Because of the postponement of the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament on Saturday, the Columbus East wrestling team has had to wait an extra week to try to claim its first HHC title since 2011.
The 19th-ranked Olympians will enter the conference tourney, which has been rescheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday at Jennings County, as the favorite. East is seeded No. 1 or No. 2 in nine of the 14 weight classes.
Cayden Rooks (120 pounds), Graham Rooks (126), Dawson Combest (132) and Andy Davidson (152) are top seeds for the Olympians. Jake Schoenegge (138), Corban Pollitt (145), Austin Wilson (160), Lane Goode (182) and Austin Sheckles (220) all are seeded No. 2; while Hunter Dickmeyer (170) is a No. 3 seed.
Like East, the host Panthers have four No. 1 seeds. Victor Antunez (113), Brooks Wathen (145), Zane Beineke (160) and Brendon Sutton (285) are top seeds. Dalton Craig (126) is a No. 2 seed, and Kyle Nugent (120) is a No. 3 seed.
The Panthers are three-time defending HHC champions. They, along with Floyd Central, hope to give the Olympians a run for the title.
“There are a lot of good teams there,” East coach Chris Cooper said. “Floyd Central has had a great season. Jeffersonville is as good as they’ve been in the past. Jennings County, New Albany … our conference just gets better every year. I feel like we’re the favored team, but we’re going to have to show up and wrestle well to win.”
Girls state rescheduled
Columbus East’s lone female wrestler, Emma Mensendiek, was set to compete in the first girls wrestling state finals Friday, but that event also was postponed.
Mensendiek qualified with a second-place finish in the 106-pound class in the Franklin Regional. The state meet has been rescheduled for 6:45 p.m. Friday at Hamilton Heights.
Bull Dogs still alive
The Columbus North girls basketball team can win at least a share of a sixth consecutive Conference Indiana title Friday night, but it needs a little help.
If the Bull Dogs (14-5, 5-1) beat Bloomington North (5-13, 0-5) at home on Friday and Southport (11-6, 4-1) can knock off Perry Meridian (10-7, 4-0) at home, that would create a three-way tie in the loss column atop the standings. Columbus North would have competed its conference schedule at 6-1.
Perry Meridian, which handed the Bull Dogs their first conference loss in five years on Jan. 7, still has to play at Terre Haute South (7-9, 2-2) on Saturday and at home against Bloomington South (8-9, 2-3) on Jan. 26. Southport hosts Terre Haute South on Jan. 26.
Jets lead Mid-Hoosier
Columbus North isn’t the only local girls basketball team with conference title aspirations. Hauser is in the driver’s seat as the only unbeaten remaining in the Mid-Hoosier Conference.
The Jets (11-6, 4-0) have big games tonight at second-place Morristown (11-7, 4-1) and Tuesday at home against third-place North Decatur (8-11, 3-1). A win in either of those games would give Hauser at least a share of the MHC title, and wins in both would clinch it outright.
East-NA tickets on sale
Columbus East is making plans for an anticipated large crowd and possible sellout for its Feb. 4 boys basketball game against New Albany. The junior varsity game will be at 12:30 p.m., with the varsity game to follow at around 2 p.m.
Tickets are on sale in the East athletics office. Season athletics pass holders and BCSC employees must come into the athletics office and pick up a ticket to be guaranteed admittance if the game is sold out. Season pass holders must provide a pass for each family member requesting a ticket.
Tickets are $5. If young children take up a seat, they will need a ticket, regardless of age. For $10, East fans can get a ticket, T-shirt and $5 Subway card.
New Albany is the defending Class 4A state champion and features one of the nation’s top players and recruits in junior Romeo Langford.
Gymnastics time changed
Tonight’s New Palestine at Columbus North gymnastics meet will begin at 6 p.m. Some schedules had the meet starting at 7 p.m.
