Four-year starter Joey Buttler, right, is up to 132 pounds this season after finishing second at state at 126 last season for Whiteland.
Daily Journal file photo
Whiteland coach Anthony Meister recognized the hand he had been dealt well before the start of the 2019-20 season.
His freshman class, potentially the program’s cornerstone the next four years, was talented, eager to improve and brimming with the type of potential that makes the final weeks of February enjoyable.
The objective, Meister admits, was to see it through.
“This group of seniors, we’ve really tried to keep together,” said Meister, now in his fifth season. “Working with them. Developing them. Really keeping them on the mat. We’ve lost a couple of them along the way, but most have stuck it out.”
Joey Buttler, last year’s state runner-up at 126 pounds and currently ranked No. 3 in the state at 132, leads that senior group that includes four others also considered worthy of top 20 mention.
The Warriors’ other co-captain along with Buttler, 170-pounder Vince Tinoco, holds down the No. 17 spot in his division. Classmates Sam Allen (15th at 182), Jakarrey Oliver (16th at 220) and Cooper Williams (20th at 285) have also thrust themselves into conversation as potential state finalists. All four qualified for the Evansville Semistate last season, each losing in the opening round.
In an attempt to better prepare his wrestlers for the rigors of the postseason, Meister had the Warriors compete this past weekend at the Defiance (Ohio) Border Wars.
The team will again travel beyond state lines this weekend to take part in the Thomas Nelson Invitational in Bardstown, Kentucky, on Saturday. Those tournaments, along with the annual Mid-State Conference meet at Mooresville on Jan. 14, will hopefully serve Whiteland well as it gears up for the sectional on Jan. 28.
To this point, Meister likes what he sees.
“Everyone is doing what they should be doing,” he said. “I tell the kids the regular season is practice for the state series. I think, realistically, we can have four or five make it to state.”
In the case of Tinoco, it never hurts to have one of the state’s premier wrestlers in the practice room.
“Honestly, me and Joey have been practicing against each other a lot more this season,” said Tinoco, who also qualified for semistate as a sophomore. “He’s just really good, and he’s been pushing me, which is making me better.
“Making the state finals has always been my goal. It’s something I would love to do.”
Senior Blake Driver, who is 13-3 at 195 pounds, and a pair of sophomores, Jaden Farr (106) and Jacob Adkins (126), are also capable of making noise once the postseason gets here.
As for Buttler, who was able to experience the coveted spotlight as a state finalist, he’s put together a 24-0 mark this season combining his matches at 132 and 138 pounds (he’s strictly a 132-pounder from this point forward).
Buttler plans to be back inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse in February, and wants nothing more than to have some of his closest friends with him vying for medals.
“I feel really lucky that for the most part we’ve all stuck together,” Buttler said. “It’s cool to have grown up with these guys and experience the process of getting better. We’re super close-knit.
“Whether it’s wrestling season or not, we’re always doing something together.”
