Whiteland senior Joey Buttler is the Daily Journal’s Wrestler of the Year after winning the 132-pound state championship last month.
Any thoughts Joey Buttler entertained about possibly one day becoming Whiteland’s point guard were quickly rerouted.
In the process, basketball’s loss became wrestling’s gain.
“In the seventh grade, I tried out for the basketball team and got cut,” the Whiteland senior remembers. “Man, I was heartbroken because I thought I did well at the tryouts. The next day there was a callout for wrestling, and I went to it.
“It was hard, but I enjoyed it thoroughly.”
Buttler, a four-year starter and three-time state finalist who last month won the 132-pound championship at the annual state finals, feels fortunate to have pinpointed his athletic niche.
Undefeated this winter and owner of a career record of 145-23, he is the Daily Journal’s Wrestler of the Year.
Buttler is the sixth Whiteland wrestler to capture a state title. He joins a select group that includes Mark Egbert (105 pounds, 1974), Jason Fryar (275, 2000), Clint Palmore (119, 2002), Chris Cooper (160, 2002) and Matthew Fields (119, 2007).
All were special in their own way; Buttler is no different.
The continuous striving to improve, a trait he admits to inheriting from his parents, Joe and Renee, is evident regardless of the endeavor.
In Joey Buttler’s universe, days off are far more an idea than a reality.
“It’s Joey’s work ethic, his drive to get better and his leadership qualities,” Warriors coach Anthony Meister said. “There aren’t too many Joey Buttlers out there. He had a notebook full of his goals, and one of them was to be a state champion.”
Shortly after his introduction to the sport, this didn’t look like how Buttler might finish his prep career. Or if he would finish it.
Buttler didn’t memorize his exact record as a seventh-grade wrestler, and for good reason. He thinks it was in the neighborhood of 6-31.
He put in the work in the offseason, training with former Whiteland Middle School wrestling coach Travis Thomas (now in the same job at Shelbyville). By the time Buttler returned to the mat, he dominated his weight class, losing only twice as an eighth-grader.
In his first varsity season (2019-20), Buttler lost in the second round of the Evansville Semistate at 113 pounds. He’s since won an eighth-place medal at 113, was runner-up at 126 as a junior and finished a spotless 45-0 this winter.
Buttler, who carries a 4.2 grade-point average, will wrestle at Indiana University starting next winter. Though undecided on a major, he looks forward to being able to continue his wrestling journey in what is arguably the nation’s premier wrestling conference.
“Wrestling has done a lot for me when a lot of kids my age were having those confidence issues,” Buttler said. “The confidence it gives you when you’re good at something, it’s great.
“I’m obviously happy with my high school career. It’s definitely difficult for it to be over, but now I’m ready to embrace a new chapter.”
ALL-COUNTY TEAM
The 2023 All-County team for wrestling:
Joey Buttler, Whiteland senior: Finished with a 45-0 record and a state championship at 132 pounds … County and Mid-State Conference champion … Academic All-State … A three-time state finalist and medalist who graduates with a career record of 145-23 … Committed to wrestle at Indiana University.
Noah Clouser, Center Grove junior: Johnson County champion at 170 pounds … Finished with a 31-6 record … Sectional champ, regional runner-up and third at semistate … Qualified for state finals.
Reese Courtney, Center Grove junior: State runner-up at 138 pounds … County and sectional champion; second at regional and semistate … Al Smith Invitational champion … Academic All-State honoree.
Eddie Goss, Center Grove sophomore: Posted a 40-6 record and placed third in the state at 120 pounds … County and sectional champion; regional runner-up and third at semistate.
Jackson Heaston, Indian Creek senior: State runner-up at 113 pounds, finishing with 36-5 record … Sectional, regional and Western Indiana Conference champion and semistate runner-up … Career record of 125-24.
Nate Johnson, Center Grove junior: County, sectional and regional champion at 220 pounds … Third at semistate and a state finalist … Finished with a 42-6 record.
Wyatt Krejsa, Center Grove junior: State runner-up at 145 pounds … Academic All-State … Posted a record of 20-1 after missing much of season with injury … Sectional, regional and semistate champion.
Charlie LaRocca, Center Grove junior: State champion at 113 pounds, finishing with a 42-2 record … County, sectional, regional and semistate champion and an Academic All-State selection.
Kaden McConnell, Center Grove junior: Finished 40-4 and was the state runner-up at 195 pounds in first full season of varsity competition … Academic All-State … County, sectional and regional champion; fourth at semistate.
Andre Merritt, Center Grove senior: County, sectional and regional champion at 160 pounds … Semistate runner-up who finished fith at state, ending season with a 39-6 record.
Julian Weems, Center Grove sophomore: Placed fifth in state at 182 pounds … Ended season with a 29-9 record … Sectional and regional champion, second at semistate.
Hyatt Yeager, Center Grove senior: State runner-up at 126 pounds … County and sectional champion, fourth at semistate … Finished with a 35-9 record.
Honorable mention
Blake Driver, Whiteland; Jude Heaston, Indian Creek; Jakarrey Oliver, Whiteland; Gavin Rice, Greenwood; Tyler Schott, Center Grove; Silas Stits, Center Grove; Vince Tinoco, Whiteland; Cooper Williams, Whiteland
