Senior leadership

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

January 31, 2008 Last Updated: January 31, 2008 02:06 PM High School

Butler's Ken Rosenbauer, top, controls Plum's Nate Mazzotta before taking a 7-2 decision in their 135-pound bout Wednesday. The Golden Tornado beat the Mustangs 44-25.

Upperclassmen instrumental in Butler's victory

BUTLER TWP— Butler's wrestling program enjoyed a senior moment Wednesday night.

It enjoyed a few of them, actually.

On Senior Night, Golden Tornado seniors won five consecutive matches, wiping out an early 19-11 deficit and paving the way to a 44-25 victory over Plum.

"This was definitely an important night for us,"senior Jon Sanko said. "I mean, this was the last home match of our careers. We had to leave everything on the mat, and that's what we did."

The onslaught began with a 7-2 decision by Ken Rosenbauer at 135 pounds. The win squared Rosenbauer's season record at 15-15.

Despite sporting a mediocre 38-44 career record, Rosenbauer is the only three-year captain in Butler wrestling history He also is a two-time winner of the program's Iron Man Award for never missing a practice or workout.

"That's like a record to me,"Rosenbauer said of the back-to-back Iron Man honors. "I'm very proud of that."

He's wrestled part of this season with a hyperextended arm, still refusing to miss a match.

Butler coach Scott Stoner said Rosenbauer never missed a weight room session during the summer months, either.

"In all my years of coaching, I've never had a kid with a work ethic like his,"Stoner said. "He's always been an intense competitor.

"In baseball, he's just as competitive. He'll get up at 5 a.m. on a Saturday, drive to Michigan for a Milwaukee Brewers tryout camp and put himself out there. Kenny loves to compete."

After Rosenbauer's win Wednesday night, Aaron Raible won by forfeit at 140 pounds, Sanko won by pin at 145, Alex Evanoff won by pin at 152 and Josh Pascazi won by injury default at 160.

Pascazi had a 6-1 lead on Cory Blotzer, who entered the match with a 15-1 mark, when the bout was halted in the third period.

"Cory was just coming off a concussion. ... He was done,"Plum assistant coach Mike Supak said.

After falling behind in the team score early, Stoner bumped Sanko, Evanoff and Pascazi up a weight class, bumping junior Derek Hays (17-11) out of the lineup.

Blotzer is listed higher than Pascazi in the WPIAL rankings, along with being a weight class above him.

"You have to be ready for everything in wrestling,"Pascazi said. "Sometimes you have to move up or down in weight for the good of the team. I was ready to go."

Plum (8-11) did secure solid wins at 125 and 130 pounds, as junior Cory Bonura and senior Zack Zummo decisioned Tornado freshman sensations Mike Crawford and Cole Baxter.

Mustangs freshman Jimmy Keller posted a 3-1 overtime decision at 189 as well.

"We've had as many as seven freshmen in our lineup this year,"Supak said. "We graduated eight seniors last year."

Veteran Plum head coach Chuck Froehlich was ejected after being penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct twice. The Mustangs lost three team points on unsportsmanlike conduct calls during the course of the evening.

Freshman 103-pounder Eric Tuck (20-12) became the seventh Tornado wrestler to reach the 20-win plateau this season, joining Daman Redenbach (21-10), Crawford (26-7), Baxter (27-5), Sanko (24-8), Evanoff (31-1) and Pascazi (26-6).

"The atmosphere in here tonight was electric,"Stoner said. "This was the best crowd of the year, standing room only and very loud. This was a lot of fun."

Seniors Dave Jaillet, Mark Moses, Rosenbauer, Raible, Evanoff, Sanko and Pascazi were honored during a prematch ceremony.

Butler (21-4) wrestles at Waynesburg Friday night.

Butler 44, Plum 25103 pounds: Eric Tuck (B) by tech. fall (19-3) over Anthony Mazzanga, 4:58;

112: Jack Clair (P)pinned Daman Redenbach, 4:46;

119: Dom Boyle-Peitropoalo (P)pinned Dave Jaillet, 1:48;

125: Cory Bonura (P)dec. Mike Crawford, 15-4;

130: Zack Zummo (P)dec. Cole Baxter, 5-4;

135: Ken Rosenbauer (B)dec. Nate Mazzotta, 7-2;

140: Aaron Raible (B)by forfeit;

145: Jon Sanko (B)pinned D.J. Martin, 2:59;

152: Alex Evanoff (B)pinned Mike Bonura, 1:48;

160: Josh Pascazi (B)by injury default over Cory Blotzer;