So close, but so far

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

January 28, 2010 Last Updated: January 28, 2010 01:43 PM High School

Mike Crawford of Butler sets up North Allegheny's Alex DeCiantis for an eventual pin in their 152-pound match during the Section 3 AAA Wednesday. The Tigers took the Section crown with a 33-28 victory over the Golden Tornado.

WEXFORD — When North Allegheny built a solid foundation early in the contest, it helped the Tigers to withstand a late Butler charge.

North Allegheny (10-1) won its 10th consecutive Section 3 team wrestling championship as a result Wednesday night, edging the Golden Tornado 33-28 in the title match.

Butler (12-2) defeated North Hills 38-29 while NA hammered Fox Chapel 51-12 earlier in the evening to set up the finals showdown between the WPIAL fifth-ranked Tigers and seventh-ranked Tornado.

"We knew they had some big guns coming later on," North Allegheny coach Jamie Kyriazis said. "It was imperative for us to jump out to a big lead if we were going to win."

The Tigers won the first five matches of the championship dual to assume a 21-0 lead. Butler won seven of the last nine bouts, with one of NA's two wins coming by forfeit.

"(NA's Andy Candiello) is a tough kid and I didn't think Mike Crawford was healthy enough right now to beat him," Tornado coach Scott Stoner said in choosing to forfeit the 145-pound match. "Besides, we needed a few pins late and I was trying to set up some matchups that way."

Butler lost some critical points early in the dual when Blake Caudill (18-2) lost a major decision at 103 pounds and Nick Sutton (12-9) was pinned at 112. Zach Reges (11-10) dropped a 4-0 decision at 125.

"We weren't ready to wrestle tonight, in some cases," Stoner said. "Maybe we were mentally overwhelmed by the scenario, I don't know.

"Blake is an aggressive wrestler who never quits, but that gets him in trouble sometimes against quality opponents," the coach added. "Technique wins out in the end."

Crawford (17-1) pinned his man at 152 pounds, but the Tornado lost more points at 160 when Dakoda Collins (15-7) was pinned by NA's Jarred Lux (14-4) 32 seconds into the second period.

"That match was even and their kid was fading," Stoner said. "Suddenly, Dakoda gets reversed and pinned, just like that. I'm still trying to figure out what happened."

Butler's Cole Baxter (21-0) stayed perfect with a 3-2 decision over Jeb Fischer (18-3) at 189 pounds. Baxter took a 3-1 lead into the third period and allowed a late escape.

It was the 99th victory of his career. But Baxter's failure to pin Fischer clinched the dual match victory for the Tigers.

North Allegheny recorded six pins in dominating Fox Chapel during the semifinal round.

"This match with Butler was going to be tight," Kyriazis said. "This isn't going to be a one- or two-year thing with them. They've built their junior high program, they have numbers — they're not going away.

"I think it's great. We need a section rival, and Butler's it."

The Tornado, who have never defeated NA, are now 0-19 all-time against the Tigers.

The last two meetings, including last year's 36-28 loss, have been the two closest matches in the series.

"I'm tired of coming close," Stoner said. "They're the class of the section and I want to beat them."

The Tornado struggled to beat North Hills (12-6), despite the Indians missing stellar 125-pounder Kraig Esswein (19-4) with an eye injury. North Hills forfeited matches at 125 and 152 pounds.

"We match up fairly evenly with Butler," North Hills coach Jose Martinez said. "Not having Kraig hurt. So did losing a controversial decision at 103. I thought we didn't get a couple of points we should have there."

Stoner tried convincing his team not to look ahead to facing North Allegheny.

"We started slow, we stayed slow. We didn't show any energy," he said of the North Hills match. "I talked about it and talked about it, not thinking about NA, because (North Hills) was going to be a tough match."

Butler competes at the Chartiers Valley Duals Saturday. The WPIAL team tournament begins Monday.

Section 3 championshipNorth Allegheny 33, Butler 28103 pounds-Greg Gaus (NA) dec. Blake Caudill, 12-3; 112-Mike Wanner (NA) pinned Nick Sutton, 2:20; 119-Nick Rodgers (NA) tech. fall over Brandon Bauer, 18-3; 125-Ryan Sippel (NA) dec. Zach Reges, 4-0; 130-Kevin Monper (NA) dec. Zach Collins, 9-0; 135-Cody Hartman (B) dec. Anthony Peluso, 6-3; 140-Eric Tuck (B) dec. Matt Wolf, 13-1; 145-Andy Candiello (NA) by forfeit; 152-Mike Crawford (B) pinned Alex DeCiantis, 2:55; 160-Jarred Lux (NA) pinned Dakoda Collins, 2:32; 171-Matt Pribis (B) dec. Kevin Clemens, 5-1; 189-Cole Baxter (B) dec. Seb Fischer, 3-2; 215-Mike Scialabba (B) dec. Jacob Machi, 6-2; 275-Chris White (B) by injury default over Alex Panormios.Section 3 semifinalButler 38, North Hills 29103 pounds-Blake Caudill (B) dec. Drew Walker, 8-7; 112-Tyler Walker (NH) dec. Nick Sutton, 23-10; 119-Cameron Weber (NH) pinned Brandon Bauer, 3:39; 125-Zach Collins (B) by forfeit; 130-Troy Zangaro (NH) dec. Zach Reges, 3-1 in OT; 135-Cody Hartman (B) pinned Joden Rocco, 2:44; 140-Eric Tuck (B) dec. Ryan Gibson, 3-1; 145-Mike Crawford (B) pinned Jake Cambell, 2:40; 152-Dakoda Collins (B) by forfeit; 160-Ben Amrhein (NH) dec. Rob Puncher, 10-2; 171-Matt Pribis (B) dec. Alen Turcinhodzic, 5-1; 189-Cole Baxter (B) tech. fall over Ben Smith, 15-0; 215-TJ McElwaine (NH) by forfeit; 275-Mike Dietrich (NH) pinned Chris White, 2:18.

Butler's Blake Caudill tries to avoid being pinned by North Allegheny's Greg Gaus during their 103-pound match Wednesday at the Section 3 championship. Caudill lost the match 12-3 and the Golden Tornado lost a 33-28 decision to the Tigers.