Butler State Wrestling Tournament Results

From Coach Brandon Wackerman

On Thursday through Saturday, February 20-22, the Butler Bears varsity wrestling team travelled to the 2014 MSHSAA State Wrestling Tournament at the Mizzou Arena in Columbia, MO.  The Bears took 4 wrestlers to the state tournament, bringing home 2 more medals to add to the collection.  Bear wrestlers who had qualified for state the previous weekend at districts were:  Trey Heckadon (132), Tayje Van Voorst (138), Bram Hubbard (145), and Robert Anderson (285).

Butler Wrestlers’ Individual Match Results At State Tournament

132     Trey Heckadon (Sr)- 5 wins, 1 loss 3rd place/ 132 lbs

138     Tayje Van Voorst (Jr)-        1 win, 2 losses

145     Bram Hubbard (So)-  2 losses

285     Robert Anderson (So)-        4 wins, 2 losses        5^th place/ 285 lbs

STATE MEDALISTS

Trey Heckadon (Sr)- 3rd place, 132 lbs

Heckadon lost a tough quarterfinal match Friday morning to eventual state runner-up, Cody Niemeier of Brookfield.  Heckadon battled back in the wrestlebacks, though, knocking off a returning state finalist Friday night (Justin Rhodes, of West Platte), then winning out through the 3rd place match on Saturday.  Heckadon becomes the only Butler high school wrestler to medal all four years at the state tournament.

Robert Anderson (So)- 5th place, 285 lbs

Anderson entered the tournament as an underdog 4th seeded wrestler, drawing a district champion in his first match (and eventual state runner-up, Brenden Weybrew of Maryville.)  Anderson lost a rough match by fall.  He didn't stop there, though, winning his next 3 matches in the wrestleback rounds, including avenging 2 previous district losses against senior opponents (John Karsten- Blair Oaks, and Austin Bair- Warsaw).  Anderson becomes the 29th state medalist in Butler wrestling history.

RECORD SETTING SEASON FOR HECKADON

Heckadon becomes the only Butler wrestler in school history to medal 4 times at the state tournament (2011- 5th/112, 2012- 2nd/113, 2013- 4th/126, 2014- 3rd/132).  He finishes his high school career with a 160-23 overall varsity record, and he also set the following school records in the process:

Career Wins (160)

Career Takedowns (306)

Career Pins (93)

Single Season Wins (48- 2012)

Single Season Pins (31- 2014)

Coach’s Comments

“The Bears wrestlers represented Butler well at the state tournament once again.  Robert Anderson definitely hurt some feelings this weekend, defeating wrestlers in the wrestleback rounds who had beaten him previously in the season, on his way to a 5^th place finish.  A young heavyweight medalist, only a sophomore, is a novelty to have in the program.  Trey Heckadon finished his final high school wrestling season in Mizzou Arena in the 3^rd place match, earning a 4^th straight state medal, adding to all of the school records he has set recently.  He will be a tough act to follow for our younger wrestlers in the coming years…and his career numbers will be hard to catch.  Three of our wrestlers will now return with a first-hand understanding of the state experience, which will be helpful in the off-season and next winter.  I would like to thank all of our families, program supporters, and fans now that we are concluding the 2013-2014 season.  Our wrestlers wouldn’t be able to have the same experience in our great sport without your help.”