Columbus East’s, from left, Izzy Wakefield, Tienica Dits, Gloria Cloud and Annie Redman won their weight classes at Saturday’s Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament.
Ted Schultz | The Republic
The Columbus East girls wrestlers got caught in a little bit of a numbers game Saturday.
While Jeffersonville and Floyd Central had nearly full teams, the Olympians had to forfeit four weight classes because of injuries. As a result, they finished third with 179 points behind the Red Devils (217) and Highlanders (192) in the Hoosier Hills Conference Tournament.
“We did OK,” East coach Ty Olds said. “I think the first round, we came out a little sluggish. But after that, we started picking it up. The numbers game got us. With the injuries, we’re giving up four weight classes. Some of the teams that have full teams were scoring points, where we were getting zero, so that kind of hurt us a little bit. But overall, I was pretty proud of the way the girls performed.”
The Olympians had four champions in their respective weight classes. Tienica Dits pinned Seymour’s Isabelle Doyle in the 105-pound final, avenging a loss from last year’s HHC title match.
“I just wanted to do good for my team, but I feel really bad because I think I hurt her shoulder,” Dits said. “But I’m really proud of my win.”
Freshman Gloria Cloud received a bye into the finals at 125, where she pinned Jeffersonville’s Abi Lemon.
“It was my first match of the day, so it was a little nerve-racking,” Cloud said. “But overall, I think I did pretty good.”
Izzy Wakefield pinned Jennings County’s Katherin Brunner in the 155-pound final.
“I thought it was pretty awesome,” Wakefield said. “Last year at conference, I got second, so to get first this time is amazing. I definitely worked hard for it, and I’m really happy with my outcome.”
Freshman Annie Redman also won by pin in the finals, taking the title at 170 against Jennings’ Gabrella Hernandez.
“I thought it was pretty cool,” Redman said. “I’m proud of myself, but I feel bad because I also hurt her shoulder. I’ve wrestled her multiple times, and I feel like she gets better every single time. I think she’s pretty good.”
“Isabelle Wakefield went above her seed,” Olds added. “It was nothing I didn’t think she could accomplish. She went out and wrestled really well, and Annie, Glo and Tienica all did what they were supposed to do. Overall, I think we did really well.”
Kaydence Spradlin finished second at 235, and Abby Morales took third at 100 for the Olympians. Lia Tomlinson (110) and Brelyn Rodriguez (115) each placed fourth, while Ashlee Mains (190) was fifth and Dulce Santiago (120) sixth.
Jennings County finished fourth in the team standings with 149.5 points. The Panthers had one individual champion, with Violeta Gomez-Hilerio pinning Jeffersonville’s Valeria Ramirez in the 130-pound final.
Along with Brunner and Hernandez, Baylee Franks (100) also finished second for Jennings. Sofia Lozano (115), Chloe Franks (125) and Brooklyn Wheatley (190) all took third and Jihovana Sandoval (110) and Lilly Wells (120) each were fifth.
“The girls are wrestling well,” Jennings coach Carl Pemberton said. “We’re still battling injuries and attrition this year, but we’re wrestling with who we’ve got. They’re wrestling hard, and that’s all I can ask.”
