It’s time to make a move

By SAM TALLARICO Eagle Staff Writer

February 20, 2008 Last Updated: February 20, 2008 04:02 PM High School

Nate Cully, who will compete in the 135-pound weight class, is one of five Seneca Valley wrestlers who will compete at the WPIAL Southwest Regional Championships, which begin Thursday.

County wrestlers eye WPIAL success

When it comes to the WPIAL Southwest Regional Championships, having several wrestlers participating is important for a program.

A good seeding, however, can make all the difference.

Butler has eight wrestlers who qualified for the WPIAL finals, including three Section 3-AAA champions in Mike Crawford (119 pounds), Alex Evanoff (145) and Josh Pascazi (152).

The trio have totaled 97 wins and have the sixth, third and second seeds in their respective weight classes at the championship meet, a three-day event that begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Canon-McMillan High.

The top three placewinners in each division will advance to the PIAAChampionships the following weekend.

Seneca Valley will have five representatives at the WPIAL finals, including defending Section 3 champion Zack Eckstrom, while Knoch will have one in Grayson Hixon (112).

"I didn't think it was all that bad," said Butler coach Scott Stoner on his team's seedings. "Some of the guys, when you're taking four places (to the WPIALfinals), Damian Redenbach (112) and Jon Sanko (140). I thought would be in pigtail matches.

"When you have five sections and you take four qualifiers, there's a likelihood you're going to get a pigtail,"Stoner added.

"Everyone was pretty much where we expected," said Seneca Valley coach Lee Mullett. "Only in Jordan Williams (189) we're not sure because they've changed the bracket twice already."

Williams went from a pigtail match to a first-round match when one wrestler dropped out, but might go back to a pigtail bout because he was slotted against another Section 3 opponent in North Hills' Tom McElwaine.

A win in the pigtail match will advance a wrestler against one of the top-seeded wrestlers. The tournament is a double-elimination format, but a loss in the pigtail eliminates an athlete from further competition.

Sanko was an impressive 28-10 and will face Waynesburg's Alex Teagarden (11-16), but a win will move Sanko to face No. 2 seed Donnie Tasser of Belle Vernon (33-3).

Butler's Cole Baxter (130, 31-6) didn't win the Section 3 title, losing to North Allegheny's Andy Candiello 2-1 in overtime, but still received a No. 8 seed and will face Bethel Park's Rico Borz (27-8).

That winner will face top-seeded Joey Walters of Greater Latrobe in the quarterfinal round.

"There are a lot of weight classes where No. 1 and No. 2 meet in the finals," said Stoner. "The Walters kid, I've always been highly impressed with him. and the No. 3 seed, (Greensburg Salem's Mike Grant) is very good."

Stoner has high hopes for Baxter's abilities and what he could do in this tournament.

"Our best shot is at 130," said Stoner. "I really believe in Cole Baxter. If he wrestles with aggression and is relentless, and without error of cautiousness, he can win.

"I think the mistakes he made as a freshman, he can correct them. I like his chances, as well as our two highly touted seniors, Alex Evanoff and Josh Pascazi."

Evanoff and Pascazi have been to the WPIAL finals before, but for freshmen such as Crawford and Baxter, the experience at the WPIAL finals can be a bit heady, so Stoner is hopeful they can keep things in perspective.

"You can tell them all about it, but until you get there ... " said Stoner. "In wrestling, the WPIAL is strong and is one of the toughest and elite sports in high school.

"You tell the kids that you see all these tough wrestlers. You're one of them. Don't get overwhelmed," Stoner added.

Mullett is hopeful Eckstrom will benefit from what he was able to learn last year.

"He got the experience last year and being section champ again, he's more prepared and ready to go," said Mullett.

"We tell them to take it one match at a time. Don't look past your next match. Right now, you're the best of the best, 20 wrestlers trying to get the Nos. 1 to 3 spots and going on to states."

ThursdayWeigh-ins at 4:30 p.m.Bouts begin at 5;30Pigtail matches(winner advanceso first round)103 pounds: Eric Tuck (Butler, 22-15) vs. Andy Buttlar (Mount Lebanon, 9-16)112: Grayson Hixon (Knoch, 19-10) vs. Ryan Williams (Connellsville, 17-19); Damian Redenbach (Butler, 23-14) vs. Dean Mathies (Ringgold, 17-19)119: Grant Evans (Seneca Valley, 22-5) vs. Cody Rubin (Belle Vernon, 10-22)130: Dan Papst (Seneca Valley, 14-11) vs. Rocco Ragano (Montour, 22-12)140: Jon Sanko (Butler, 28-10) vs. Alex Teagarden (Waynesburg, 11-16)215: Marino Quercio (Butler, 16-11) vs. Brent Sutton (Ambridge, 18-10)First-round matches125: Mike Crawford (Butler, 31-7) vs. Tyler Mayer (McGuffey, 22-11)130: Cole Baxter (Butler, 31-6) vs. Rico Borz (Bethel Park, 27-8)135: Nate Cully (Seneca Valley, 23-5) vs. Vincent Camps (Waynesburg, 23-7)145: Alex Evanoff (Butler, 36-1) vs. Matthew Hundenski (Hopewell, 30-2)152: Josh Pascazi (Butler, 30-6) vs. Tyler Holt (Uniontown, 19-8)/Franklin Alvarez (Norwin, 20-18) pigtail winner189: Jordan Williams (Seneca Valley, 13-12) vs. Tom McElwaine (North Hills, 32-5)285: Zach Eckstrom (Seneca Valley, 21-5) vs. Dallan Cline (Kiski Area, 24-12)