Four Columbus East wrestlers who ended their seasons at the state finals will have a chance to represent the state of Indiana at this weekend’s Indiana vs. Illinois All-Star Dual at Culver.
Seniors Cayden Rooks, Nick South, Jacob Bolte and Jake Schoenegge will compete for the Hoosier state. Rooks at 138 pounds and South at 170 won state championships last month, while Bolte finished third at 220 and Schoenegge placed fifth at 152.
“It’s always exciting to compete with the best in other states just to see where you’re at,” South said.
South and Rooks both will wrestle at Indiana University next season. Bolte will compete for Purdue.
Before becoming Big Ten Conference rivals, they’ll be on the same team one last time.
“I think it’s going to be pretty fun,” Rooks said. “I love wrestling, so anytime I can get a wrestling match is a lot of fun.”
Bull Dogs earn honors
Columbus North’s Conference Indiana runner-up boys and girls basketball teams each placed three players on the All-Conference squads and one on honorable mention.
Sophomore Blake Barker, junior Nick Schiavello and senior Trenton Kelley made the boys first team. Sophomore Reese Harmon was named honorable mention.
Sophomore Alexa McKinley, senior Nadia Lomax and junior Tessa Lomax made the girls first team. Junior Annie Anderson was honorable mention.
Meanwhile, two Bull Dog coaches who led their teams to conference championships were named Coach of the Year — Logan Schaefer in boys swimming and Sandy Freshour in gymnastics. All-Conference teams in those sports, along with wrestling and girls swimming, were decided at the conference meets.
Locals picked for All-MHC
Five area boys and two area girls have been selected to this year’s All-Mid-Hoosier Conference basketball teams.
Hauser seniors Sean Miller and Will Trotter, Edinburgh seniors Bryce Burton and Colton Henderson and South Decatur sophomore Lane Lauderbaugh made first team. Hauser junior Jackson Paradise is an honorable mention selection.
Edinburgh junior Destiney Ramey and South Decatur senior Madison Owens made the All-MHC girls first team. Honorable mention selections include Hauser sophomore Hannah Johnson and juniors Bree Hadley, Mel Hasler and Shelby Fugate and Edinburgh junior Haven Link and sophomore Annelise Lollar.
Crusader named All-State
Columbus Christian senior Conner Emily has been selected to the Indiana Christian Hoops All-State first team.
Crusader freshman Gabe Ridder was named to the All-Newcomer second team.
Senior selected North MVP
Nadia Lomax has been named MVP of the Columbus North girls basketball team.
McKinley won the Outstanding Participant Award. Anderson took the Bull Dog Award, sophomore Madison White won the Most Improved Award and Tessa Lomax claimed the Spirit Award.
Sophomore Emily Herndon won the Martha Kalb Memorial Award, which goes to a JV player who displays characteristics of determination, teamwork, persistence and heart.
Duo named top swimmers
Senior Sam Russell and junior Olivia Morlok have been selected MVPs of the Columbus North boys and girls swimming and diving teams.
Freshmen Cole Wheeler and Bryleigh Shaffstall won the boys and girls Most Improved Awards. Sophomores Aidan McAlister and Adeline Rush won the Bull Frog Awards.
Russell and seniors Jared Carroll and Paxton Rush were recognized as boys captains. Senior Caroline Swenson and juniors Betsy King and Karlie Brown were honored as girls captains.
East trio selected swim MVPs
Senior Ryan Singer has been named Columbus East’s boys swimming and diving MVP, and junior Jennifer Utterback and freshman Maggie Johnson have been named East girls swimming and diving MVPs.
Senior Nathan Hatchett won the boys Mental Attitude Award, and freshman Branson Young was named Most Promising New Swimmer. Seniors Zach Statler and Evan Wieneke were honored as co-captains.
Freshman Cathrine Millwood won the girls Most Improved Award. Other awards went to junior Brooke Martoccia (Olympian Heart), junior Emie Kiser (Olympian Spirit) and senior Cam Kelly (Olympian Way).
Senior wins wrestling MVP
Senior Morgan Smith has been named MVP of the Columbus North wrestling team.
Senior Dallin Anderson won the Bull Dog Award. Freshman Hector De Dios won Most Improved.
Freshman Jared Slocum II won the Larry Perkinson Memorial Award. Freshman Carlos Rodriguez won the Brandon Shehan Award, which goes to an outstanding freshman who also displayed excellent sportsmanship and a strong work ethic.
East girls hoops holding callout
Columbus East girls basketball will hold a callout meeting for incoming freshmen at 6 p.m. March 27 in the school’s cafeteria.
Coaches will provide information regarding program and team expectations as well as the team workout schedule. For more information, contact head coach Danny Brown at [email protected].
Olympians host ‘Mulch Madness’
The Columbus East Wrestling Club is hosting its Eighth Annual Mulch Madness, with help from Hackman’s Farm Market and Greenhouse.
Individuals or businesses can order mulch by going to columbuseastathletics.com, then clicking on Winter, Wrestling, Varsity and Mulch Madness, or by texting “Mulch” to 812-343-1882 to receive a text back.
Deliveries begin at 8 a.m. March 30, April 6 and May 13. If rainouts occur any of those Saturdays, a makeup will be on the following day. Those ordering are asked to check the website for weather-related delivery updates.
For more information, e-mail [email protected].
Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at [email protected] or 812-379-5628.
