East wrestling looking to succeed with returning sophomores

Junior+Cole+Schultheis+%28right%29+and+sophomore+Corban+Pollitt+%28right%29+wrestle+during+an+after-school+practice.+

Josie Royer

Junior Cole Schultheis (right) and sophomore Corban Pollitt (right) wrestle during an after-school practice.

Tanner McFall, Writer

Columbus East wrestling plans on continuing their success in this upcoming season. Last season’s triumph was lead by the impressive performances of individuals on the team. These athletes, who are returning, are sophomores Graham Rooks and Dawson Combest.

Rooks, who is wrestling at the 120-pound weight class, has been wrestling for 12 years and would like to wrestle in college at any school that would offer him a full scholarship. Last year, he won conference, sectionals, regionals and semi-state at the 105-pound weight class. Rooks got third at state and finished with an overall record of 44-2.

When asked what his expectation for this season he said, “My expectation for this year is to win state with my brother Cayden.”

Combest has been wrestling for 11 years and also had a very successful year last year. As a freshman, he got second in conference, won sectionals and placed third at regionals at 113. Combest finished with an overall record of 29-9.

Combest, a 132-pound wrestler, said of his goals for the season, “My expectation is to place at state”.

Head coach of the wrestling team, Chris Cooper, has high hopes for this year.

“The first team goal for us is to win conference and sectionals. It’s hard to tell how well we will do this early in the season, but I anticipate having a good, and older more experienced team,” Cooper said. “We have some guys that their goal is to win a state title. Graham placed third and we have a few individuals that have a chance to be state champions.”

The first varsity wrestling tournament of the season will be on Saturday at Jeffersonville.