Stoner’s numbers on the rise
This is the second in a series of articles profiling the 2022 inductees into the Butler Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame
BUTLER TWP — Art Bernardi, Paul Uram, Steve Heasley, Dave Barnes, Mike Seybert, Dave McKinnis ... Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner sees a common trait among them all.
“Burning passion and dedication to their sport,” Stoner said. “I feel like I’m that way about wrestling.”
Stoner will soon have something else in common with that list of men — a place in the Butler Area School District Athletic Hall of Fame. He will be inducted during a reception at 6 p.m. Dec,. 16 in the high school cafeteria. His most productive wrestler ever, Cole Baxter, will be inducted that night as well.
“I’m very happy this is working out that way,” Stoner said. “I’m hoping my plaque goes up right next to his. I would love to see that.”
Stoner took over as Golden Tornado mat coach in 1993-94, the program’s third year of existence. Butler was 0-11 the previous season.
A graduate of Slippery Rock University’s wrestling program, Stoner told the kids the team would win at least half of its dual matches in his debut season.
“A lot of the kids laughed and that was understandable,” he said. “If they were still laughing at the end of that season, I didn’t deserve to be their coach. Thar’s how I felt about it.
“We wound up going 14-11 that first year. Thar’s where it all started.”
The 2022-23 season will be Stoner’s 30th as Butler wrestling coach,. His career record in dual matches is 415-205. He’s endured only five losing seasons, the last being a 7-14 mark in 2006-07.
Stoner’s career has produced 35 individual section champions, though he’s never won a section crown as a team.
“That one’s eluded me,” he said. “There are some veteran coaches who have won WPIAL championships and I’m still trying to win the section. But the WPIAL is the most competitive high school wrestling conference in the country. I truly believe that.
“If you look at the NCAA Wrestling Championships, Pennsylvania sends around 50 wrestlers every year. The next state in line sends 27 or 28. We go up against the best right here.”
Stoner ranks No. 1 among active WPIAL wrestling coaches with his 412 wins. He was named WPIAL Coach of the Year in 2021-22, guiding the Tornado to a 19-4 record.
Only in his 50’s, he figures to coach for at least a few more years yet.
“There are guys ahead of me (on the WPIAL all-time win list) like Chuck Tursky of Kiski Area, Tom Dolde Sr. of Connellsville. They are also SRU guys. Chuck has 504 wins. I don’t know if I’ll get there or not.
“The wins aren’t what it’s about for me. It’s about working with kids, teaching them the sport. I put in as much time with the kids who are just learning as I do with our championship caliber kids. They all deserve the same amount of attention.”
Stoner has coached 205 WPIAL qualifiers, two WPIAL champions, 11 state qualifiers and three state place-winners in his career. He is a full-time teacher at Butler.
He was nominated for the Hall of Fame by Saundra Baxter, who stated: “Coach Stoner does more than coach athletes. He teaches his wrestlers responsibility, accountability and a work ethic. He instills in his athletes life skills needed to succeed in today’s world.”
“If we’re successful, wins accumulate,” Stoner said. “But we’re always striving to be better.”
