The nation’s top wrestling conference just added another Columbus East wrestler.
Senior Jacob Bolte announced on Twitter Monday night that he was committing to Purdue. He will be the fourth Olympian to compete in the Big Ten next year.
"My dream has always been to go to school at Purdue," Bolte said. "I currently have two older siblings that go there now, also. Purdue is a Big Ten wrestling team, which is the best conference right now in wrestling. The coaching staff is really great. They were very open through this whole process about how they see me fitting into the program, which was nicer."
East graduate Graham Rooks, who won a state title at 132 pounds last season, is a freshman at Indiana University. His brother Cayden, the 2017 state champ at 120, and Nick South, last year’s state champ at 160, are seniors at East and headed to IU next season.
[sc:text-divider text-divider-title=”Story continues below gallery” ]
Bolte, who will walk on for the Boilermakers, was a state qualifier at 220 pounds in a junior year where he went 31-9 and won sectional and regional titles.
"My current wrestling coach (Chris Cooper) has been a great help to my wrestling career, and I would not have gotten to the point I am at without coach Cooper and the rest of the coaching staff at East," Bolte said.
A two-sport standout, Bolte currently is winding down his senior football season. He is a two-year starter on the offensive line.
Last year, Bolte was the left tackle for last year’s Class 5A state championship squad.
"He’s been very consistent for us as a starter for two years," East football coach Bob Gaddis said. "Last year, he earned the left tackle job. This year, we’ve actually moved him around quite a bit trying to find the right combination with the offensive line."
Bolte began this season at right guard. He moved back to left tackle for a couple of games before the coaches put him back at right guard two weeks ago.
"He’s pretty comfortable there if he has to block a big defensive tackle or if he has to chase linebackers," Gaddis said. "You have to be pretty versatile, and he’s done a good job of that. He’s just a great leader by example. He works tremendously hard."
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”Jacob Bolte” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Name: Jacob Bolte
School: Columbus East
Year: Senior
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 235
Sports: Wrestling, football
College choice: Purdue
[sc:pullout-text-end]
