Pendleton Powers the H2O's: East Takes 4th at HHC as Postseason Focus Begins

Columbus East boys swimming team finishes strong at Hoosier Hills Conference meet

Feb. 5, 2026 at 7:31pm

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The Columbus East boys swimming team had a solid showing at the Hoosier Hills Conference meet, finishing fourth overall. The standout performer was Josh Pendleton, who captured two individual conference titles in the 200 IM and 500 Free. Pendleton also contributed to East's strong relay finishes in the 200 Medley Relay and 400 Free Relay.

Why it matters

The HHC meet marks the end of the regular season for high school swimming, with the postseason focus now shifting to sectionals, regionals, and the state championships. East's strong performance positions them well heading into the postseason, as they look to make a deep run and potentially qualify swimmers for the state meet.

The details

Columbus East finished fourth in the team standings with 136 points, trailing champion Floyd Central, Seymour, and Jeffersonville. Josh Pendleton was the star of the meet for East, winning the 200 IM (1:57.98) and 500 Free (4:43.52). Pendleton also contributed to East's third-place finish in the 200 Medley Relay and fourth-place finish in the 400 Free Relay. Other top performers for East included Mason Bean (6th in 200 Free, 8th in 500 Free), Ryan Turner (7th in 100 Free), and Micah Wettschurack (8th in 100 Breast).

  • The Hoosier Hills Conference meet was held on February 6, 2026.

The players

Josh Pendleton

A standout swimmer for the Columbus East boys team, Pendleton won two individual conference titles at the HHC meet.

Columbus East

The Columbus East boys swimming team finished fourth at the Hoosier Hills Conference meet, with a strong performance highlighted by Pendleton's individual titles.

Floyd Central

The team that won the Hoosier Hills Conference meet, finishing ahead of East in the final standings.

Seymour

The Seymour boys swimming team finished ahead of East in the HHC meet, taking second place.

Jeffersonville

The Jeffersonville boys swimming team finished third at the HHC meet, ahead of East's fourth-place finish.

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What’s next

With the regular season now complete, the focus for the Columbus East boys swimming team will shift to the postseason. They will look to carry their strong HHC performance into the sectional and regional meets, with the ultimate goal of qualifying swimmers for the state championships.

The takeaway

Columbus East's fourth-place finish at the Hoosier Hills Conference meet, led by Josh Pendleton's two individual titles, demonstrates the team's depth and competitiveness. As they enter the postseason, East will look to build on this success and make a deep run, potentially sending swimmers to the state meet.