FOX CHAPEL — Seven section champions and a whole lot of promise.

That's what Butler County high school wrestling programs took away from the Section 3-AAA Individual Championships Saturday at Fox Chapel.

Seneca Valley had four individual champions — Alejandro Herrera at 106 pounds, Louis Newell at 120, Drew Vlasnik at 138 and Tyler Gross at 170. Herrera, a freshman, needs only one more win for 40 this year.

“It's a lot of wins, but I've had a lot of chances to get wins,” Herrera said, referring to the Raiders' deep run in the PIAA team dual match tournament.

Newell scored his 150th career win — against only 23 losses — when the Pitt-bound 120-pounder decisioned Nathan Lukez of Pine-Richland 15-5 in the title match.

“I didn't know that was my 150th ... It's a nice time for that to happen,” the soft-spoken Newell said. “That's a good career accomplishment.”

Butler's Christian Sequete (29-3) won the 182-pound section title by decisioning Justin Hart (34-2) 6-3 in the finals. Sequete pinned his first two opponents Saturday.

He was victimized by a pair of head butts against Hart in the title match.

“Their heads just came together when Hart rushed at him ... That stuff happens,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “Christian had to gut it out after that.”

The match was stopped twice to allow Sequete some recovery time. A third stoppage would have ended the bout and he would have lost by default.

“I don't think it was intentional,” Sequete said of the head butts. “Things happen during a match. I got through it.”

Mars had four finalists in Noah Hunkele at 106 pounds, Alex Hornfeck at 145, Jake Richardson at 170 and Sean Mcelhinney at 182. Hornfeck (30-2) and Richardson (28-3) won section titles.

“Mars has never had four finalists before and I'm not sure if two section champs in the same year has happened,” Planets coach Jason Wilk said. “We've got five wrestlers moving on ... definitely a positive step for this program.”

Hornfeck had a pair of pins before defeating SV's Nick Montalbano 10-0 in the finals. Hornfeck has 121 career wins and is a two-time section champion.

“I'm excited about taking my shot at getting through to states,” Hornfeck said. “I've put in a lot of work for this. I know I'm improved over last year.”

Richardson won by injury defeat over North Allegheny's Jon Hoover in his title bout. Hoover suffered a blow to the head and was too woozy to continue.

“That was disappointing because he beat me 5-1 earlier this year and I wanted to get my revenge on the mat,” Richardson said. “I'm proud of winning the title, but that was a tough way to do it.”

Aidan Leshinsky at 132 pounds is Mars' fifth WPIAL qualifier.

Losing section title matches for Seneca Valley were Jason Geyer at 126, Antonio Amelio at 132, Montalbano and heavyweight Kevin Meeder. Dylan Chappell and John Siwiak placed third at 113 and 195 pounds, respectively, and will also advance to the WPIAL tournament.

Besides Sequete, Butler is advancing Jack Codispot (third at 145), Nate McMaster (fourth at 120), Clayton Dressler (fifth at 106) and Rob Hays (fifth at 160).

Hays (19-13) reversed and pinned SV's Conor Hayes with one second left in the fifth-place match to extend his season.

“Robby's only been wrestling for two years and had one win on the mat last year,” Stoner said. “For him to get through — and the way he did it — is a remarkable achievement.”

Knoch advanced five wrestlers — Brendan Hinchberger (third at 152), fourth-place finishers Kameron Grassi at 132, Eric Green at 182 and Saavon Mosby at 220, and Guy DeLeonardis (fifth at 145).

“I'm very happy about what we've done here,” Knoch coach Steve Carney said. “These kids showed that we can make it happen in this program.

“Our guys never quit on the mat. I'm glad the hard work has paid off. This should help us in the future, too.”

The WPIAL Championships take place Friday and Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School.

SECTION 3-AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (top 5 advance to WPIAL tourney)

Finals

106-Alejandro Herrera (Seneca Valley) ded. Noah Hunkele (Mars) 10-0; 113-Ryan Sullivan (Shaler) dec. Freddy Junko (North Allegheny) 6-2; 120-Louis Newell (Seneca Valley) dec. Nathan Lukez (Pine-Richland) 15-5; 126-Sam Hillegas (North Hills) pinned Jason Geyer (Seneca Valley) 1:23; 132-Garrett Reinsfelder (Shaler) dec. Antonio Amelio (Seneca Valley) 7-5; 138-Drew Vlasnik (Seneca Valley) dec. Ben Salas (Pine-Richland) 3-1; 145-Alex Hornfeck (Mas) dec. Nick Montalbano (Seneca Valley) 10-0; 152-Cole Spencer (Pine-Richland) pinned Conrad Harold (Hampton) :48; 160-Jake Richardson (Mars) injury default over Jon Hoover (North Allegheny); 170-Tyler Gross (Seneca Valley) tecj. fall over Sean Mcelhinney (Mars) 5:03 (24-8); 182-Christian Sequete (Butler) dec. Justin Hart (Hampton) 6-3; 195-Nathan Mankey (North Hills) dec. Alex Donohue (Indiana) 5-0; 220-Donovan Cutchember (Fox Chapel) dec. Ben Grafton (North Allegheny) 5-1; Hwt.-Derek Devine (North Allegheny) pinned Kevin Meeder (Seneca Valley) 4:22

Consolation Finals

106-Max Stedeford (North Allegheny) pinned Robert Palmieri (Pine-Richland) 2:38; 113-Dylan Chappell (Seneca Valley) by forfeit over Josh Campbell (Hampton); 120-Tyler Kocak (Hampton) tech. fall over Nate McMaster (Butler) 1:54 (16-0); 126-Jacob Downing (North Allegheny) dec. Kameron Grassi (Knoch) 5-1; 132-Gabe Falo (North Allegheny) by forfeit over Aidan Leshinsky (Mars); 138-Ian Scarberry (Shaler) dec. Avery Bursick (Fox Chapel) 1-0; 145-Jack Codispot (Butler) dec. Nick Marcenelle (North Allegheny) 6-1; 152-Brendan Hinchberger (Knoch) dec. Ethan Uechi (North Hills) 8-0; 160-Dylan McAnulty (Indiana) by forfeit over Jake Pollak (Shaler); 170-AJ Ryan (Indiana) tech. fall over Chad Scherer (Hampton) 4:16 (15-0); 182-Zach Carcy (Fox Chapel) dec. Eric Green (Knoch) 8-7; 195-John Siwiak (Seneca Valley) dec. Ed Farrell (Fox Chapel) 7-0; 220-Dawson Dietz (Hampton) dec. Saavon Mosby (Knoch) 4-1; Hwt.-Brent Johnson (Indiana) pinned Jeff Bonnette (Shaler) 2:22

5th-6th Place

106-Clayton Dressler (Butler) pinned Cameron Rakar (Hampton) 1:41; 113-Jeremy MacPherson (North Hills) dec. Keith Brubach (Mars) 3-2; 120-Mohammaad Khatami (North Allegheny) dec. Jack Turner (Indiana) 3-1; 126-Zach Wright (Hampton) dec. Dylan Winters (Shaler) 4-3; 132-Gage Galuska (Hampton) pinned Steven Green (Butler) 1:59; 138-Liam Helon (Hampton) pinned Andrew Wang (North Allegheny) :52; 145-Guy Deleonardis (Knoch) pinned Vincent Schmitt (Hampton) 3:26; 152-Manuel Batista (North Allegheny) dec. Josh Miller (Fox Chapel) 7-5; 160-Rob Hays (Butler) pinned Conor Hayes (Seneca Valley) 4:59; 170-Sean Mahon (Fox Chapel) pinned Earnie Zilka (Knoch) 3:24; 182-Damon Thompson (North Hills) dec. Keegan Ryan (Indiana) 5-2; 195-Zach Shaver (Pine-Richland) pinned Jeremiah Saunders (Highlands) 3:35; 220-Miguel Jackson (Pine-Richland) dec. Nick Funovits (Seneca Valley) 3-2; Hwt.-Tommy Rengers (Hampton) pinned Jeremiah Nelson (Highlands) 2:38