Falcons pin Butler

By Sam Tallarico Eagle Staff Writer

January 04, 2012 Last Updated: January 04, 2012 01:47 PM High School

Butler's Zach Weaver takes on Connelsville's Josh Fremd in the 195-pound match Tuesday during the Tornado loss.

BUTLER TWP — Butler was riding a wave of momentum during its wrestling match against Connellsville Tuesday.

Then the Falcons quickly grabbed it back.

Butler used a major decision by Korey Caudill at 120 pounds and pins by Nick Sutton (126) and Zach Reges (132) to take a 25-18 lead, but the Falcons captured the final five matches to pull away with a 42-25 victory.

“There was some excitement with some matches,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said.

“That's the center of our lineup. That's where we have the most experience,” said Connellsville coach Tom Dolde Jr. “From 138 to 145 to 152 to 160 to 170, those kids are seniors except one, who's a freshman.”

With the match starting at 182, Stoner bumped up Ryan Hannon from 170 and got a 3-2 decision to start the Tornado on the right foot, while Zach Weaver moved from 182 to 195 and lost a tough 4-2 decision.

The teams exchanged second-period pins in the next two matches, as the Tornado's Ben McKnight pinned A.J. Caviler and Gunnar Lynch pinned Austin George to knot the match at 9.

“Ben McKnight came out late, but for him to win a big match like that, that's important for him,” Stoner noted.

A decision and a forfeit at 113 would open up an 18-9 lead for Connellsville before the Tornado made their move.

Caudill rolled up an impressive 11-0 victory over Colton DeWitt, then Sutton used a reversal to pin Nick Beneke at 2:32. Reges was cruising with an 8-0 lead before securing the pin over Tyrone Brown at 3:17 to give the Tornado the seven-point lead.

“Beneke came out with a physicality,” Stoner said, “and Sutton didn't get rattled. That's the sign of a senior. He's 16-1 now and his only loss was by one point to a state qualifier. He's doing well in all facets.

“Zach rode the momentum that Nick created,” Stoner added.

“We have seven freshmen out of our 14 wrestlers,” Dolde noted, “and when you have freshmen in the lineup, even if they're good, they're going to make freshmen mistakes.”

The Falcons, however, responded, with a 19-3 technical fall by Ethan Kenney over Xavier Bennett.

Stoner would bump his wrestlers up to the next weight class for the final four bouts, but the Falcons still rolled.

Brandon Umbel (145) earned a pin, Tanner Wiltrout (152) won by major decision, Dale Provance recorded a pin over Dakota Collins and Jeremy Basinger (170) defeated Will Bortmas 10-4 to close out the match.

“This was a match that we needed,” said Dolde. “Butler's a solid team and Coach Stoner gets them ready. I knew it would be a dogfight. It was a great match to gear up for.”

Said Stoner, “We were happy to get a powerhouse on our schedule, a team with a lot of success. The bottom line is we appreciated them coming up here.

“It's a good sign that we have some respect by teams. But, it's not enough to compete in these matches. We want to win them.”

Connellsville 42, Butler 25Match started at 182 pounds106

pounds: Daniel Leonard (C) dec. Connor Foust, 5-2;

113: John Berardenelli (C) won by forfeit;

120: Korey Caudill (B) major dec. Colton DeWitt, 11-0;

126: Nick Sutton (B) pinned Nick Beneke, 2:32;

132: Zach Reges (B) pinned Tyrone Brown, 3:17;

138: Ethan Kenney (C) tech. fall over Xavier Bennett, 19-3;

145: Brandon Umbel (C) pinned Jesse Spohn, 3:30;

152: Tanner Wiltrout (C) major dec. over Jeremiah Bortmas, 13-3;

160: Dale Provance (C) pinned Dakota Collins, 2:57