The setup was unprecedented, but the sense of urgency remained unchanged.
On Friday, 10 Johnson County wrestlers attempted to lengthen their seasons by advancing past the opening round at the state finals inside Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
Three were successful.
Making it through were Whiteland’s Joey Buttler (113) along with Center Grove juniors Hayden Watson (145) and Drake Buchanan (182).
The finals were split into two sessions due to COVID-19 safety precautions. The morning competition featured the lighter weight divisions (106-145 pounds), and the heavier weight classes (152-285) took to the mat at night.
Buttler (31-7), a sophomore 113-pounder, was among the first to compete, taking a 3-1 lead on Carmel’s Isaac Ward and holding on for a 6-5 victory. He’ll wrestle third-ranked and undefeated Isaac Ruble of Bellmont, with the winner advancing to the semifinal round.
“It feels really good from being a kid who just started wrestling three years ago to starting to get on the same level as some of these kids,” Buttler said. “(Ruble) is a junior and was a state finalist last year (runner-up at 106). I’m just going to throw everything at him. I’ve got nothing to lose.”
Also at 113 pounds, Center Grove freshman Reese Courtney lost to Kyrel Leavell of Warren Central, ending his season with a 29-6 record. Franklin senior Jake Bechert’s finals debut meant facing Roncalli’s Bryce Lowery at 126 pounds, with Lowery pulling out a 7-4 victory. Bechert was 23-6 this season.
“Jake has been a Franklin wrestler since he was a kid, and he proved that dedicating his time and effort to this program paid off by making it to state,” Grizzly Cubs coach Jim Tonte said of Bechert. “He is a great kid and one of the hardest workers I have ever coached. He left it all on the mat today and wrestled his tail off in a tough loss.”
Bechert, who finished his career with a record of 101-44, isn’t sure whether he wants to pursue wrestling collegiately. Either way, he’s enjoyed the past four years, particularly being able to end it at the state finals.
“I’m just glad I got to compete at state and be able to wrestle the last four years,” Bechert said. “It’s an honor to be able to wrestle with my coaches and teammates, and I love each and every one of them.”
Another local 126-pounder, Center Grove junior Michael Tharpe, was pinned by top-ranked Cathedral junior Zeke Seltzer late in the opening round.
Watson’s 6-3 decision over South Dearborn senior Elijah Otto improved the junior’s mark to 30-4 this season and match him against New Haven senior Elijah Chacon in the quarters. His teammate and classmate, Buchanan, ran his season mark to 33-1 with a 7-2 decision over Roncalli junior Sam Peeples.
Buchanan’s quarterfinal foe this morning is Chesterton senior Gavin Layman, who has won all 39 of his matches this season.
Four Franklin wrestlers took part in the evening session, starting with 170-pounder Tyler Fuqua. The senior lost to Penn’s Pete Eastin in overtime to end a 27-3 season. Cubs senior Harris Eason was pinned by Ibrahim Khaoucha of Northridge in his 195-pound match, finishing 26-7.
Junior Nolan Skaggs, paired against unbeaten and top-ranked Evan Bates of Chesterton, was pinned as well, to complete a 17-9 season. Franklin 285-pounder Jacob Johnson lost to No. 1 Braydon Erb of Western, 6-1, to wrap up a 26-4 campaign.
