The Columbus East wrestlers are coming off one of their best seasons ever, and that success carried over into the summer.
The Olympians, who won sectional and regional titles and finished third in the semistate last season, had a big couple of months. Most of their losses came against All-Star teams.
“It’s been a great summer,” East coach Chris Cooper said. “We had a lot of trips. We had a lot of guys that got quite a bit of matches in.”
Last weekend, the Olympians went 2-3 against mostly All-Star teams in the Grand River Rumble in Lansing, Michigan. Cayden Rooks (120 pounds), Graham Rooks (126), Jake Schoenegge (138) and Nick South (152) all went undefeated. Dawson Combest (132) lost once but won the individual tournament, and Corban Pollitt (145) lost once and injury defaulted in the quarterfinals.
The highlight of the summer came at the Disney Duals in Orlando, Florida, where East went 9-3 and finished seventh in the nation. Cayden Rooks, Graham Rooks, Combest, Schoenegge, Pollitt and South made All-American honors, along with two wrestlers from other schools that the Olympians picked up — Carson Brewer of Avon (170) and Brady Shepherd of Jennings County (285). Graham Rooks, Combest and Brewer all went 12-0 at Disney, while Cayden Rooks and Schoeneggge went 12-1.
Also this summer, East went 2-4 against mostly All-Star teams at the NHFCA Duals in Virginia, went 8-1 at the Border Wars at Mt. Vernon (Posey) and went 4-1 to finish second at the Yorktown Duals.
Cayden Rooks, who will be a junior, is the reigning state champion at 120. Graham Rooks and Combest, who will be seniors, are multiple-time state place-winners. Schoenegge, who will be a junior, and Pollitt, who will be a senior, also qualified for state last season.
Cooper said most his kids have wrestled in the neighborhood of 50 matches since the school year ended.
“We spent tons of time wrestling all summer,” Cooper said. “We got a lot of good experience in, and we’re excited for the season.”
Girls coach to lead boys team
Matt Malinsky, who has coached the Columbus East girls tennis team the past two years, will coach the East boys tennis team this fall.
Malinsky, who also has been a boys assistant coach, replaces veteran coach Jim Stone.
North football to host outing
The Columbus North football team will host its Fourth Annual Golf For the Gridiron outing at 1 p.m. Friday at Harrison Lake Country Club. Registration will begin at 11 a.m., and lunch will be at noon.
Cost is $100 per player or $400 per team and includes greens fees, cart, range balls, lunch, refreshments and the chance to win prizes. Sponsorships are available, ranging from $125 to $800.
For more information, contact Carol Behling at 812-371-3325 or [email protected] or Karen Redding at 812-371-6565 or [email protected].
