MADISON — When the Columbus East wrestlers were forced to drop out of the IHSWCA state duals because host Franklin was in a Red county on the state’s COVID-19 dashboard, the Olympians were replaced in the 3A bracket by Floyd Central.
The Highlanders ended up finishing second in that event, falling by one point in the final. East had a chance to face that Floyd Central team on Saturday and outscored the Highlanders 273.5 to 220 to capture its fifth consecutive Hoosier Hills Conference championship.
“Floyd Central was the team that replaced us at the state duals, and they finished second after losing the last match by one point, so we knew they were a really good team,” East coach Chris Cooper said. “It was kind of motivation since we didn’t get to compete at the state duals to show that we’re one of the best teams on our division. To beat them by 53 points is just fantastic.”
The Olympians won seven of the 14 weight classes. Winners were Liam Krueger (106 pounds), Noah Lykins (113), Reece Fisher (132), Kade Law (160), Sam Morrill (170), Jaden Durnil (182) and Tommy Morrill (220).
East’s Tyler Williams (152) and Ashton Hartwell (285) each finished second, while Eli Pollitt (145) and Josh Schrader (195) each placed third. Nate Anderson (120) and Tony Ruiz-Tapia (138) each took fourth, and Bo Wagner (126) was fifth.
“I think we won a lot of big-time matches,” Cooper said. “Reece Fisher was the No. 2 seed and had lost 9-3 to the Jeff kid and won in two overtimes. Tommy Morrill wrestled fantastic. Jaden Durnil looked really good. Sam Morrill beat an undefeated kid from Floyd Central in the finals. All in all, it was just a really great day.”
Zane Ortlieb won the 195-pound weight class to lead Jennings County to a fifth-place finish with 102 points. Gavin Bateman (152) finished fourth, and Braden Isbell (106), Jonah Matthews (132), RJ Barberis (145), Chris Hernandez (170) Max Brown (220) and Gage Gasper (285) all placed fifth for the Panthers.
Jennings will host the sectional on Jan. 30. East will not compete again until that day.
“We didn’t want to get contact traced and have kids out for the tournament,” Cooper said.
