For Mars boys wrestling, a ‘huge milestone’ win over Butler years in the making
BUTLER TWP — Mars boys wrestling’s 40-31 win over Butler was a huge boost for a program that was flagging just a few years ago.
For the Golden Tornado, it was another moment of frustration and disappointment.
The Planets beat Butler for the first time in eight years, according to their wrestlers, Wednesday night at Butler Intermediate High School thanks to the luck of a coin flip, a deeper roster and some important bonus points.
Mars (2-0) most notably got to avoid Butler star Santino Sloboda at 145 because of the pre-match coin flip, drawing boos from the home crowd, but Sam Passarelli (152 pounds) and Paxton Hartle (160) turned in first-period pins, and freshman Olympic Serrao did the same at 139.
The 18-6 run flipped the match just as Butler (0-2) hit its inexperienced upperweights.
“They’ve always been known for a strong program,” said Hartle, who ranked the team’s confidence an 8.5 out of 10 after the win. “The Butler name, Mars has only beat them once before today … so today is just a huge milestone.”
“It’s good, because my team’s working our butts off and we’ve been working hard,” Passarelli said. “We knew we had the chance to beat them, and that gave us the confidence we needed, I think, to win.”
The Planets also claimed advantages in a few other matches. At 121, Butler’s Sullivan Stutz won 8-6, but he was nearly beaten at the buzzer and gave up some sloppy reverses that turned what could’ve been a major decision into a win with no bonus points.
Nathan Dickey (127) and Joseph Zottolo (172) did enough to avoid being pinned and settled for technical fall losses, saving two more points.
“The guys that needed to go out and get sticks, did, which was big, and the guys that lost came out and fought their rear ends off and did the best they could,” Mars coach Ben Rings said.
Those three extra points alone wouldn’t have won it for Butler, but it could have made the match closer and maybe created some momentum to flip a bout somewhere else.
That was what left Tornado coach Scott Stoner frustrated about the second dual loss of the season.
“I wanted to get different matchups,” the longtime coach said. “But when you get pinned at ’52 and ’60, even my son (Sutton Stoner, 172) took a shot to the head and instead of pummeling the kid and setting the tone – there was no real response.
“You gotta be a guy that is gonna go out and put the team up on your back, especially this year with the (in)experience we have, and when you get a takedown you better be jammin’ hard to get that guy to his back.”
With just 16 kids on the roster, a light year for Butler, Stoner sent a message he wants to see better preparation in practice.
But for undefeated Mars, this was a tone-setter. Rings said he had seven varsity wrestlers four years ago when he took over the program. Their lineup featured 23 names Wednesday night.
“I feel great,” Rings said. “I feel this is the toughest Mars has (been in a while).”
Mars 40, Butler 31
Match started at 107 pounds
107-Ben Kinney (B) pinned Ty Carson (M), 2:19; 114-Gavin Shuck (M) major dec. Carmello Cantera, 10-1; 121-Sullivan Stutz (B) dec. Beckett Szczesniak, 8-6; 127-Nick Savannah (B) tech. fall Ben Goering, 21-4, 4:00; 133-Parker Joseph (M) pinned Nathan Dickey, 2:36; 139-Olympic Serrao (M) pinned Mason Swidzinski (B), 1:25; 145-Santino Sloboda (B) wins by forfeit; 152-Sam Passarelli (M) pinned Dylan Thurber, 1:38; 160-Paxton Hartle (M) pinned Dennis Brunton, 1:40; 172-Sutton Stoner (B) tech. fall Joseph Zottolo, 22-7, 5:25; 189-Liam Corcorran (M) pinned Drake Barto, 0:28; 215-Adam Genevro (M) pinned Javier Valdez, 0:42; 285-Ace McElravy (B) pinned Brian Biaku, 0:32.
