MOORESVILLE
The wrestling rivalry between Drake Buchanan and Jalen Ward is just getting started — and in all likelihood, it’s not close to being over.
Buchanan, a Center Grove junior ranked first in the state at 182 pounds, improved to 26-0 by scoring a 21-15 decision over Ward, a Franklin senior ranked No. 6, in the championship match of the Mooresville Sectional on Saturday.
Although nothing is guaranteed, chances are the two will meet up this weekend at the Mooresville Regional, the Jasper Semistate and even inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse, home of the state finals on Feb. 19-20.
“I have to figure him out, really, because (Buchanan) comes out real fast, and that’s just not how I wrestle,” said Ward, who also lost to Buchanan in the 182 final at the Johnson County tournament in December. “I like (the rivalry) because I haven’t won yet, and I’m going to win. That’s what I like about it. I’m ready for it again.”
Seventh-ranked Center Grove racked up 241.5 points to claim its 16th sectional title. Franklin, the state’s No. 11 squad, crowned six individual champions on its way to runner-up status with 222.5 points.
“It’s your typical sectional. You have a lot of ups, a lot of downs,” Trojans coach Maurice Swain said. “We had some guys who, obviously, we didn’t feel wrestled their best, and we had some guys that stepped it up today. We came out on top of the team score, but with that being said, the next goal is to win the regional.”
Center Grove finished with four wrestlers making it to the top of the awards podium — freshman Charlie LaRocca (106 pounds), junior Hayden Watson (145), senior Riley Rust (152) and Buchanan. The Grizzly Cubs taking first were Caleb Wyss (120), Jake Bechert (126), Tyler Fuqua (170), Harris Eason (195), Nolan Skaggs (220) and Jacob Johnson (285).
The other Johnson County wrestler taking first at Mooresville was Whiteland sophomore Joey Buttler after his pin of Logan Bickel of Cascade with 31.4 seconds remaining in the third period of the 113-pound final.
"It feels amazing," said Buttler, a sectional runner-up a year ago at the same weight. "I came in today hoping all the hard work would pay off. Six days a week in the offseason, training with college kids and traveling across the country with my dad.
"You’ve just got to put it all together, and when you do that’s the winning combination."
LaRocca got things started by rallying from a 4-1 deficit to pin Cascade’s Dominic McFeeley in the final round and up his season record to 22-4.
“The first period, I was just letting him get his shots. In the second period, I just had to turn it on, get my shots and control the match,” LaRocca said. “It’s pretty crazy (being sectional champion). It’s pretty wild. But hopefully, there’s more to come.”
In all, there were six weight classes pitting Johnson County wrestlers against one another in the title match. Among them was Franklin senior Bechert’s 9-4 decision over Center Grove’s Michael Tharpe at 126 pounds.
“The key was to wrestle my match because he’s a big thrower, and I’m a technical wrestler, so I had to get to my shots and finish,” said Bechert, now 18-3 this season and a two-time sectional winner. “It was something I wanted to do, drop to 126 and be the man to beat, and today I got that done.”
Joining the four individual champions and Tharpe at the regional for Center Grove will be Reese Courtney (113 pounds), Hyatt Yeager (120), Noah Clouser (132), Sam Howe (138), Mason Crump (160), Bryce Crump (195) and Owen Green (285).
In addition to its first-place finishers and Ward, the Grizzly Cubs advanced Ethan Jeffery (138), Jude Barger (145) and Noah McCann (160).
Buttler will be joined at the regional by Warrior teammates Ryan Williams (120), Vincent Tinoco (170) and Jakarrey Oliver (220). Greenwood will send Zach Leber (170) and Eli Ross (195) back to Mooresville this weekend.
At Bloomington North, sophomore Jackson Heaston of Indian Creek won the 106-pound class to advance to the Bloomington South Regional. The other Braves wrestler advancing is Jackson Neibert, the third-place finisher at 138 pounds.
