Never have the high school wrestling careers of Hayden Watson and Drake Buchanan paralleled each other the way they did this season.
Fittingly, the spotlight recently found both Center Grove juniors.
Watson finished as state runner-up at 145 pounds inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse with Buchanan picking up a second-place medal of his own at 182. As a result, these friends with 198 career varsity victories between them are the Daily Journal’s co-Wrestlers of the Year.
Watson won the honor a year ago after finishing third in the state at 132 pounds. This time around, he has company in Buchanan, someone he often practices against despite the three weight classes between them.
Nearly achieving the summit included obstacles that went beyond the wrestlers Watson and Buchanan competed against. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic limited attendance during regular-season and postseason meets and tournaments. The state finals was split into two sessions in an effort to ensure as much distancing as possible.
Nonetheless, Watson and Buchanan are appreciative there was a season.
“I didn’t really like the COVID part where we split (sessions) and stuff, but I thought overall it was a good season,” said Watson, who led Zionsville senior Logan Wagner 5-1 after the first period in the 145-pound title match but lost, 9-5. “Losing that state finals match is going to motivate me in the offseason.”
Watson expects to go up to 152 or 160 pounds for his senior season. He started his Center Grove career at 113 pounds and has been moving up ever since.
“This way,” Watson said, “I’ll be closer in weight to (Buchanan).”
That’s important in that Watson and Buchanan often wrestle against each other in practice. Buchanan hopes to compete at 182 for what would be a third consecutive season. As a sophomore, he placed sixth at the state finals in that division.
“I feel like I really improved this year compared to last year, especially with my conditioning,” Buchanan said. “Obviously, I made some mistakes in the final match, but (Evansville Mater Dei junior) Gabe Sollars is a really good opponent, but I’m really proud of myself. It didn’t finish like I wanted it to, but a lot of people dream to make it under the lights.
“I thought it was a really cool experience, just to be able to experience what I’ve seen since I was younger. I think what I’ll remember most about this year is the journey and just coming to every practice trying to get better and trying to reach the next level.”
Watson and Buchanan were the two Center Grove wrestlers this season to win their weight class at the Johnson County and Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference tournaments.
Best of all, they’re back for one more season.
“Drake is a little more routine. He likes to do the exact same things every day as far as his training,” Center Grove coach Maurice Swain said. “Hayden is extremely consistent, works really hard and does all of the right things as well. They both train really hard and both put in extra time.”
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Jake Bechert, Franklin senior: State’s 13th-ranked wrestler at 126 after regular season … Capped his final season in a Grizzly Cubs singlet by advancing to his first state finals … 23-6 record … Sectional champion, third at regional and semistate … Placed first at Mid-State Conference meet … Career record of 101-44.
Drake Buchanan, Center Grove junior: Finished with 35-2 mark at 182 pounds after losing title match at state finals … Ranked No. 1 in his weight class going into the postseason … Sectional and regional champion and runner-up at semistate … Won county and MIC titles.
Joey Buttler, Whiteland sophomore: Made first state finals appearance, taking home eighth-place medal at 113 pounds … 31-10 record … Sectional champion, third at regional and semistate … Was second at county and Mid-State meets … ranked No. 20 going into sectional.
Reese Courtney, Center Grove freshman: Made impressive varsity debut, posting 29-6 record at 113 and qualifying for state finals … Regional champion who placed third at sectional and fourth at semistate … County champion … ranked seventh entering postseason.
Harris Eason, Franklin senior: Made it to state finals for second consecutive year and finished season 26-6 at 195 pounds … Sectional champion, third at regional and fourth at semistate … County and Mid-State champion … 102-44 career record … Ranked sixth after regular season.
Tyler Fuqua, Franklin senior: Completed Cubs career with 126-24 record after going 27-3 and making it to state this season at 170 … Ranked third following regular season … Sectional and regional champion … Fourth at semistate … Won both county and conference titles.
Jackson Heaston, Indian Creek sophomore: Won county title at 106 pounds … Took first at sectional and regional before losing in ticket round at Evansville Semistate … Finished with 24-4 record … Ranked 24th in state at end of regular season.
Jacob Johnson, Franklin junior: Ranked No. 5 in state at 285 pounds going into sectional … Went to state for second straight season, finishing this campaign with 26-4 mark … Won sectional, fourth at regional, third at semistate … County and Mid-State champion.
Riley Rust, Center Grove senior: State’s No. 4 wrestler at 152 entering sectional … County and sectional champion … Placed second at regional … Advanced to second round of semistate … 26-5 record.
Nolan Skaggs, Franklin junior: 220-pounder made it to state finals and finished with 17-9 record … County and sectional champion and regional runner-up … Fourth at semistate.
Michael Tharpe, Center Grove junior: No. 17 in state at 126 pounds … Qualified for state … Finished with 18-7 record … Second at sectional, fourth at both regional and semistate.
Jalen Ward, Franklin senior: Made it to semistate quarterfinal at 182 pounds … 20-7 record … Only losses of season were to eventual state champ Gabe Sollars (Evansville Mater Dei), runner-up Buchanan (Center Grove) and top-five wrestlers Aiden Warren (Perry Meridian) and Cody Timmerman (Mishawaka) … Held down No. 6 ranking.
Hayden Watson, Center Grove junior: Has already exceeded 100 career victories after going 32-5 at 145 pounds … Ranked third in state going into postseason … Sectional, county and MIC champion … Regional, semistate and state runner-up.
Honorable mention
Jude Barger, Franklin; Luke Bechert, Franklin; Noah Clouser, Center Grove; Bryce Crump, Center Grove; Owen Green, Center Grove; Sam Howe, Center Grove; Ethan Jeffery, Franklin; Charlie LaRocca, Center Grove; Noah McCann, Franklin; Kaden McConnell, Center Grove; Jackson Neibert, Indian Creek; Jakarrey Oliver, Whiteland; Eli Ross, Greenwood; Vincent Tinoco, Whiteland; Caleb Wyss, Franklin; Hyatt Yeager, Center Grove
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