Taking over the throne
CANONSBURG — Win No. 100 was pretty big.
Win No. 101 dwarfed it.
Butler senior 182-pound wrestler Christian Sequete secured the latter by a 9-2 decision over Tim Wallace of Albert Gallatin in their WPIAL Class AAA championship match Saturday night at Canon-McMillan High School.
Sequete (33-3) became only the second Golden Tornado wrestler to ever secure a WPIAL title. Cole Baxter won the crown at 145 pounds in 2009.
“That 100 wins doesn't mean that much now,” Sequete admitted. “This championship ... It's just so much more important for so many reasons.
“I can't put into words how I feel right now.”
Sequete began the tournament with 97 career wins. He pinned his way to 100, putting Gateway's Nevin Matthews' shoulders to the mat at 1:32 of their first-round match.
He put away John Bachar of Penn-Trafford at 2:16 of their quarterfinal bout. That set up a rematch with Hampton freshman Justin Hart in the semifinals.
Sequete decisioned Hart 6-3 in the Section 3 title bout the previous weekend. That was Hart's second loss of the season.
Sequete handed Hart — who wound up placing fourth in the WPIAL tourney — his third defeat in sound fashion. He built up a big lead before pinning Hart in 4:25.
“Pinning your way to the finals in this tournament ... That's doing something,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “Christian has looked so powerful and dominant, that may have affected the way he (Wallace) wrestled him in the finals.
“Wallace wasn't quite as aggressive against him this time.”
Wallace (34-3) is 136-20 in his varsity career. He entered the finals Saturday night as a two-time defending WPIAL champion. He also owned decisions of 7-0 and 6-3 over Sequete earlier this season.
Sequete said Wallace “tried to move in and throw me early” in their WPIAL title match. Sequete was able to turn the tables on him.
“I was able to counter him and get some quick near-fall points (in the first period),” he said. “Getting on top right away like that ... To be honest, I felt like I had the match in the bag already.”He was right.Sequete took a 4-0 lead into the second period. Wallace scored a pair of points in the middle frame to draw close, but Sequete dominated the final period.A takedown and near fall just missed resulting in Sequete's fourth pin of the tournament. But he gladly accepted the 9-2 decision.“Best tournament I've ever had in my life,” he said. “I've never wrestled this well.”Stoner credited the senior for following through and being patient with his moves against Wallace.“Christian never quit on anything out there in that match,” the coach said. “He stayed with it. I've never seen him so focused and determined.“He beat a two-time WPIAL champion handily. He was confident from the start and that confidence never wavered.”Sequete became the ninth Butler wrestler to reach the career 100-win plateau. His 101st triumph tied Alex Evanoff for eighth on the Tornado's all-time list.Sequete will head to Hershey and the PIAA Tournament Thursday needing two wins to tie T.J. McCance for seventh on the list.“100 ... That's just a number,” Sequete said, smiling. “Getting to the top of that podium is what I'll always remember.“I'd love to do that one more time.”Stoner couldn't help but smile over Sequete's overall performance in the tournament.“Christian was so meticulous, so driven,” he said. “His wrestling was so solid, so clean. He made everything come together.“He deserves this moment. I'm so proud of him.”
