New Palestine High School

New Palestine wrestlers Gunner Butt and Colin Whetsel both won their first-round matches at Friday's IHSAA wrestling State Finals and will compete in Saturday's final eight. Both are guaranteed placements at the State Finals and will wrestle three matches, beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Ford Center in Evansville. Whetsel started the day for the Dragons with a 5-2 victory over Hobart's Aleksandar Tatum. After falling behind 2-0, he had a second-period takedown, then used an escape and a takedown in the third to take the lead and the match. Whetsel is now 24-7 and will wrestle Wabash's Elisa Cressell (38-1) in the quarterfinals at 190. Gunner Butt will place for the second consecutive year. He won a 9-2 decision over Floyd Central's Fynn Douglas. Butt is now 34-5. He will wrestle Jay County's Cody Rowles (32-10) in the quarterfinals at 126. Two other Dragons competed Friday but were unable to advance from the opening round. At 132, Cole Vandygriff was pinned by Ben Davis' Keith Parker in 5:51. Vandygriff finishes the year 28-8. At 144, Bryce Doss lost a 10-0 decision to New Prairie's Jeffrey Huyvaert. Doss finishes the year 31-11.