BUTLER TWP— Despite another dual match loss Wednesday night, Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner saw some light in an otherwise dark season.

The Golden Tornado (5-10) started only four wrestlers with winning records in a 39-23 loss to Highlands, but the three who competed on the mat defeated quality opponents.

"Sometimes you have to look at individual things and draw positives from them,"Stoner said. "We got some of that tonight."

Josh Pascazi, a junior 152-pounder, improved to 20-4 with a 6-3 decision over Nick Glesk (22-7). Marino Quercio, a sophomore at 215, moved to 16-9 with an 8-4 decision over Cody Bertolimo (19-8).

Bertolimo is a defending Class AAsection champion.

"(Quercio) put together a four-point move that Cody never recovered from,"Highlands coach Jeff Pollick said. "That's how matches like that are won.

"We knew coming in what we were gonna face. Butler is also physical, a team with a lot of good leg moves. They're just young this year and they've had some unfortunate things happen."

Stoner would agree with the latter point. His best wrestler, 119-pound Ian Mclaughlin, remains sidelined with a concussion. Other wrestlers have battled injuries or left the team.

"Injuries, illness, death in the family — we've had issues at one time or another with every wrestler on the team,"Stoner said. "I've never seen anything like it. We can't field a team capable of winning a dual match."

But there have been bright spots.

Junior 145-pounder Alex Evanoff improved to 14-8 with an 8-2 decision of George Stettmier, another Highlands wrestler closing in on 20 wins.

Evanoff has been battling the effects of mononucleosis all year.

"He worked so hard during the summer, lifting weights and building up strength,"Stoner said. "He has that lean, slender body that helps him on some moves, but getting mono at the beginning of the year really set him back.

"Quercio has a torn labrum in his shoulder and the doctor recommended surgery, but Marino's been sucking it up and dealing with the pain. We're talking about a kid who was 7-23 last year and was pinned 22 times."

Quercio owns 11 pins among his 16 wins this year. Justin Victor, a junior, improved to 8-6 with a win by forfeit at 112.

Pascazi has been Butler's most consistent wrestler over the entire season, though Stoner said he took a step backward Wednesday.

"You want your wrestlers to improve and build and Josh's performance tonight wasn't at the level he's been wrestling at,"Stoner said. "He did get the win. He's just capable of doing better than he showed."

Pascazi finished second in his weight class at the section meet last year. This year his goal is to win it.

"I've improved my technique," he said. "I'm trying to be more of a leader this year, especially with Ian out and our team having only one senior."

That senior, Lee Will, was honored during a pre-match Senior Night ceremony. He carries a 3.6 grade point average and is headed to Indiana (Pa.)University to study pre-law.

Will is 8-14 this season.

"He's one of those kids who doesn't make excuses and never backs down from anybody,"Stoner said. "We've made him a sacrificial lamb at times, overmatching him and asking him to just not get pinned. He's a team guy all the way."

Butler wrestles at Blackhawk tonight and closes the regular season at the Hempfield Duals Feb. 17.

Highlands 39, Butler 23(match started at 152 pounds)103 pounds: Mike Henderson (H)tech. fall over Dave Jaillet in 4:48 (16-0);

112: Justin Victor (B)by forfeit;

119: Ron Festa (H)by forfeit;

125: Justin Nobilese (H)pinned Todd Wiest in 3:04;

130: Aaron Raible (B)dec. Brad Kaczymarcek 9-0;

135: Jordan Toth (H)by forfeit;

140: Ken Rosenbauer (B)dec. Nathan Wetler 9-1;

145: Alex Evanoff (B)dec. George Stettmier 8-2;

152: Josh Pascazi (B)dec. Nick Glesk 6-3;

160: Phil Scalise (H)dec. Lee Will 12-0;

171: Jack Wise (H)dec. Ryan Bock 5-2;

189: Mike Baker (H)pinned Jordan Emrick in 4:56;

215: Marino Quercio (B)dec. Cody Bertolimo 8-4;

285: Rob Rutkowski (H)dec. Mark Moses 2-0