Whiteland senior Joey Buttler, right, wrestles in the 132-pound final at Gainbridge Fieldhouse Saturday.
Chris Williams | For the Daily Journal
INDIANAPOLIS
Charlie LaRocca’s initial reaction was to immediately remove his headgear and throw it to the ground.
Not long after, Joey Buttler punctuated the biggest moment in his wrestling life with a round-off back handspring that he had rehearsed a time or 20.
Like the song says, different strokes for different folks.
Celebrations aside, what LaRocca, Center Grove’s junior 113-pounder, and Buttler, a Whiteland senior who competes at 132 pounds, had in common Saturday night were the medals around their necks.
Both were, are and always will be state champions.
“It’s better than I could have expected,” said Buttler, who capped his 45-0 season and brilliant four-year career with a 6-3 victory over Brownsburg junior Brady Ison in the title match at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. “I’ve been thinking about it for a long time, but this is that and plus.”
Buttler, fatigued as he was, had to make sure to stick his celebratory landing, particularly with approximately 10,000 spectators observing his every post-match move.
“Well, I’ve been able to do it for a while, but I’m pretty un-athletic, so I stumble a lot,” Buttler said, laughing. “But I had to get it right this last week or so.”
Johnson County was promised no less than one champion thanks to the 113-pound class.
Standing opposite of LaRocca in the circle was Indian Creek senior Jackson Heaston who, like Buttler, was finishing his outstanding prep career exactly where he had long envisioned.
Heaston scored the match’s first point, but LaRocca was effective down the stretch, prevailing by a score of 3-1.
“I knew I had to wrestle a full six minutes,” said LaRocca, who finished the season with a 42-2 record. “I knew I would get on the legs eventually. I just had to find my opportunity, and I found it.”
Heaston concluded his final season in a Braves singlet with a 36-5 mark.
“It’s been the goal since last year. We’ve been talking about it since July, me and my coaches,” LaRocca said. “I just had to get it done tonight, and I knew I could.
“(Winning state) means the world. I put so much into this sport. So much hard work. To see it finally pay off like this, I’ve dreamt of this moment. It doesn’t feel real, I’ll say that.”
Roncalli senior Bryce Lowery can relate.
The Royals’ 152-pounder, a four-time state finalist who took home the fifth-place medal at 138 pounds last season, finished this winter a spotless 44-0 after his 3-1 win against Evansville Mater Dei junior Hunter May.
Lowery’s other previous visits to the awards podium were with his fourth-place effort at 106 as a freshman and seventh at 126 a year later.
