Columbus East’s Nate Anderson, left, competes against Brownsburg’s Jackson Gipson in a 132-pound weight class wrestling match Friday, Jan. 21. 2022 at Columbus East High School.
The Republic file photo
Nate Anderson and Asher Ratliff aren’t as closely related as brothers Alex and Andy Davidson, who squared off against each other in the crosstown rivalry wrestling match in 2016.
But Anderson, a junior at Columbus East, and Ratliff, a Columbus North freshman, have a little familial bragging rights at stake if they end up facing each other in the 145-pound bout when the Olympians host the Bull Dogs on Wednesday night. They are third cousins.
“I think it will be fun,” Anderson said. “I know he’s really good, and it will be a challenge. I’m up for it.”
As best they can recall, Anderson and Ratliff have only wrestled against each other once, and that came when they were in elementary school. But they still are familiar with each other’s game.
“He’s a tough wrestler, hard to score on,” Ratliff said. “He knows how to wrestle, has good technique. If I can get to my attacks, I’ll score. That’s what I always do.”
Both wrestlers are off to solid starts to the season after playing football this fall. Anderson started 3-3 at 145 before missing Thursday’s dual match against Seymour and Saturday’s Falcon Duals at Perry Meridian because of illness.
“I think it’s been all right,” Anderson said. “I messed up a few times, and I’m sick now. But I think I’ll bounce back. I’ve been feeling a lot better.”
Nate Anderson
Anderson is hoping to be able to practice today and Tuesday and take the mat against Ratliff on Wednesday. He said missing the past couple of events has been tough.
“(Wrestling is) the only thing that I’ve been wanting to do,” Anderson said. “But it’s not the best for my health, or the other wrestlers’ health, so I decided to stay home and get better.”
Columbus North’s Asher Ratliff, top, works against Harrison’s Wyatt Brock in the North Duals Saturday Dec. 10, 2022 at Columbus North High School.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
Ratliff is coming off a 4-1 record in Saturday’s North Duals, helping the Bull Dogs to a runner-up team finish. He is 10-2 at 145 for the season.
“Being a freshman in a bigger weight class, I’m wrestling a lot of older kids, a lot of juniors and seniors,” Ratliff said. “So I’m giving up strength in a lot of matches, but I’m using my technique and speed and things like that to win matches. I’ve had a pretty good year. I’ve lost to a couple tough kids, but won a few really good matches.”
Asher Ratliff
Ratliff had a long and storied youth wrestling career, and he is adjusting to the rigors of high school wrestling.
“The main difference is, there’s no easy matches,” Ratliff said. “It’s going to be harder to score a takedown than it is against a middle school kid, just because of the strength. They’re in a high school (wrestling) room, as well. “Everything it just a little tougher and grittier in high school.”
While the East-North rivalry has been one-sided in favor of the Olympians for at least a decade, the Bull Dogs might have their best team in several years. They are led by junior Justice Thornton, who is ranked No. 19 at 132.
“I think we’re ready,” Ratliff said. “We’re a growing program and have gotten better and better throughout the years. We just got second in this eight-way dual (on Saturday). Wrestling has been improving, and we’re all working each other in a room. There’s a lot of talent.”
East is led by seniors Tommy Morrill (No. 5 at 220), Liam Krueger (No. 7 at 113) and Jackson Fox (No. 13 at 195). Morrill was a state qualifier last year, and Krueger made it in 2021.
Anderson is hoping to join them on the big stage this season.
“My biggest goal is to qualify for state,” Anderson said. “I made it to semistate freshman and sophomore year, and I want to make it past that.”
