Cole Baxter didn't celebrate his latest wrestling accomplishment at Butler.

Sure, he acknowledged it. It meant something to him to break the school record for career wrestling victories.

But Baxter, a 171-pound wrecking ball of a grappler, has a bigger mountain to climb.

"It's nice to have that record under my name," said Baxter, who with five wins at the Chartiers Valley Duals Saturday, broke T.J. McCance's school record of 103 career wins. Baxter now has 104 and counting.

"A state title," Baxter added, "would be nicer."

Baxter, only a junior, is 26-0 this season. Last year as a sophomore he was 45-2 — the only two losses coming in the PIAA Tournament.

Baxter finished fifth at the state tournament at 152 pounds after winning the WPIAL.

Nothing less than a state title will appease Baxter this season.

"I'm setting my goals much higher than (100 wins)," Baxter said. "I definitely want a state title. I want it more than anything."

Baxter's journey to the top of the podium may not be an easy one, not because of who he is facing, but who he isn't.

Teams are avoiding him on the mat like the plague, either bumping wrestlers up or down or simply forfeiting to the talented Baxter.

"It's a sign of respect, but it is also frustrating," Baxter said. "The better wrestlers are going to have to come to me eventually."

In the meantime, Baxter is seeking out competition wherever he can find it.

Against North Allegheny, he bumped up to 189 to face a stiffer challenge against Jeb Fischer and beat the bigger foe 3-2, but dominated throughout.

"We're struggling to find top-level competition for him," said Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner. "The level of competition has to be high. It's the only way to gauge where you are."

Baxter hoped to face 171-pound WPIAL runner-up Ty Wilps of Chartiers Valley at the tournament, but the Colts were not in Butler's pool and did not make it to the final four.

"We were really hoping to see Wilps," Stoner said. "He is a muscular monstrosity."

Baxter hoped to see Wilps, too.

Instead, he'll have to find his toughest competition in his own wrestling room.

Baxter said he and Stoner have had some scintillating square-offs at the end of practices.

"One time, he put me on my back," Baxter said. "The next day at school he told the nurse she better check on my back. He was kidding, but the nurse thought he was serious and called me down to the office.

"The last time, I (won by major decision)," Baxter added. "He was on his back for a whole period. He didn't like that that much. But I have to work as hard as I can in practice."

While Baxter didn't pin his coach, he has pinned many others.

Of his 104 wins, 58 are by pin.

"That's a pretty dramatic statement, in Western Pa. especially," Stoner said.

The only statement Baxter wants to make is one of glee at the top of the state podium.

Butler 171-pound wrestler Cole Baxter broke the school record for wins in a career.<B>Year W-L</B>2007-08 33-82008-09 45-22009-10 26-0<B>Total 104-10</B>