Winning's not enough

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

January 07, 2010 Last Updated: January 07, 2010 01:56 PM High School

Referee Joe Rosa watches for a pin by Butler's Dakoda Collins on Alex DeChurch of Canfield (Ohio), bottom, in the 152-pound match Wednesday. Collins notched a 15-2 major decision as the Golden Tornado recorded a 54-13 victory.

BUTLER TWP — Don't tell Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner there's no such thing as style points.

The Golden Tornado (9-0) beat up a respectable Canfield (Ohio) team by a 54-13 count Wednesday night, scoring five pins and three major decisions along the way.

But Stoner is paying attention to what's happening on the mat, not on the scoreboard.

"Don't get me wrong. I want to win," the 17th-year coach said. "I'm going to make sure we score at least one more point than the other team.

"But I know the talent level that's on this team and what we're capable of doing. It's my responsibility that we realize that potential.

"The consistent fundamentals we're drilling into these kids in the room every day isn't showing up out here yet, and that's a little disappointing," Stoner added.

Through six weight classes Wednesday, the Tornado held a scant 15-13 lead over Canfield (13-7). And a forfeit win by Zach Collins at 130 pounds was sandwiched by losses from Zach Reges (10-6) at 125 pounds and Cody Hartman (11-4) at 135.

Eric Tuck righted Butler's ship in the 140-pound match, scoring a pin in 1:28. The Tornado won every match after Tuck's to win going away.

"When you're following up a (teammate's) loss, it's important to get things going in the right direction," Tuck said. "You don't want momentum swinging the other way."

Freshman Blake Caudill at 103 pounds, Tuck, unbeaten Cole Baxter at 171, Mike Scialabba at 189 and Tim Fulks at heavyweight also registered pins for Butler. Fulks' pin occurred in 41 seconds.

Major decisions went to unbeaten Mike Crawford at 140 pounds, Dakoda Collins at 152 and Chris White at 215.

The Cardinals wrestled without junior captain Rob Reed, who is 20-3 at 130 pounds.

"That didn't make any difference tonight," Canfield coach Dean Conley said. "I thought we'd be more competitive tonight in a number of weight classes.

"We're young, but we're experienced, too. We've got four freshmen in the lineup and you can't hide them."

Canfield wrestled Butler for the first time since 2006. The Cardinals have two varsity wrestling teams and sent their best squad to Butler. Their other team wrestled a league match Wednesday.

"We wrestle all the top teams in Northeastern Ohio and Butler belongs in that conversation," Conley said. "They don't have a weakness in their lineup. You can't give up pins against them because you're not going to get them back."

Stoner said he's trying to get his team to "execute basic things" right now.

"Our expectations grow every year," Stoner said. "We have tremendously talented wrestlers here. I can't waste this. We wrestle Latrobe next Friday, North Allegheny in three weeks.

"Where we're located geographically, we can pull teams in from across the (state) line and up north. Northeast Ohio is a hotbed for wrestling."

Canfield represented an unknown to Butler wrestlers.

"This was good for us," said junior 160-pounder Matt Pribis. "You're not always going to know your opponent. You have to mentally feel you're going to go out and beat the guy."

Pribis and 112-pound Nick Sutton won by decision for the Tornado.

Butler travels to Fox Chapel for a dual match next Wednesday.

Butler 54, Canfield 13103-Blake Caudill (B) pinned Anthony Spencer, 2:51;

112-Nick Sutton (B) dec. Ethan Olson, 13-9;

119-Ben Beichert (C) pinned Brandon Bauer, 1:31;

125-Leo Daprile (C) dec. Zach Reges, 14-6;

130-Zach Collins (B) by forfeit;

135-Alex Benedict (C) dec. Cody Hartman, 4-1;

140-Eric Tuck (B) pinned Lucas Daprile, 1:28;

145-Mike Crawford (B) dec. P.J. Hido, 9-0;

152-Dakoda Collins (B) dec. Alex DeChurch, 15-2;

160-Matt Pribis (B) dec. Eric Mirto, 8-2;