Columbus East wrestling coach Chris Cooper thought his team could win last weekend’s Freshman-Sophomore State Championships with Liam Krueger in the lineup.
But when Krueger, an IHSAA state qualifier at 106 pounds, broke his thumb at the Indy Nationals the day after the state meet, Cooper wasn’t as certain about his team’s chances at the Freshman-Sophomore meet.
The Olympians, however, came through. They scored 118.5 points to easily outdistance runner-up Center Grove and win the Freshman-Sophomore title for the first time in the meet’s brief history.
“It was pretty exciting,” Cooper said. “It’s something we talked about. We thought we could win with Liam, but we didn’t know without him. But the guys really stepped up. It was good for them to get a chance to wrestle against some high-level competition.”
East took 10 wrestlers to the competition, and five came away as place-winners. Sean Kissinger (170 pounds), Tommy Morrill (195) and Patrick McMahon (285) all finished fourth. The Olympians had two scorers at 152, with Jackson Fox placing fifth and Jordan Sutton eighth.
Locals named All-State
Several area girls basketball players have been selected to the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association and Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association All-State teams.
Trinity Lutheran senior Sydney Jaynes is on the IBCA Senior Small School All-State squad. Columbus East junior Koryn Greiwe and Jennings County freshman Juliann Woodard made the Underclass Large School All-State team, and Trinity sophomore Bailey Tabeling is on the Underclass Small School All-State team.
Columbus North’s Alexa McKinley, Jennings’ Addyson Kent and South Decatur’s Lana Bell made the IBCA Senior honorable mention list. Underclass honorable mention selections include East sophomores Leah Bachmann and Saige Stahl, North junior Kylah Lawson, Brown County sophomore Abby Fleetwood and Edinburgh sophomore Gracie Crawhorn.
Meanwhile, McKinley and Greiwe have been selected to the ICGSA first team. Lawson, Jaynes, Woodard and Kent are on the third team.
O’s earn academic honors
Columbus East’s Tyler Williams has been named to the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association Academic All-State first team.
East’s Noah Lykins is a Junior Academic All-State Selection. The Olympians’ Reece Fisher made Junior Academic All-State honorable mention.
Locals invited to Top 60
Three area girls basketball seniors have been invited to attend this year’s Hoosier Basketball Magazine Top 60 Workout.
Alexa McKinley, who led Columbus North to a Conference Indiana title, was selected, along with Jennings County’s Addyson Kent and Trinity Lutheran’s Sydney Jaynes.
The Top 60 Workout will be Sunday afternoon at Beech Grove High School. Admission is $8.
Pair selected for game
Two local boys basketball seniors have been chosed to play in the Hoosier Basketball Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game.
Columbus North’s Blake Barker and South Decatur’s Lane Lauderbaugh have been named to the East team that will play the West April 25 at Barr-Reeve. Because of COVID restrictions, fans will not be permitted at this year’s event.
Locals named All-MHC
Two players from the Mid-Hoosier Conference champion South Decatur boys basketball team have been named All-MHC, and Edinburgh coach Keith Witty is the MHC Coach of the Year.
South Decatur’s Hunter Johnson and Lane Lauderbaugh, Edinburgh’s Caleb Dewey and Travis Jones and Hauser’s Bryce Bates are on the first team. The Cougars’ Jacob Scruggs and Tyler Sporleder and the Lancers’ Isaac Roberts made honorable mention.
On the girls side, Hauser’s Kyliegh Parrott, Edinburgh’s Annelise Lollar and South Decatur’s Lana Bell are on the first team. The Jets’ Hannah Taylor and the Cougars’ Loryn Pate made honorable mention.
Greiwe named East MVP
Koryn Greiwe has been named MVP of the Columbus East girls basketball team.
Greiwe also won the Hustle Award. Other honors went to Leah Bachmann (Most Improved), Kaitlyn Carothers (Mental Attitude), Saige Stahl (Olympian Award), Albany Speer (Captain Award) and Harley Gant (Spirit Award).
Gant also won the JV MVP Award. Jenna Guse won the JV Coach K Defensive Award.
Panthers to host fundraiser
The Jennings County High School volleyball, girls basketball, girls cross-country, girls swimming and boys soccer programs will host a mattress fundraiser from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in the school’s main gym.
Prices start at $199 for twin, $249 for full, $299 for queen and $399 for king. Jennings County School Corp. employees, active or retired military, police, fire and EMS personnel will receive a 10 percent discount on any purchase over $799.
For more information, email volleyball coach Toby Harrell at tharrell@superatv.com or girls basketball coach Kristi Sigler at kristi_sigler@b-f.com
North sets cheer tryouts
Columbus North cheer tryouts for the 2021-22 season will be March 31.
A google form link can be found on the Columbus North Athletics website or by emailing CNHScheer2020@gmail.com. Forms are due by March 24.
Ted Schultz is sports editor for The Republic. He can be reached at tschultz@therepublic.com or 812-379-5628.
