BUTLER TWP — By the time this season is over, Jack Codispot will rank among the best wrestlers in Butler High School history.

The Golden Tornado senior 160-pounder needs three wins to become the 10th Butler wrestler to reach 100 career victories. He has 54 career pins, needing just five more to crack the Tornado's all-time top five in that category.

But his college athletic career will likely be spent in the pole vault, not on the wrestling mat.

“That's the way I'm leaning because that's where I'm getting the college interest from right now,” Codispot said. “That could change, though. I'm not ruling out wrestling.”

Codispot carries a 3.8 grade point average and plans to study mechanical engineering in college. West Point has interest in him, as do Lehigh, Pitt-Johnstown and Cornell, all for the pole vault.

“We have three workouts a week for other (indoor) pole vaulters and Jack misses those,” Butler pole vault coach Jerry McGarrah said. “We use the indoor pit once a week and he gets to maybe every other one of those.

“To do what he's been able to do at our indoor meets — while rarely practicing at all — shows how amazing an athlete he is.”

Codispot has already vaulted 14 feet, 5 inches indoor this year, the fourth-highest pole vault in the state so far this season. He placed fifth in the state in the pole vault during outdoor season last spring, vaulting 14-6.

The four pole vaulters who finished ahead of him were all seniors.

“His natural goal, as a senior, is to win that state title this spring,” McGarrah said.

But first things first.

“We believe very strongly in our kids playing the sport that's in season,” Butler track coach John Williams said. “Wrestling is Jack's prime sport right now and he has to dedicate himself to practice there.”

Codispot has definite goals on the mat as well.

He's placed third in the section in each of his first three wrestling seasons and has never advanced to the state tournament.

“This is my last shot at a section title,” he said. “I feel like my technique is much better than it's been in the past. I've worked hard on that.

“I used to count on wild moves or gambles to get my wins. Now I have other stuff to fall back on. It's made me a lot more confident.”

Codispot is 97-35 as a varsity wrestler. He is 49-10 the past two years and has only lost three matches so far this season.

He is also the only veteran senior in the Golden Tornado lineup.

“I remember looking up to the seniors in this program when I was an underclassman,” Codispot said. “I want to set an example for the younger guys on this team.

“It's important for me to do things the right way.”

Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner said Codispot has never slacked off in the wrestling room despite competing in two sports during the same season.

“I know how hard he works in the room,” Stoner said. “Jack's athleticism speaks for itself. To do two sports in one season is hard enough, but when one of those sports is wrestling, where it's grueling and you're grinding physically every day ... What he's doing is pretty incredible.”

Williams agreed.

“The physicality and toughness required in wrestling, the wear on his body, then to see him have enough speed and agility to run down that runway and pole vault is quite a combination,” Williams said.

Codispot has worked hard enough in wrestling that he's put himself in position to continue the sport in college, if he chooses.

“No doubt, he would be a good college wrestler,” Stoner said. “Jack has come a long way this year in terms of form and technique. He doesn't have to rely on the one big move anymore.

“As far as confidence and ability go, he's getting better and better and better.”

Codispot said he could “improve my cardio a little more ... and I'm always working on technique.”

Soon, he'll be working on a sport in college — whatever college or sport that is.

“He is so talented that I can see him hitting 16 or 17 feet if pole vaulting was his sole (athletic) focus,” McGarrah said. “I've talked to him and I'll support him in whatever he does.

“Jack has that combination of strength and agility that very few people have.”