Huskie wrestler exemplifies excellence in academics, athletics and community service

When Huskie wrestler Drake Buechler walks the stage at University of Saskatchewan (USask) Spring Convocation this week, he’ll be adding a degree to an already long list of academic and athletic achievements.

Buechler will graduate with an array of awards that include three U Sports Academic All-Canadian Awards, Canada West conference gold and silver medals, a U Sports silver medal, and two Student Athlete National Community Service Awards.

For Buechler, achieving what’s exceptional to most, is simple; keep your head down, work hard and stay ahead.

“What I try and tell my rookies on the team is that you’ve just got to buy in to athletics and your classes – to all the work that goes into it. If you go into it with an enthusiastic attitude and a competitive mindset, it puts you in the best position to excel in all aspects.”

Buechler said it comes down to the symbiotic relationship between athletics and academics – the idea that a body and mind in motion, stay in motion.

Working hard in the classroom makes a positive impact on your athletics, while training hard does the same for your academics.

The Huskie wrestler also credits his teammates, coaches and positive role models for inspiring him along the way.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be around other high-achieving students,” he said.

Students like Huskie teammate Donovan Neudorf, who Buechler said played a critical role in pushing him to strive for excellence.

“We get competitive with each other, even in the studying.”

From a niche sport to a niche degree, Buechler has always carved his own path. Though initially a Kinesiology major, he’ll be graduating this spring with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Paleobiology and as the year’s top student in geological sciences.

“Science and the natural world were always a passion for me as a kid,” he said. “During the pandemic I had some time to reflect. I decided to take a gamble and study something I was very passionate about. I’m glad I made the switch.”

Wasting no time, Buechler will head to northern British Columbia after graduation to work as a technician for an ecological consultant firm.

“I’m hopefully on the verge here of doing some work that I’m really excited about, in a field that I’m really excited about.”

Huskie Head Coach Daniel Olver has witnessed this same passion and excitement on the mat, emphasizing Buechler’s exemplary team-player attitude.

“One of the most memorable aspects of coaching Drake was witnessing his growth into a natural leader,” Olver said. “He embraced the responsibility of guiding his teammates, often stepping up in crucial moments to motivate and support them. His efforts were not just about winning matches but about fostering a sense of unity and resilience within the team. He excels because he leads by example, knowing others look to him for guidance.”

Buechler brings this mentality to his work with Down to Wrestle, a league founded by Olver and a friend to help empower and foster confidence in kids with Down syndrome.

“He became their teammate during those practices,” Olver said. “The wrestlers saw themselves as Huskies because of the way he interacted with them, encouraged them and celebrated their wins. They gravitate to him because of his energy.”

Buechler said being passionate about a sport that wasn’t always the most popular helps him relate to the kids he’s coaching.

“It’s a pretty niche sport,” he said. “Most wrestlers at some point in their life have felt like they didn’t fit in. But it has done so much for me in terms of opportunity. I can’t imagine my life without it. Being able to translate that passion to coaching these kids and seeing them just have fun and have the freedom to rough house a bit … You see them gain confidence in themselves, flexing their muscles and feeling strong. They identify as wrestlers now.”

Down to Wrestle is one of many organizations Buechler has given his time to, as well as Ronald McDonald House, Huskie Homeroom, Jim Pattison Children’s Hospital, and more.

He credits the Huskies program for providing student-athletes with the opportunity to give back in more ways than one.

“The program does a really good job of putting us in a position to help out the community.”

Buechler believes this diversity of experience and the delicate act of balancing athletics, academics and community, are what make student-athletes ideal employees.

“I think the bar is so high for what a student-athlete has to achieve that it sets us apart,” he said. “When you get us in the workplace, you get people that want to work hard. We know how to grind. I’m not scared of a hard day’s work. It gives us the confidence going into the workplace that we can handle it.”

Chief Athletics Officer Shannon Chinn has had a front row seat to Buechler’s success and echoes that sentiment.

“Our student-athletes balance so much throughout the year, from athletics to academics, to working and volunteering,” she said. “We are so proud of what Drake has achieved in his time with the Huskies – as a student, athlete and community member. He embodies excellence in all aspects and exemplifies what it means to be a Huskie. I know he’ll take that forward into this next part of his life, whether it be in the workforce or community.”

As he looks to his future and reflects on his USask and Huskies achievements, Buechler says all the hard work is worth it.

“I don’t think any of this was designed to be easy. You’re doing the same amount of school as everyone else, plus you’re adding practice time and competition time. But we don’t do it because it’s easy. We do it because it’s rewarding to do all of that hard work and reap the results.”

And while his journey on campus has come to an end, Olver said Buechler’s presence remains.

“Drake’s influence extends beyond his time on the mat. His perseverance, sportsmanship, and team-first mentality are now part of the team’s legacy. These stories are shared with new Huskies, ensuring that his spirit and values continue to inspire future generations. His journey exemplifies what it means to be a true leader and a dedicated athlete, and his contributions will be remembered and celebrated for years to come.”