For some wrestlers, the wrestling season is about chasing a state title. For others, it means stepping onto the mat for the final time.
After months of practice, weigh-ins, and intense matches, the Bullitt East wrestling team reached the most competitive point of their season. Sectionals, regionals, and state tournaments bring together the top competitors, with every match carrying a lot of pressure.
For the wrestlers, these tournaments mean more than just winning medals. They are an opportunity to showcase the hard work and dedication they have put in all season and to represent their school on the mat. Every match takes focus and determination, pushing them to give their best and prove how much they have grown throughout the year.
In the 2026 season, freshman Max Baxter and senior Emily Schroader made it to the state finals, where they went against the number 1-ranked wrestlers in their weight class. Max Baxter went against Ben Hall, a senior from Paduchah Tilghman, in the 175-pound weight class. He wrestled all 3 periods. The match was close, with each of them getting 3 take-downs. Max was up after that, then Max gave up the takedown to seal the match. Ben Hall won 13-11. Max finished as the state runner-up as a freshman. He said, “My finals match was good, I improved a lot from it.”
Emily Schroader went against Tatum Milet, a senior from Oldham County, in the 132-pound weight class. She wrestled all 3 periods, and neither of the girls scored until Tatum escaped with the last 50 seconds of the match, earning 1 point. The match ended with Tatum winning 1-0. Emily said, “I loved the support of the girls; they came to support me even though they didn’t have to be there. Those people really made it worth it, and they always were cheering her on through all the wins and the finals match.”
Jack Harrod, a senior on the team, wrestled in the 138-pound weight class for most of the season. He started the season at the 144-pound weight class and was predicted to be ranked in the top 25 before the season officially started. He dropped to the 138-pound weight class halfway through the season. He finished the year 23rd in the state with a 138. At the regions, his record was 4-1, and he placed 3rd. He made it to the state tournament alongside Raiden Rios, Jacob Tylutke, Ethan Martin, Brayden Norrick, Emily Schroader, Max Baxter, and Ben Cauley. These people showed up and gave everything they had at the state tournament. Jack Harrod said, “State was a good experience. I definitely learned a lot, and I will never forget the memories I made. I wrestled my heart out for my last high school tournament, and in the long run, I’m proud of myself.”
Jack finished his high school wrestling career proud of what he put on the mat each match. Being a senior, there is a lot to look back on and learn from. He said, “I learned that never take time for granted, even when the hard weight cuts and intense practices felt miserable, because once it’s over, you’re going to wish it wasn’t.”
Jordan Christian, a junior at Bullitt East, wrestled in the 126-pound weight class. Last year, he went to Bullitt Central but came to Bullitt East hoping to better his wrestling career. Teammates played a big role in each wrestler’s career. Jordan said, “Evan Cano pushed me the most when he was healthy because they got into a good scramble, and both had a high pace. This year’s team was very close, Jordan said the thing he will miss the most is the seniors on the team because they would hang out every day and make memories at out-of-town tournaments. Jordan said the biggest lesson he learned was “Don’t ride the highs too high and the lows too low.”
Overall, this season’s team was very successful, with many more people making it to state and more people ranked than in previous years.
