Butler's Matt Pribis tries to pin Meadville's Ramone Gonzalez during their 160-pound bout Friday. Pribis had to settle for an 11-4 decision in the Golden Tornado's 40-26.

BUTLER TWP — For 17 days, the Butler wrestlers couldn't get on the mat.

On Friday night, they couldn't get off it.

After losing a 27-25 dual match to Erie Cathedral Prep that took 2Z\x hours to complete, Butler honored its four seniors, then defeated Meadville 40-26.

It added up to more than four hours of wrestling in the intermediate high school gym.

"I couldn't believe that Cathedral Prep match took that long," Butler coach Scott Stoner said. "We had our chances to win there. In some places, we just didn't wrestle.

"We haven't had a match since Feb. 2 and it showed. We looked sloppy and rusty."

The Tornado (18-4) returned to action against two stellar opponents. Cathedral Prep and Meadville combined to send 12 wrestlers with at least 20 wins against Butler. Cathedral Prep has a pair of 30-win wrestlers.

Had Meadville not forfeited three weight classes, the result of that match looked to be a toss-up.

The Tornado managed only three pins all night. Zach Collins (13-2) began the evening with a sudden pin of Cathedral Prep's Joe Henderson (8-6) as the dual against the Ramblers opened with their match at 135 pounds.

Collins scored an escape, then quickly had Henderson's legs straight up in the air and his shoulders on the mat.

"It happened so quickly, but the referee didn't miss it," Stoner said.

Butler dropped the next five matches to fall behind 19-6 before winning six of seven to assume a 25-22 lead with one bout remaining.

The Tornado's Zach Reges snapped a 22-all tie by scoring a 4-2 overtime decision at 119 pounds. That left Brandon Bauer (9-15) against the Ramblers' Dan Yori (29-10) at 125 pounds.

Yori won his 30th match of the year with a technical fall of Bauer only 55 seconds into the second period, giving Cathedral Prep the dual win.

"Danny stepped up big for us in that last match," Ramblers coach Mark Sallot said. "He knew what we needed and went out and got it.

"This was the closest dual match we've had all year. We won some one-point decisions early and lost some late."

Cathedral Prep is 17-3 in duals and 33-5 over the past two seasons under Sallot.

"That's an attractive school and they can bring in some great athletes," Stoner said. "That was like facing an all-star team tonight. We're wrestling them at their place next year. It's great competition."Butler's Cole Baxter improved to 28-0 with a 3-2 decision of Jermaine Easter (30-5) at 171 pounds. Baxter scored a first-period takedown. The other three points in the match were escapes."Jermaine has 99 career wins and wanted the 100th to come tonight," Sallot said. "It didn't happen. Cole is a tough kid to score on, but they may meet again down the road."Baxter picked up his 29th win by forfeit against Meadville and is now 107-10 in his career."I knew the tough matches were coming," Baxter said. "I'd like a few more like that during the season because it helps you get in condition for the WPIALs."Blake Caudill at 103 pounds and heavyweight Tim Fulks had pins for Butler in the Meadville match."We need to get more pins. We're just not doing it," Stoner said.Mike Crawford began the night at 23-1 for Butler at 140, but lost decisions of 7-3 to the Ramblers' Tyler Parsons (25-4) and 6-4 to the Bulldogs' Nick Limano (26-8)."Mike faced two great kids and his knees still aren't 100 percent, which is hurting him offensively," Stoner said.Tornado seniors Chris White, Jason McCrea, Mike Scialabba and Dylan McAnallen were honored Friday.<B>Cathedral Prep 27, Butler 25103 pounds</B>-Blake Caudill (B) dec. Beau Coletta, 7-3; <B>112</B>-Nick Sutton (B) dec. Adam Sallot, 9-8; <B>119</B>-Zach Reges (B) dec. John Agnello, 4-2 in OT; <B>125</B>-Dan Yori (CP) tech. fall (15-0) over Brandon Bauer, 2:55; <B>130</B>-Zach Collins (B) pinned Joe Henderson, 1:46; <B>135</B>-Kris Hess (CP) dec. Eric Tuck, 2-0 in OT; <B>140</B>-Tyler Parsons (CP) dec. Mike Crawford, 7-3; <B>145</B>-Garrett Chase (CP) pinned Dillon Weston, 4:38; <B>152</B>-Dave Heynoski (CP) dec. Dakoda Collins, 10-2; <B>160</B>-Grant Chase (CP) dec. Matt Pribis, 4-3; <B>171</B>-Cole Baxter (B) dec. Jermaine Easter, 3-2; <B>189</B>-Mike Scialabba (B) dec. Luke Trucilla, 9-5; <B>215</B>-Chris White (B) dec. Mars Baumann, 15-7; <B>275</B>-Logan Thompson (CP) dec. Tim Fulks, 4-0.<B>Butler 40, Meadville 26103</B>-Blake Caudill (B) pinned Zach Luben, 5:20; <B>112</B>-Quentin Banks (M) dec. Nick Sutton 7-1; <B>119</B>-Shelton Mack (M) pinned Brandon Bauer, 1:39; <B>125</B>-Zach Reges (B) dec. Zach McCracken, 15-2; <B>130</B>-Kasey Davis (M) pinned Zach Collins, 4:24; <B>135</B>-Eric Tuck (B) by forfeit; <B>140</B>-Nick Limano (M) dec. Mike Crawford, 6-4; <B>145</B>-Dillon Weston (B) dec. Jimmy Shields, 9-2; <B>152</B>-Zach Towers (M) pinned Dakoda Collins, 4:40; <B>160</B>-Matt Pribis (B) dec. Ramon Gonzalez, 11-4; <B>171</B>-Cole Baxter (B) by forfeit; <B>189</B>-Mike Scialabba (B) by forfeit; <B>215</B>-Kevin Thompson (M) dec. Chris White, 5-3; <B>275</B>-Tim Fulks (B) pinned Jake Shade, 1:19.

Cole Baxter of Butler tightens his grip on Erie Cathedral Prep's Jermaine Easter Friday before taking a 3-2 decision in the 171-pound weight class. The Ramblers pinned a 27-25 loss on the Golden Tornado.