Improvement Butler's goal
JEFFERSON TWP — It's all about getting better.
Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner carefully critiques his team's performance after every match, including Wednesday night's runaway 67-6 victory at Knoch.
“I look at points we give up and how we do it,” Stoner said. “Carlos Sanchez got caught in a cradle off the whistle because he wasn't squared up ready to go. The whistle blew and Carlos dropped his head.
“That type of stuff is unacceptable. It may not hurt us tonight, but we can't give up six points like that against North Allegheny or Hampton. That's the level I'm trying to elevate us to,” the coach added.
Sanchez had a 6-2 lead after one period before being getting caught by Knoch's Steve Mowry, who pinned him 52 seconds into the second frame of their 215-pound match.
That was the Knights' lone win of the evening. Knoch forfeited four weight classes.
“Our team isn't about wins this year,” Knoch coach Mark McLaughlin said. “It's about mat time and improvement.
“I saw some improvement in certain areas tonight. The guys we missed due to injuries wouldn't have made a difference in the final score of this match.”
Knoch (0-3) wrestled without Evan Merhaut (119 pounds, concussion), Henry Spreng (152, broken hand) and Andrew Holben (160, knee injury). Joel Hixon defaulted his match at 112 after two periods before being helped from the mat with a lower leg injury.
“The injury bug is biting us again this year,” McLaughlin said. “I felt like we could have been a little closer tonight. A couple of matches that could have gone our way didn't.”
Butler (10-1) received pins from Zach Collins at 130 pounds, Dillon Weston at 145, Cole Baxter at 189 and Tim Fulks at heavyweight.The Golden Tornado claimed a pair of close wins at 125 and 135. Xavier Bennett nipped Blaine Elliot, 7-6, in their 125-pound match. Bennett snapped a 5-all tie with a takedown with 45 seconds left.Elliot received a penalty point when Bennett inadvertently slammed him to the mat with six seconds left, but couldn't score the match-tying escape.Butler's Jesse Spohn broke a scoreless tie against Col McLaughlin by recording an escape and takedown with 28 seconds left.“That was a nice win for Jesse against a coach's kid who's been around the sport for a long time,” Stoner said. “Zach Collins had a nice pin and Dillon Weston did well in his match. He was a little banged up tonight.”Butler will compete in the Kittanning Duals Saturday against host Kittanning, Sharon, Trinity and Forest Hills,.“I'm trying to get this team to produce some really good stuff this year,” Stoner said. “We're very capable. We do need to understand the urgency of situations on the mat better, that's all.”Knoch competes at the Valley Duals Saturday.<B>Butler 67, Knoch 6</B>103 <B>pounds:</B> Cody Huston (B) dec. Dillon Holben, 13-0; <B>112: </B>Blake Caudill (B) injury default over Joel Hixon, 4:00; <B>119: </B>Korey Caudill (B) by forfeit; <B>125: </B>Xavier Bennett (B) dec. Blaine Elliot, 7-6; <B>130: </B>Zach Collins (B) pinned Justin Grossman, 1:30; <B>135: </B>Jesse Spohn (B) dec. Col McLaughlin, 3-0; <B>140: </B>Doug DeFrancisis (B) dec. Tyler Hlebiczki, 5-0; <B>145: </B>Dillon Weston (B) pinned Trevor Hilliard, 3:39; <B>152: </B>Mike Crawford (B) by forfeit; <B>160: </B>Dakoda Collins (B) by forfeit; <B>171: </B>Matt Pribis (B) by forfeit; <B>189: </B>Cole Baxter (B) pinned Joe Hlebiczki, 2:38; <B>215: </B>Steve Mowry (K) pinned Carlos Sanchez, 2:52; <B>285: </B>Tim Fulks (B) pinned Gaige Topolski, 1:52.
