INDIANAPOLIS — Following Columbus East’s senior Cayden Rooks’ state championship match, he performed a backflip in celebration after captured his second state title as an Olympian by defeating Wawasee’s Braxton Alexander by a 9-2 decision in the 138-pound final.
This is Rooks’ second state championship. The Indiana University recruit won the title as a sophomore at 120.
“My junior year was a bit of a letdown. It was cool to get to the finals, but it was not what I wanted,” Rooks said. “This year, it was all about me doing what I needed to do to win.”
East senior Nick South also is a champion at 170. The top-ranked Indiana University recruit finishes the season with an undefeated record of 44-0 after defeating Garrett’s Clayton Fielden by an 11-0 major decision in the finals.
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The title also is the second for South, who won the 160-pound championship last season.
“It feels amazing,” South said following his match.
In the consolation matches, senior Jake Schoenegge, who is ranked fifth in his weight class, took fifth place at 152 by defeating Isiah Levitz of Prairie Heights by pin in 1:12.
At 220, senior and top-ranked Jacob Bolte won a very close 5-4 decision over third-ranked Andrew Irick of Hamilton Southeastern in the third-place match.
The Olympians had one other wrestler in the state finals. Freshman Kade Law lost in the opening round on Friday night.
For a complete story and photos, please view online at therepublic.com and see Monday’s Republic.
