Coburn's major decision pulls out win for Butler

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

January 13, 2005 Last Updated: February 01, 2005 03:58 PM High School

BUTLER TWP - Josh Coburn didn't just have to win - he had to win big.

Butler's junior 152-pound wrestler took to the mat for the final match of Wednesday night's dual meet against Ambridge with his team trailing, 36-33.

And his coaches had no idea which team would be awarded the win in the event of a tie.

"We were trying to figure it out on the bench, but it was tough," Butler coach Scott Stoner said. "We didn't know for sure."

Coburn made sure it didn't matter, scoring a 12-4 major decision over sophomore Mike Fitzpatrick to give the Golden Tornado (9-2, 5-1) a 37-36 triumph.

The victory moved Butler a step closer to securing a WPIAL team playoff berth. The Tornado will reach the playoffs with a win over Shaler tonight or against Pine-Richland next week.

Three of Fitzpatrick's points were on escapes allowed by Coburn, who was desperately trying to win by eight points so he would be awarded a major decision.

Leading 10-3, Coburn allowed Fitzpatrick his third escape with 1:08 left in the match. Coburn (12-4) took him down with 12 seconds remaining to score his seventh win this season by a major decision.

"I figured we needed it," Coburn said. "I wrestle the same way every match. Coach says to work hard and be aggressive.

"I stepped it up a notch tonight. The team worked hard to put us in this position, so I was going to work as hard as I could."

The Tornado trailed 30-12 before scoring three consecutive first-period pins - Alex Evanoff in 1:59 at 125 pounds, Ian McLaughlin in 1:11 at 130 and Stewart Rapone in 1:27 at 135 - to knot the score at 30 with three matches left.

"My match doesn't mean a thing if we don't get even one of those pins," Coburn said.

"I figured this match would come down to the end," Ambridge coach Rich Catalano said. "Our strength was up top (upper weights). They were going to catch up in the lower weights."

The Bridgers (8-6, 3-3) took a 36-30 lead when junior Ed Albrecht (16-5) pinned Lee Will in 3:45 at 140 pounds. Will was competing in his first varsity match.

"Lee won in wrestle-offs," Stoner said. "He was up against a strong kid and did a good job of staying off his back for a while."

Butler senior Tom Hollerman kept the Tornado alive by winning a 7-1 decision at 145. Like Coburn, he allowed an escape midway through the third period in hopes of winning a major decision, but couldn't score another takedown.

That set up Coburn's heroics, which as it turned out weren't totally necessary.

Had the match wound up tied at 36, Butler would have won on the sixth criterion: most first-scored points in matches.

"It always hurts to lose a dual match by a point," Catalano said. "Mike (Fitzpatrick) battled hard, though. He was just up against a better kid and couldn't hold him off.

"This was a good experience for him. He'll be better off for it down the road."

Stoner breathed a sigh of relief after the victory.

"I earned my paycheck tonight," he said.

And Coburn earned the ultimate praise from his coach.

"That situation was a lot to put on a young guy," Stoner said. "It's like fourth-and-goal and the ball's coming to you. You're the only one on the field and you have to push it in.

"Josh did a great job. I told the kids after the match that you never know. Tomorrow night, one of them might find himself in the same position."

Notes:

Aaron Pascazi (10-4) scored his seventh pin of the year at 171 pounds for Butler. … Freshman McLaughlin (15-2) pinned junior Bryan Gleason, who entered the match at 14-6. … T.J. Pringle (18-2) won by forfeit at 160 and heavyweight Chris Dempsey (20-0) won by pin for Ambridge. … Butler hosts Shaler at 7 p.m. today.

Butler 37, Ambridge 36

103 pounds-

Rob Runyan (B) by forfeit

112-

Lee Thomas (A) by forfeit

119-

Ryan Wilson (A) dec. Decker Hubbs, 8-7

125-

Alex Evanoff (B) pinned Angelo Aquino, 1:59

130-

Ian McLaughlin (B) pinned Bryan Gleason, 1:11

135-