A No. 1 ranking during the regular season provides its own view of the rest of the wrestling world, though it can’t compare to the top perch of an awards podium.
Center Grove junior Drake Buchanan understands reputations are made during the postseason grind of February, which is what he’s working toward after placing sixth at the state finals a year ago in the 182-pound weight class.
Buchanan, who moved to the top of Indiana Mat’s 182 rankings two weeks ago and is also ranked No. 1 by Hoosier Mat, is 20-0 this season with all but two victories coming on pins. On Saturday, he enters the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference tournament at North Central as the favorite in his division.
Buchanan appreciates the lofty status and the sweat it took to get there.
“Personally, I’m pretty proud of it because it’s recognition for all the work I’ve put in. It’s more of a bonus and it puts more pressure on my opponents than me,” Buchanan said. “I see it as a number right now, but it doesn’t mean anything until I show results in the state tournament.”
Center Grove is ranked ninth as a team, an achievement powered by eight Trojan wrestlers being ranked in their respective weight classes. Three of Buchanan’s teammates are in the top 10 — junior Hayden Watson (second at 145), senior Riley Rust (third at 152) and freshman Reece Courtney (eighth at 113).
At the MIC meet, Buchanan expects to be tested by, among others, 12th-ranked Keon Sullivan of Warren Central.
Center Grove coach Maurice Swain, now in his third season, has witnessed the same businesslike approach at practices and meets since Buchanan wrestled at 138 pounds as a freshman, going 23-10 and making it to the Evansville Semistate.
He expects no different now that Buchanan is No. 1.
“Drake goes out there and wrestles. I don’t think he pays much attention to (rankings),” Swain said. “Maybe a different type of kid it would affect, but not Drake. I haven’t seen any change. He’s very consistent in everything he does. When I think of Drake, he gives maximum effort all of the time. In the classroom, on the football field and in the wrestling room.”
Buchanan’s career mark in a Trojans singlet is 82-15, but what he’s accomplished academically impresses even more. The junior carries a 4.55 grade-point average, ranking him 22nd in a class of 641 students.
Among his victories this wrestling season are pins over second-ranked Aiden Warren (Perry Meridian) and No. 19 Jaden Durnil (Jeffersonville). Buchanan also won by tech fall over Franklin senior Jalen Ward, now ranked seventh, in the final of the Johnson County meet and recorded a 16-5 decision over No. 20 Luke Davis of Zionsville.
Following last year’s state finals, Buchanan thought it necessary to improve his conditioning for when matches are extended late into a second period and even into a third. Runs on the family’s treadmill and/or outside in the offseason prepared him for such challenges.
“I think (conditioning) was a problem last year in that I couldn’t keep my pace up for all three periods,” Buchanan said. “I’ve noticed a difference this season. I feel like if I train harder than my competition, I could be on top of the podium.”
