JACKSON TWP — Talk about starting fast out of the gate.

Seneca Valley won its first six matches Wednesday night — including three by pin and one by injury default — for a 30-0 lead, then held on for a 36-30 triumph over Butler in a mutual high school wrestling season opener.

"Getting off to that big start was huge for us," Raiders coach Lee Mullett said. "This is a great way for us to start the season."

The evening started with the 160-pound match — foiling any strategy of wrestler placement for Butler coach Scott Stoner.

"Yeah … That draw definitely worked out for us," Mullett said.

Butler had hoped to strategically place wrestlers from 152 pounds down to 189, where it had a vacancy listed on its lineup sheet.

"Even if we started at 152, maybe Josh Coburn gets that win for us right off the bat and we get a spark," Stoner said. "Instead, it went the other way.

"I can't remember starting a match down 30-0. They came right out and punched us in the mouth and we never recovered."

Austin Kanfoush opened the match with a decision at 160 pounds for Seneca Valley. Raider 171-pounder Zach Cahall trailed Butler's Aaron Pascazi 5-4 with seconds remaining in their match.

Cahall scored an escape with nine seconds left, then a quick takedown to steal a 7-5 victory.

"That match was a big one," Mullett said. "We took off after that."

Ben Fallon scored a pin at 189, Ian Whittaker did likewise at 215, and Phil Mignanelli won the heavyweight match by injury default.

Butler's Marcus Hough trailed 3-1 in the second period when he injured a shoulder during the go-ahead takedown.

"All of the weight came down on that shoulder," Stoner said. "He may have a slight separation or something.

"That loss at 171 hurt. With 10 seconds left, we have to hold that kid. You have to know the situation. You can't let that one slip away."

The Golden Tornado wrested Wednesday without sophomore Ian McLaughlin, a 33-match winner and 119-pound section champion last year. He suffered a concussion during a recent practice.

Seneca Valley 103-pounder Grant Evans scored a pin to complete the Raiders' early onslaught. Butler pulled within 30-24 with consecutive pins from Rob Runyan, Brian Nicelli, Ken Rosenbauer and Stewart Rapone.

Rapone's pin — at 51 seconds — was the quickest of the night.

But the Raiders had their veteran wrestlers waiting to retake control. Pat Coyne and Lee Layton won decisions at 135 and 140 pounds, respectively.

"I felt pretty good, knowing we had our best kids coming up at the end," Mullett said.

Seneca Valley travels to Pine-Richland next Wednesday and does not have another home match until January.

Butler hosts Hampton next Wednesday and has 24 teams coming in Saturday for the Doc Phillips Memorial Junior Varsity Tournament, beginning at 10 a.m.

Seneca Valley 36, Butler 30

103 —

Grant Evans (SV) pinned Dave Jaillet, 2:42

112 —

Rob Runyan (B) pinned Dustin Yelinek, 1:04

119 —

Brian Nicelli (B) pinned Tyler Baldauf, 3:59

125 —

Ken Rosenbauer (B) pinned Nick Minton, 3:54

130 —

Stewart Rapone (B) pinned Russ King, :51

135 —

Pat Coyne (SV) dec. Alex Evanoff, 7-2

140 —

Lee Layton (SV) dec. Jon Sanko, 7-1

145 —

Josh Pascazi (B) dec. Frank Mullett, 4-1

152 —

Josh Coburn (B) dec. Dave Kovach, 10-7

160 —

Austin Kanfoush (SV) dec. Lee Will, 5-0

171 —

Zach Cahall (SV) dec. Aaron Pascazi, 7-5

189 —

Ben Fallon (SV) pinned Dave Coburn, 1:53

215 —

Ian Whittaker (SV) pinned Maino Quercio, 2:53

Hwt —

Phil Mignanelli (SV) by injury default over Marcus Hough