When Tom Pollert played in the first Columbus North vs. Columbus East boys soccer game, he didn’t notice it being a big rivalry.
But Pollert, who returned to Columbus North last season after coaching in Massachusetts for a few years, saw just how much the rivalry has developed. The Olympians scored a goal in the closing minutes to claim a 1-0 victory against the Bull Dogs last season, setting off a big orange-clad celebration.
“I never really knew this was a rivalry,” Pollert said. “I just grew up blue. All the guys from East, we played together forever, and it was just a game. I went out east for awhile, and I came back, and everybody is like, ‘Hey, there’s a Rivalry Week, and it’s a big deal.’ In the 78th minute last year, Columbus East put a goal in. The whole crowd ran on the field. The whole student body ran on the field. I thought, ‘I’m in a rivalry. I have to get my act together.’”
Pollert was one of six coaches to speak Monday at the Rotary Club’s annual East-North Week Luncheon at Donner Center. His North team will play East at around 7:15 p.m. Thursday at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex.
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“It’s always a great rivarly,” East boys soccer coach Brad Barber said. “We were excited when they were able to move things around to have so many events between East and North this week. We’re certainly looking forward to the match Thursday.”
One of Barber’s players for the Olympians, who are ranked No. 13 in Class 3A this week, is sophomore Branson Young. Young’s father David was an assistant for the East boys last season, but this year, took the head girls coaching job at North.
“It’s something special — Rivalry Week,” David Young said. “They’ve all grown up together, and that’s the thing that Columbus has different than most cities around Indiana. They have two high schools, and all those that play soccer have played together for years. They all respect one another.”
The East and North girls will meet at around 7:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Wigh Complex. That will be a battle of ranked teams, with the Olympians at No. 19 in 3A and the Bull Dogs at No. 20 in 3A.
“It’s a great rivalry,” East girls soccer coach Ilya Schwartzman said. “It’s great because we’ve coached all of them — or most of them — we’re friends with most of them. We’re friends before the game, we are foes during the game and we’re friends again after the game. I have a longtime relationship with the Columbus North coaching staff. I have great deal of respect for everything they do at North, but come Wednesday night, all of that is going to be scratched.”
The week will culminate with the annual East-North football game at 7 p.m. Friday at East. The battle will be one of six Great American Rivalry Series games across the country this week.
“It’s a great community,” East football coach Bob Gaddis said. “I’ve listened to all our coaches talk about what this means to this town. We tell our kids, ‘Don’t take this for granted.’ Columbus is a great community. It’s not like this everywhere. We’re in a unique situation, and it’s a great, great rivalry, it’s a fun week for the kids and we’re now back in the sectional with Columbus North. It used to be great getting the week over with and just moving on because the kids know each other, and it’s a fun week.”
The Olympians, who opened the season ranked No. 10 in their first year in 6A, are 1-0 following a 40-19 win at 5A No. 8 Whiteland on Friday. The Bull Dogs opened their season with a 48-14 loss at 6A No. 5 Avon at Lucas Oil Stadium.
“We’re still optimistic for a successful 2019 team and plan to improve every week,” North football coach Tim Bless said. “Here we are Week 2 vs. the Olympians. What a fun challenge that will be, playing one of Indiana’s finest football programs, led by coach Gaddis. Add to it the magnitude of the crosstown rivalry, it’s simply high school athletics at its finest.”
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This is rivalry week in Columbus. Columbus East and Columbus North will meet in six of the eight fall sports this week. Here is the schedule:
Today: Boys tennis at North, 4:30 p.m.
Today: Boys and girls cross-country at Ceraland, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday: Girls soccer at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex, 5:30 p.m. (JV) and 7:15 p.m. (varsity)
Thursday: Boys soccer at Richard Wigh Soccer Complex, 5:30 p.m. (JV) and 7:15 p.m. (varsity)
Friday: Football at East, 7 p.m.
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