BUTLER TWP — When Cody Houston didn’t want to wrestle varsity, he did.

When he wanted to, he couldn’t.

Now Butler’s 132-pound junior has settled into a productive season — and hopefully a prep career — on the mats.

“Looking back on it, all of that stuff helped me,” Houston said. “I benefited from all of those experiences.”

Houston is sporting a 29-7 record for the Golden Tornado this season. He leads the team with 23 pins and is second on the squad with 33 takedowns.

“I figured he was capable of a good season, but I wasn’t expecting this,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “Cody’s leading the team in wins and that’s something I didn’t see coming.”

Two years ago, Houston was the Tornado’s freshman 103-pounder — but not by choice.

“We had no one else at that weight class,” Butler Junior High mat coach Don Geibel said. “I remember how timid Cody was about wrestling varsity.

“He wanted no part of it. His parents weren’t crazy about the idea, either.”

Houston doesn’t deny the apprehension.

“I didn’t think I was ready for it,” he said. “I didn’t see how it was going to help me or the team.”

He was wrong on both ends.

Houston put together a 27-14 record, compiling 33 takedowns and 13 pins. He was seemingly set up for a 100-win high school career.

Then he ran into the Caudill brothers.

Houston couldn’t beat out Blake Caudill at 113 pounds last season. Korey Caudill stood in his way at 120.

“There was no place for Cody to go,” Stoner said.

So he sat and watched most of the varsity matches last year. Houston won the only two varsity bouts he took part in.

But the season was far from a waste.

“I went up against Blake and Korey in the (wrestling) room every day,” Houston said. “They made me better. You can’t help but get better when you’re facing guys of that caliber.”

Blake Caudill has 120 career wins while Korey has 85. They are the most productive brother act in Butler wrestling history.

“Maybe that’s where his pinning ability came from, I don’t know,” Stoner said of Houston’s pin total this season. “Cody is an athletic wrestler — probably the most athletic on the team — and he has tremendous balance.

“When he gets an opponent into position to pin him, he knows how to hold him there and finish. He’s all about balance, aggressiveness and taking the right angle.”

Geibel said Houston compiled “maybe six to eight pins a year” when he was on the junior high team.

And now that freshman year appears invaluable in Houston’s eyes.

“I don’t know where I’d be right now without it. I don’t even want to think about it,” he said.

Houston was an avid gymnast from age 4 through fifth grade before switching over to wrestling.

“Even today, he could do back flips all the way across this gym like a cheerleader,” Stoner said. “Gymnastics clearly helped him with agility that favors him on the mat.”

Houston admitted that his athleticism and flexibility comes from gymnastics.

“Those years set me up for this sport,” he said.

Houston’s goals are to reach the third day of the WPIAL Tournament this year and win a section title as a senior next year.

North Hills senior Drew Walker is in his 132-pound weight class and defeated Houston by technical fall earlier this season.

“I held my own through the first period with him, then he tossed me around pretty good,” Houston said. “Sure, I’d love another shot ... I’m just not sure I can beat him.”

One thing is for certain: Cody Houston has arrived as a wrestler.

“Looking at all he’s done ... He’s been a pleasant surprise,” Stoner said.