Columbus East’s Monica McMahon controls her opponent.
Submitted photo
After two years being classified as an Emerging Sport by the IHSAA, girls wrestling will be recognized as a full-fledged sport this winter.
Longtime Columbus East assistant boys wrestling coach Ty Olds is taking over the girls program at East, and he has big hopes for the Olympians in their inaugural season.
“I hate to sound braggadocios, but we are senior loaded, and we have a chance to win the actual state title,” Olds said. “There’s a legit shot. We’re actually going to be very good.”
The Olympians have seven seniors and five state-ranked girls wrestlers. Senior Monica McMahon finished third at the Indiana High School Wrestling Coaches Association state meet at 190 pounds last season, while her twin sister Grace McMahon was 16-0 when she had her season ended by a broken arm.
Columbus East’s Eden Knight has her hand raised in victory after a win against Floyd Central.
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Eden Knight also was a state qualifier for East. Taylor Engelking lost in the ticket round, one win short of qualifying for state. Saige Plummer was ranked in the state, and Madison Mount was injured and did not get to compete in the postseason.
Columbus East’s Taylor Engelking looks to pin her opponent.
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To help his high school team gain experience, Olds started an offseason club team called the Valkyries. The Valkyries consist mostly of girls from East, but also from Columbus North, Indian Creek, Bloomington South, Warren Central and even from Ohio and Wisconsin.
Columbus East’s Madison Mount works against an opponent.
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That team will compete in the War of the Roses, a 48-team USA National Girls Tournament Oct. 5 at Nexus Park. An individual tournament will take place on Oct. 5, also at Nexus Park.
Columbus East’s Saige Plummer controls an opponent.
Submitted photo
The Valkyries also will wrestle in the Wild Wild Midwest National Duals Aug. 31 and Sept. 1 in Noblesville.
Meanwhile, Olds is looking for more girls wrestlers to fill out his East squad. He is holding a callout meeting on Tuesday during Advisory period from 9:19 to 9:49 a.m. in Room 310 at East High School. Interested participants also can email him at [email protected]
The high school season starts in November.
“I know it’s a boy-dominated sport, but they’ve been working their tails off,” Olds said. “We’ve been practicing since April two or three days a week in preparation for this year.”
