BUTLER TWP — Butler's varsity wrestling team left town last week — and returned home a champion.

Golden Tornado head coach Scott Stoner and assistant Bill Mylan took 17 wrestlers to the Eastern Michigan University Team Competition Camp in Ypsilanti, Mich., June 25-28.

Slippery Rock University graduate and former wrestler Derek Delporto is head coach at Eastern Michigan. Stoner is also a Rock graduate.

"We don't travel out of state for competition because Pennsylvania is such a good wrestloing state," Stoner said. "Wrestlers from other states usually come here.

"But Derek asked some fellow alumni to bring their teams up, so we made the trip."

Butler competed in nine dual matches and won them all. Five of the matches were against high school teams from Michigan and four were against all-star teams comprised of individual wrestlers attending Delporto's camp.

Butler defeated the all-star teams by scores of 39-0, 58-0, 38-9 and 52-0.

The Tornado also defeated Tecumseh 39-9, Napoleon 36-12 and John Glenn 28-18. Butler took on defending Division IV Michigan state champion Hudson and posted a 21-18 victory.

Addison won the Michigan state title in 2005, 2006 and 2007, but dropped a 22-18 decision to the Tornado.

"The weight differential was wider in range than usual, so they only wrestled 10 weight classes," Stoner said.

Butler had three wrestlers go undefeated — Cole Baxter 9-0 at 171 pounds, Dakoda Collins 9-0 at 160 and Mike Scialabba 7-0 at 189. Collins defeated a Michigan state champion at his weight class.

Two Tornado freshmen — Blake Caudill at 8-1, Zach Collins at7-1 — suffered only one defeat at 103 and 124 pounds, respectively.

Other top records for Butler included Jesse Spohn (6-2 at 141), Cody Hartman (7-2 at 141), Chris White (7-2 at light heavyweight), Matt Pribis (8-3 at 171), Eric Tuck (6-3 at 149) and Alex Miranda (6-3 at heavyweight).

"I was impressed by the shape our wrestlers were in," Stoner said. "We've had the (wrestling) room open this summer and it's been hit and miss with kids coming in.

"But after two or three matches in this tournament, our kids looked like they did in February, when we were in our best physical condition. These kids are really dedicated to this sport. I'm very encouraged by our performance out there."