance with a technical fall victory. With their championship hopes dashed, the Olympians regrouped for a third-place showdown against Floyd Central. Demonstrating perseverance and team spirit, Columbus East claimed a 40-22 victory. Notable contributions came from Ethan Poling (113 lbs) with a commanding technical fall, Wyatt Behnke (126 lbs) with a flawless performance, and Hank Redman (175 lbs), who pinned his opponent in 2:37. James Moss capped off a stellar day with a solid decision at 215 lbs. Roncalli went on to win the 3A State Dual Championship, but Columbus East’s performance stood as a testament to their determination and talent. Columbus East Wrestling Results: Quarterfinal: Columbus East 42, Bloomington South 24 106: Nick Russell (Bloomington South) won by forfeit 113: Ethan Poling (Columbus East) over Jaxsen Jean (TF 16-1) 120: Cameron Meier (Bloomington South) won by forfeit 126: Mark Hand (Bloomington South) dec. Wyatt Behnke 14-7 132: Gage Rutan (Columbus East) over Brian Conley (TF 16-1) 138: Caleb Kirkpatrick (Columbus East) over Amrin Pratt (Maj 9-1) 144: Caleb Cooper (Columbus East) over Wayne Harden (TF 18-2) 150: Lincoln Cooper (Columbus East) dec. Wyatt Cooksey 12-10 157: Hunter Fender (Bloomington South) dec. Aiden Miller 1-0 165: Evan Roudebush (Bloomington South) pinned Clayton Miller 2:51 175: Hank Redman (Columbus East) over Denny Allgood (TF 16-0) 190: Colin McMahon (Columbus East) over Oliver Piwoszkin (TF 15-0) 215: James Moss (Columbus East) over Mason Grubb (Maj 14-3) 285: Dominic Piper (Columbus East) pinned Beau Badger 1:22 Semifinal: Roncalli 36, Columbus East 33 106: Carter Sanford (Roncalli) won by forfeit 113: Peyton Schoettle (Roncalli) pinned Bentley Newman 0:45 120: Blake Getz (Roncalli) pinned Ethan Poling 1:05 126: Gavyn Kemp (Roncalli) pinned Wyatt Behnke 1:02 132: Gage Rutan (Columbus East) over Jack Richardson (Maj 11-2) 138: Caleb Kirkpatrick (Columbus East) over Andrew McHugh (Dec 9-4) 144: Alex Plahitko (Roncalli) pinned Caleb Cooper 1:25 150: Lincoln Cooper (Columbus East) pinned Danny Kappes 3:38 157: Aiden Miller (Columbus East) pinned Denis Ruplinger 0:32 165: Clayton Miller (Columbus East) dec. James Dozier 18-13 175: Hank Redman (Columbus East) dec. MJ Morton 4-0 190: Colin McMahon (Columbus East) over Gray Wiley (TF 20-4) 215: James Moss (Columbus East) dec. Sam Neu 7-1 285: Zane Baker (Roncalli) pinned Dominic Piper 0:35 Third Place: Columbus East 40, Floyd Central 22 106: Trey Pinter (Floyd Central) won by forfeit 113: Ethan Poling (Columbus East) over Kodi Hughes (TF 15-0) 120: Leblanc Phan (Floyd Central) pinned Ayden Hamm 1:47 126: Wyatt Behnke (Columbus East) over Levi Meland (TF 15-0) 132: Tony Kessinger (Floyd Central) over Gage Rutan (Maj 18-5) 138: Caleb Kirkpatrick (Columbus East) over Hunter Banet (Dec 1-0) 144: Caleb Cooper (Columbus East) over Vince Kessinger (Dec 6-5) 150: Lincoln Cooper (Columbus East) pinned Varric Wright 0:45 157: Graham Ehringer (Floyd Central) dec. Aiden Miller 6-1 165: Clayton Miller (Columbus East) over Noah Ward (Maj 14-0) 175: Hank Redman (Columbus East) pinned Colton Philpot 2:37 190: Colin McMahon (Columbus East) over Spencer Fain (TF 15-0) 215: James Moss (Columbus East) dec. Kenny Ward 7-3 285: Bobby Garvis (Floyd Central) dec. Dominic Piper 1-0 With an outstanding collective effort, the Olympians can celebrate a hard-fought journey and prepare for even greater challenges ahead.