Buehler leaves legacy Hill City won’t soon forget

Hill City senior Devin Buehler didn’t just leave his mark in Hill City, he graffitied his name all over the record books — figuratively of course. 

Buehler, the son of Dan and Meagan Buehler of Hill City, has attended Hill City school since kindergarten and is knocking at the door of graduation this Sunday. But it’s not the time that he has spent here that is impressive; it’s what he did with it.

“It’s special that the community is so much a part of the school,” said Buehler. “I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else but here, with the kids, my classmates, friends—everything.”

That sense of belonging fueled a powerhouse high school athletic career that few in Hill City will soon forget.

Buehler first fell in love with football as a first grader playing for Black Hills Youth Football in Custer with his dad as coach. 

His high school football career was “kind of rocky at the start,” Buehler admitted. “But it finished awesome.”

Indeed it did. After a losing season the year prior, Buehler led the Rangers to a 8-2 finish his senior year—including multiple wins by a margin of 40 plus and two shutouts. As quarterback and defensive back, Buehler was the heartbeat of coach Brett Eckert’s roster.

“He sets a good pace during practice, and he’s a good athlete,” said Eckert. “He’s done a lot for our program to continue to get better and strive to get better.”

That drive earned Buehler 2022 and 2023 Black Hills Conference honors, 2023 Best of the West Defensive back, 2024 Best of the West Quarterback and 2024 All-state Honorable Mention at QB. 

He also holds eight school football records including most pass completions in a game (21), pass completions in a career (293), pass percentage in a game (90.9 percent), pass percentage in a season (61.9 percent), touchdowns scored in a season (26), career touchdowns (44), offensive points in a season (156) and offensive points scored in a career (264). 

For Buehler, it was never just about the statistics.

“It takes a lot more than just showing up,” said Buehler. “If we want to say that we’re one of the top teams, then you have to work like you’re a top team.”

The football team proved themselves a top contender finishing fourth out of the 16 team Class 9AA standings.

“It doesn’t accumulate to anything if you don’t put in work, sacrifice and time,” he said, “and that moved over into basketball, I think.”

Did it ever.

That work ethic and leadership carried over into basketball season, where Buehler led the team into the most successful basketball season in Hill City history.

“Obviously, state’s been the goal for me for my entire school career,” he said.

After a few early losses, the Rangers caught fire, winning 11 straight and setting off a flurry of “firsts” for the program. 

The first trip to the SoDak. 16, first appearance at the Class State A tournament, and first win at state—ultimately finishing sixth and breaking a record for most wins in a season. 

“It was an absolute fever dream,” said Buehler.

He credits the success of the season to “people just knowing their roles and accepting their roles.” 

“Not trying to be Michael Jordan or LeBron, you know, just being Devin Buehler, Alex, Everett Sullivan,” said Buehler. “Just excelling at what they do and going as hard as you can.” 

“It took the entire team,” he said.

Starting varsity even as a freshman, Buehler has notched a long list of accolades—three time Black Hills All-Conference honors (’22-’23, ’23-’24, ’24-’25), Black Hills Conference Honorable Mention (’21-’22), 2025 Rapid City Journal Best of the West 1st team, 2025 SDBCA All-State Class A 3rd team and receiving the Spirit of Su award, a high honor that recognizes an athlete for their athletic ability, leadership, character, sportsmanship and academic achievement. 

All this while rewriting the Hill City basketball record book—all-time scoring leader (1,489 points), most career assists (438), steals (290) and rebounds (449.)

“Just being a leader to that team was so much more special to me than getting any individual accolade,” said Buehler. 

“Getting to hang out with my senior buddies” has been a highlight, he said.

Even stacked with football and basketball accolades, Buehler’s athletic resume isn’t finished yet. 

In track and field, he ranks among Hill City’s all-time top 10 in four events—fourth in the 200, ninth in both the 400 and 800 and tied for third in the high jump. 

“Devin Buehler has been a cornerstone of the Hill City Rangers track and  field program for the last four years,” said track coach Joe Noyes. “A four-year letter winner, Devin has competed at every state meet, every season of his high school career, consistently representing our team with determination and pride.”

Buehler was also a vital member of the 2025 Howard Wood Relays Sprint Medley Relay team that captured a title and set a school record with a time of 3:37.44. 

“Known for his fierce competitive spirit, Devin embodies the values of hard work, resilience and leadership that define our program,” said Noyes. “As a key member of the 4x400 relay team—currently ranked fourth in the state—he remains a critical piece of our push for success at this year’s state meet. Devin’s impact on our team goes far beyond the stopwatch or the measuring tape; he is a true example of what it means to be a Ranger.”

Buehler will soon be moving on from rewriting the high school record books to pursuing college basketball, signing with Doane University in Crete, Neb., where he will study education.

He hopes to someday return to Hill City as a teacher.

“If it all works out, I could come back here and teach,” said Buehler. “Which would be kind of nuts but, it’d be a dream to come back here and teach probably one day.”

Despite his unrivaled success in Hill City athletics, it’s clear what matters most to Buehler is being a good leader and role model. 

To the next generation of Ranger athletes, the name Buehler ranks right up there with Jordan himself, with kids on the playground pretending to be Buehler on the basketball court.

“It’s special,” said Buehler of the flattering mimicry. “It’s what I’ve been trying to promote.”

“Being good at basketball is awesome and having kids look up to me is even cooler, but I hope that they know that being a better person is cooler than anything,” he said.

“I hope that the kids that I inspire know that kindness wins and that their athletic ability will take them as far as their character,” he said, in true Devin Buehler style.

As he prepares to walk across the graduation stage and on to the next chapter, his name may some day be erased from the record books but it will never fade from Hill City’s story.

The legacy he created will cement him as a Ranger for life.