NORTH HUNTINGDON TWP — Blaine Elliott and Ben Nowicki are doing things the hard way.

And loving every minute of it.

The two Knoch grapplers have survived into the final day of the WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Championship despite coming out of the pigtail round.

Both were dominant in their first-round consolation matches Friday night at Norwin High School.

“I'm stoked. We're excited,” said Knoch wrestling coach Mark McLaughlin. “I'm excited for Blaine because he's worked so hard throughout the year. He's had some tough breaks and has lost to some tough guys.”

But Elliott, a 132-pound senior, mauled Austin Heinl of Shaler, controlling his opponent the entire match for a 3-0 decision.

Nowicki, a 170-pound junior in just his second season of varsity wrestling, had a similar performance in his 8-4 win over Daniel Walters of Greensburg Salem.

The Knoch pair are two of eight Butler County wrestlers moving on to Saturday's final day. None of the eight have a shot at winning a WPIAL title, but they all have the chance to finish third and advance to the PIAA championships.

It won't be easy for any of them.

“Anything can happen,” McLauglin said. “It's been a good showing for the Knoch duo.”

It wasn't such a good showing for the Butler trio in the quarterfinals.

Blake Caudill (120), Korey Caudill (126) and Ryan Hannon (170) all lost their matches by decision.

Blake Caudill had the toughest draw of the three, squaring off against Sam Krivus of Hempfield, who won the WPIAL title at 113 last season and was third in the state.

Blake Caudill nearly pulled off an upset when he got Krivus on his back at the end of the second period. The only thing that saved Krivus was time.

Krivus went on to win 5-2.

Korey Caudill also nearly pulled out a miraculous win, getting Tyler Walker of North Hills on his back near the end of the third period. Time ran out on Korey Caudill as well in an 11-5 loss.

“That's the thing about those two, they are high-level athletes who believe they can win,” said Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner. “Blake — even in that loss, sometimes a loss against a top-notch kid can give you confidence.”

Perhaps the most confident of the Butler wrestlers right now is 113-pound sophomore Connor Foust, who earned a 12-1 major decision over Derrick Knox in the consolation round.

“Connor is wrestling the best of any of the guys right now,” Stoner said. “He's someone who was timid throughout last year, not very confident, but he's gaining that.”

Also moving on for Butler is Zach Weaver, who won his 182-pound consolation match by forfeit.

It also was a tough night for Mars. All four Planets who were alive in the consolation bracket were knocked out Friday.

Seneca Valley, though, had one survivor: Austin Leon at 145 pounds.

Leon pulled out his match against Collin Smith of Albert Gallatin with an escape with less than five seconds remaining in the third period for a 5-4 win.

“At WPIALs, especially when you are in the consolation bracket, it's just all about getting that next win,” said Seneca Valley wrestling coach Kevin Wildrick. “It doesn't matter if you win by one or win by a pin. Just keep moving.”

WPIAL Class AAA ResultsHere is a look at how Butler County wrestlers fared Friday night at Norwin High School:Quarterfinals120: Sam Krivus (Hempfield) dec. Blake Caudill (Butler), 5-2; 126: Tyler Walker (North Hills) dec. Korey Caudill (Butler), 11-5; 170: Tyler Worthing (Kiski) dec. Ryan Hannon (Butler), 5-2.First-round Consolation113: Connor Foust (Butler) maj. dec. Derrick Knox (Central Valley), 12-1, Ryan Cunningham (West Allegheny) dec. Ben Lynch (Seneca Valley), 5-0; 126: Sean Perri (Mt. Lebanon) dec. Richie Boeh (Mars), 1-0; 132: Blaine Elliott (Butler) dec. Austin Heinl (Shaler), 3-0, Mike Risnear (Penn Trafford) maj. dec. Cody Houston (Butler), 11-0; 138: Eric Green (Plum) dec. Xavier Bennett (Butler), 9-3; 145: Austin Leon (Seneca Valley) dec. Collin Smith (Albert Gallatin), 5-4; 160: Austin Bell (Belle Vernon) dec. Ryan McMahon (Mars), 5-2; 170: Ben Nowicki (Knoch) dec. Daniel Walters (Greensburg Salem), 8-4; 182: Zach Weaver (Butler) by forfeit; 195: Zac Herrle (McGuffey) dec. Nick Gibson (Butler), 9-1, Jack Zablonski (Montour) dec. Austin Bitzer (Mars), 5-2; 220: Moe Slinger (Upper St. Clair) dec. Johan VanWyke (Mars), 6-0