CGHS Crowns Four Winter Sports State Champs
Photography Provided
The cold winter was anything but for Center Grove’s Wrestling and Diving. Center Grove High School (CGHS) ended the 2022 winter sports season with four individual state champions, three Sectional championships, a Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC) title, and three Johnson County titles.
For the wrestling team, it was the best season in school history.
“We had a very successful season,” says Wrestling Head Coach Maurice Swain. “We were able to win the Johnson County Tournament, the MIC Championship for the first time in school history, and won the Sectional. We broke the MIC scoring record, sent 14 wrestlers to the Semi-state, which is a school record as well as sending seven to State and four were state place winners, two IHSAA State Champions, and one Indiana High School Girls Wrestling State Champion.”
Senior Anna Krejsa is the first CGHS female wrestler to win state. She dominated the 126-pound weight class in Indiana and was ranked nationally. Anna was overcome with emotion when she won the state title.
“I felt amazing and just a huge sense of accomplishment,” Krejsa says. “I had worked for it for so long, and it was really the high point of my senior year. I worked really hard in the practice room. Center Grove High School allowed me to succeed by giving me opportunities that I didn’t have before. Having my team support me and coaches who wanted to see me succeed did so much for me. Academically, I knew that hard work was expected and Life University (Krejsa is committed to wrestle at Life University) will be no different. A huge thanks to my family, my coaches, teammates and Center Grove High School for giving me so much support.”
CGHS senior wrestlers Hayden Watson and Drake Buchanan concluded their astonishing high school careers with state titles. Watson won the 145-pound weight class and Buchanan captured the 182-pound weight class. Watson recalls his feelings once he won the state title.
“When my arm was raised, I was filled with emotion knowing that all of the hard work I’ve put into this sport, finally paid off,” Watson says. “Throughout my career, there were a lot of setbacks in the process, but all those losses helped motivate me and do extra work every day to reach my goal. Without my teammates, I’m not sure how I would have done it. They all pushed me every day in the practice room. Center Grove High School has given me so many opportunities to grow as a person, athlete and academically, to prepare me for my future.”
Watson is committed to wrestle at the Citadel.
Buchanan reflects on the moment when his arm was raised one last time, knowing he was finally a state champ.
“Your entire life you dream and glorify that moment, but in reality that moment is 10 times more incredible than you even imagined it to be,” Buchanan says. “You just feel the fatigue and aches in your muscles disappear as the match ends and feel euphoria take its place. It was an incredibly difficult journey, filled with grueling work, but I can say with 100% confidence that it was worth it and would do it again in a heartbeat. Center Grove High School has given me a great environment to be academically challenged and develop my athletics. The wide range of weighted courses has allowed me to really push myself and take multiple AP Classes consistently so that I am prepared for future college courses. In regards to athletics, I would not be where I am now without the great coaching staff and highly-skilled practice partners.”
Buchanan is committed to wrestle at the Air Force Academy.
Swain is very proud of his state champions for their accomplishments on the mat and in the classroom.
“Anna, Hayden and Drake are all very hard workers,” Swain says. “They pay attention to detail and are very serious about their training and goals. Each was a leader in the practice room and set a great example to our younger wrestlers on how to train to win state titles. We are very proud of them and proud that they represent our program and community. All three take their academics very seriously. Drake finished as the IHSAA Mental Attitude winner and has a GPA of 4.59 and Anna has a 4.18 GPA.”
CGHS sophomore Mia Prusiecki has taken the state by storm in just two seasons of diving. After placing second in the State Finals her freshman year, Prusiecki returned for her sophomore season determined to win the top prize.
“This year, I put more pressure on myself,” Prusiecki says. “ That was a good thing to have because I do well under pressure. I love the competition. I had more expectations for myself as last year was my first year, and I didn’t know how it was going to go. I’m proud of how this year turned out.”
Prusiecki won the state title this season becoming the first diver to do so from CGHS. Her impressive résumé includes two Regionals, two Sectionals, two MIC titles and two County championships.
“We are all very proud of Mia and her unbelievable work ethic,” says CGHS Head Swim and Dive Coach Jim Todd. “It is awesome when someone so talented and works her rear end off to have the success she has accomplished.”
Prusiecki was recognized before a CGHS boys basketball game and received a resounding standing ovation from the Trojan fans.
“It’s really nice to have a supportive school,” Prusiecki says. “To have so many people back you up.”
Prusiecki’s success didn’t happen overnight. It comes from many hours of hard work.
“Diving is a difficult sport and can be scary, and even dangerous sometimes, especially when I’m jumping off of a 10-meter platform,” Prusiecki says. “Most people don’t understand the training that goes into making diving look easy. No matter how difficult it gets, I enjoy it and want to get better at it every day. Train a lot, work hard and have success.”
The 2022 CGHS Winter Sports Season will be long remembered for its many successes highlighted by its four state champions.
“We are able to proudly celebrate four individual state champions,” says CGHS Principal Jeff Henderson. “These four young adults are shining examples of what it means to be a student-athlete. They balance their hard work on the mat and in the pool with great academic records as well. They are all a pleasure to be around and have really positive attitudes. I can’t say enough about how proud we are of these four Trojans and their great seasons.”
