Rising Golden

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

December 11, 2009 Last Updated: December 11, 2009 03:15 PM High School

Last season, Cole Baxter, top, became the first Butler High wrestler to win a WPIAL championship. The Golden Tornado are seeking even larger rewards in the 2009-10 season.

Tornado seek greater heights

From good to great?

The numbers are pointed in that direction for the Butler varsity wrestling program.

The Golden Tornado set a school record for dual match wins for the second straight year with 23. They sent a school-record 12 wrestlers to the WPIAL Tournament and produced the program's first WPIAL champion: Cole Baxter at 152 pounds.

Baxter went on to place fifth in the PIAA meet as a sophomore. Only a junior, he holds a 78-10 career record.

"Our goals this year include winning the section, something we've never done," 17th-year Butler coach Scott Stoner said. "We're going to have to get through North Allegheny to do it.

"That's a high-quality program that had a state champion last year. Jake Herbert, a two-time national champion, went there. My dream has been to elevate our program to theirs and maybe this is the year."

Here is a look at Butler County area wrestling this season:

Coach: Scott Stoner, 17th yearLast Year: 23-6Key Losses: Derek Hays (152-171), Alex Truman (275) and Marino Quercio (215)Projected Lineup: 103 pounds-Blake Caudill (Fr.); 112-Nick Sutton (So.) 5-20 or Brendon Bauer (So.) 18-15; 119-Zach Reges (So.) 23-19; 125-Zach Collins (Fr.); 130-Cody Hartman (Jr.) 29-12; 135-Dillon Weston (Jr.) 23-11 or Jesse Spohn (So.); 140-Eric Tuck (Jr.) 29-13); 145-Mike Crawford (Jr.) 29-11); 152-Dakoda Collins (So.) 28-15; 160-Matt Pribis (Jr.) 13-17, 171-Cole Baxter (Jr.) 45-2, 189-Mike Scialabba (Sr.) 7-16, 215-Chris White (Sr.) 30-14, 275-Tim Fulks (So.) or Jordan Allen (Jr.)Stoner says: "We don't have a senior in our lineup until 189 pounds, so I'm excited about what these guys can do. We're in a couple of dual-meet tournaments and we want to win those. Some think we're the odds-on favorite to win our section and I'd love to qualify all 14 of our starters to the WPIAL Tournament. It's within our reach."

Coach: Marty Ruley, 32nd yearLast Year: 2nd in Northwest Region, 7th in PIAAKey Losses: Johnny Pas (112, Mercyhurst-North East), Brady Fyffe (125, Washington & Jefferson), Caleb Kolb (171, Nebraska), Nick Miller (189, Mercyhurst-North East), Tyler Miller (285, Mercyhurst-North East)Projected Lineup: 103-John Scott Somora (Fr.); 112-Ben Hoffman (So,.) or Kenny Bable (So.); 119-Ian Abplanalp (Sr.); 125-Trey Mayer (Fr.); 130-Cole Cameron (So.), 135-Kirby Buchanan (Sr.); 140-Devin Gilmore (Jr.); 145-Garrett Zarecky (Sr.); 152-Kevin Moore (So.); 160-Steven Boyle (Fr.); 171-Wesley Phipps (So.); 189-Zach Retort (Jr.); 215-Devin Limberg (So.); 275-Cameron Marlowe (Jr.)Ruley says: "We're young, but I think we'll be OK. Wesley Phipps was fifth in the state at 160 last year and Ian Abplanalp should be one of our top wrestlers. We were second in the region and seventh at Hershey last season. You can't expect that kind of thing to happen every year."

Coach: Mark McLaughlin, fourth yearLast Year: One dual match winKey Losses: NoneProjected Lineup: 103-Forfeit; 112-Justin Grossman (So.); 119-Grayson Hixon (Sr.) about 57 career wins or Brittany Faust (Sr.); 125-Hixon, Faust or Blaine Elliott (Fr.); 130-Elliott or Tyler Hlebiczki (Fr.); 135-Mason Kaufman (Sr.); 140-Joe Cololenelo (Fr.); 145-Alex Lefevre (Jr.); 152-Kevin Green (Sr.), 160-Dan Groff (Sr.); 171-Robbie Milson (junior) or David Mowry (Sr.); 189-James Zellhart (Jr.) or Mark Morrison (So.); 215-Joe Hlebiczki (Jr.); 275-Stephen Mowry (Jr.) or Jarrod Czech (So.)McLaughlin says: "With the teachers strike and the injury bug hitting us, we had a horrible year last year. This year will be more indicative of where Knoch wrestling is headed. We have solid starters returning and others coming off injuries. We've got 25 kids in the junior high program, 40 in the elementary program, so we're heading in the right direction."

Coach: Don Cooley, sixth yearLast Year: 5-12Key Losses: NoneProjected Lineup: 103-Forfeit; 112-Chad McDade (Fr.); 119-Brendan Frank (Jr.) 22-9; 125-Andy Selker (Fr.), 130-Dean Piocquidio (So.); 135-Dillen Lennen (Sr.); 140-James Flinn (So.); 145-Billy Matoka (Sr.) 15-12; 152-Jake Tuminello (Fr.); 160-Ronnie Dakan (Jr.) 24-8, 171-Shane Smith (Jr.); 189-Chris Boggs (Jr.) 15-13; 215-Cody Moody (Jr.); 275-Cameron Cress (Jr.)Cooley says: "The state tournament isn't out of the question for Brendan Frank and Ronnie Dakan. They've stayed involved with wrestling over the offseason and Dakan has a shot at becoming the first 100-win wrestler in Mars history. We've lacked a lot of experience the last couple of years, but that's beginning to change. We have 35 kids in the junior high program, 50 in the grade school program. The kids we have now are working extremely hard and the cavalry's coming."

Coach: Tom Tomeo, second yearLast Year: 7-6Key Losses: Jordan Williams (215), Grant Evans (119), Bart Lalonde (145-52), Shon Schettler (145-152), Eric Stanley (171)Projected Lineup: 103-Jake Perri (So.) or Timmy O'Shea (So.); 112-Unknown; 119-Colton Schiever (Sr.) 11-10; 125-Aaron Schettler (Jr.); 130-Jason Hildum (Sr.); 135-Jimmy Nusser (So.); 140-Nick Phillips (Sr.) or Matt King (So.); 145-Nate Cully (Sr.) 24-4; 152-Dan Papst (Sr.); 160-Kyle Kukieza (Sr.) or Andy Durzak (So.); 171-Ryan Behning (Sr.) or Joe Duggan (So.); 189-Nick Marchi (Sr.); 215-Unknown; 275-Dave Bonetti (Sr.)Tomeo says: "We're light in some spots and deep in some spots. We'll be moving guys around this year, so we'll need to avoid injuries. Our goals are to create a positive atmosphere, do well within our section and try to advance kids farther in postseason."

Co-Coaches: Bob Becker and Jeff Kline, third yearLast Year: 2-10Key Losses: Ryan Gossett (103) and Adam Kummer (152)Projected Lineup: 103-Forfeit; 112-Kayla Brendlinger (Jr.) 12-12; 119-Gordon Beiber (So.) 19-12; 125-Forfeit; 130-Alex Pasquale (So.); 135-Josh Atwell (Fr.); 140-Eric Beggs (Sr.); 145-Doug Reinhart (Fr.); 152-Bill Morrison (Sr.); 160-Anthony Mineo (Jr.); 171-J.J. Graham (Jr.); 189-Forrest Christman (Fr.); 215-Tim Kerr (Fr.) or Dylan Brown (So.); 275-Kerr or BrownBecker says: "We only have two seniors and one of them (Bill Morrison) is a first-year wrestler, so we're really young. I'm looking for big things from Gordon Beiber. He placed in the state meet in freestyle over the summer. Kayla has experience, but she has to be smarter than her opponents because they'll be stronger than her."