Columbus East’s Gloria Cloud tries a takedown on Mooresville’s Khloe Weber in a 120-pound third-place bout at Saturday’s Bloomington South Regional.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
After winning the inaugural girls wrestling state title last year and losing seven of its eight state qualifiers to graduation or injury, Columbus East was expected to take a step back this season.
But the Olympians have exceeded nearly all expectations. They are sending four underclassmen to Friday’s state finals at the Corteva Coliseum at the Indiana State Fairgrounds in Indianapolis.
“I had told them at the beginning of the year that this year was a rebuilding season,” East coach Ty Olds said. “We knew we were going to have a lot of young girls in the lineup replacing all the seniors we lost last year. So honestly, at the beginning of the year, I did not know what we were going to have. I don’t think there were any great expectations except to keep improving and building on our culture. As the season progressed, the girls started working hard, and you just started seeing how much better they were getting, and I think my expectations started to raise a little bit. I think we probably exceeded what I thought we were going to do, which is good.”
Columbus East’s Tienica Dits controls North Posey’s Desirae Reese in a 105-pound match at Saturday’s Bloomington South Regional.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
Junior Tienica Dits is the Olympians lone returning state qualifier. She finished second at 105 pounds in Saturday’s Bloomington South Regional, falling to defending 100-pound state champion Ella Neibert of Indian Creek in the final.
“I’m really happy with how I did, especially with how the bracket lined up,” Dits said. “I feel like I definitely worked for what I got.”
The 15th-ranked Dits (23-6) will square off against 13th-ranked North Central sophomore Demi Roney (26-7) in the first round, which begins at 10 a.m. The winner will meet fifth-ranked Jimtown freshman Sophia Carper (27-3) or 12th-ranked Benton Central junior Laurana Dillon (25-8) in the quarterfinals.
“With how the brackets lined up, my goal is to get at least fifth,” Dits said.
Gloria Cloud is one of two East freshmen to qualify for state. Cloud finished fourth in the regional at 120 pounds.
“I’m happy to move on to the state definitely, but I feel like I could have done way better those last two matches,” Cloud said. “So we’re working on improving a lot of stuff from there.”
The ninth-ranked Cloud (29-4) will meet eighth-ranked Munster freshman Alice Gill (33-2) in the first round. The winner will face 10th-ranked Benton Central senior Sienna Holscher (35-7) or 16th-ranked Hamilton Southeastern senior Lindsey Lannen (30-8) in the quarterfinals.
Cloud beat Gill in the middle school state a couple years ago.
“We’ve both done a lot of growing, so it should be a good match,” Cloud said. “My biggest hope is to just get past that first round and place. But I’m really hoping to get top four. That’s my main goal.”
Columbus East’s Annie Redman controls Mooresville’s Baylee Blackwell in a 170-pound match at Saturday’s Bloomington South Regional.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
Freshman Annie Redman pulled a big upset in the regional, knocking off top-ranked Franklin sophomore Eleanor Robertson in the 170-pound final. Robertson was undefeated and had handed Redman her only three losses this season.
The third-ranked Redman (30-3) will meet 15th-ranked West Lafayette sophomore Averie Brooks (23-11) in the first round. The winner will face 14th-ranked Beech Grove junior Josilin Stinson (27-9) or seventh-ranked West Noble senior Destiny Martinez (19-5) in the quarterfinals. Second-ranked Rochester senior Laine Peppler (29-1) would be a likely semifinal opponent.
“I want to at least get fourth place or third place,” Redman said. “I want to at least make it to the semifinals. That’s what I’m shooting for.”
Columbus East’s Kaydence Spradlin faces off against Bloomington South’s Jaclyn Hillenburg at 235 pounds Nov. 20 at Columbus East High School.
Nicholas Shaw | For the Republic
Sophomore Kaydence Spradlin will make her first state appearance after finishing third in the regional at 235 pounds.
“I was just really happy getting to state because last year, my season kind of got shut down because I dislocated my elbow,” Spradlin said. “So winning that ticket round match, I felt really happy.”
The 14th-ranked Spradlin (22-9) will meet Lawrence Central senior To’Neyse Stigler (17-9) in the first round. The winner will face top-ranked Attica senior Aubrey Bartkowiak (25-0) or Portage senior Olivia Pickering (12-6) in the quarterfinals.
“I’m really hoping to get past my first round,” Spradlin said. “I just want to place at state and see how far I can go.”
Jennings County’s Violeta Gomez-Hilerio, right, goes for a takedown on Southridge’s Kori Hunefeld in a 130-pound semifinal bout at Saturday’s Bloomington South Regional.
Rob Baker | For The Republic
Meanwhile, senior Violeta Gomez-Hilerio will represent Jennings County by making a return trip to state. She finished third at 130 pounds in the regional.
Gomez-Hilerio (18-3) will meet third-ranked Kankakee Valley senior Lilly Culbreth (25-6) in the first round. The winner will face 12th-ranked Logansport senior Olivia Gibson (40-1) or Lawrence Central senior Georgiana Wallace (27-12) in the quarterfinals.
First-round winners are guaranteed three more matches and a spot on the medals stand. Quarterfinals and semifinals will follow first-round matches. Third-, fifth- and seventh-place matches begin at 4:15 p.m., and state championship matches start at 7 p.m.
“We got really good draws,” Olds said. “I think Annie got a great draw to set herself up for a run in the tournament. But I think all the girls have a first round draw that leads us to winning that first round and maybe even second. Some of our second-round draws are going to be tough, but then once you get to that second round, anything can happen. At that point, you’re going to medal, so it’s just how high you’re going to go. “
