Columbus North High School

February 10, 2024 - 157-pound wrestler Asher Ratliff (39-2) won his weight class at the IHSAA Evansville Semi State Wrestling Meet and 138-pound teammate Justice Thornton (34-2) finished second as both wrestlers advanced to the IHSAA State Wrestling Finals next weekend. Ratliff won by fall in the first round, and by major decision in the second round, assuring him a berth in the State Finals. He then won in an extra period in his semifinal match, before winning a 6-4 decision over Silas Stits of Center Grove in the finals. Thornton won his first match with a technical fall and got a 5-2 decision to win his second round, guaranteeing himself a trip to the State Finals. In the semifinal round, Thornton won another 5-2 decision before losing 7-2 to Brownsburg’s Brady Ison in the finals. The Dogs took seven other wrestlers to the Evansville Semi State meet, but no other grapplers advanced. Nolan Riley (106), Josiah Green (144), Luke Spurgeon (150), Evan Saevre(165), Keller DeSpain (175), and Jose Ramirez (190) all lost their first-round matches to finish their tournament runs. 132-pounder Cohen Long won his first match, but lost in round two. As a team, the Bull Dogs finished ninth among the 41 teams who participated in the Evansville Semi State tournament with 43.5 points. Brownsburg won the team title with 207 points, while Center Grove finished second with 194.5. Columbus East was eleventh with 31 points. The two qualifying wrestlers will be back in Evansville next Friday and Saturday for the State Finals. Photo: Asher Ratliff, shown here in the Jennings County Sectional Tournament, won the 157-pound weight class at the Evansville Semi State and will advance, along with teammate Justice Thornton, to the State Finals next weekend.