BUTLER TWP — Marino Quercio didn't have a freshman year in wrestling worthwriting home about.

Wrestling career? Different story.

The Butler senior — 8-23 as a freshman with the Golden Tornado — is headed to Gannon University to continue his academic and mat career.

"We brought him up and threw him into the fire at 215 pounds," Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner recalled of Quercio's freshman year. "Marino was kind of a roly-poly kid back then. I think 22 of those losses were by pin.

"That 215-pound class is tough to fill sometimes in high school."

Quercio went on to fill the bill rather well. He wound up with an 82-57 career record in high school, including 33-8 his senior year. The 33 wins rank third on Butler's all-time single-season list, the 82 career wins seventh overall.

Quercio had 18 pins and 57 takedowns last season. He is one of 11 four-year lettermen in the history of Butler wrestling.

Another former Butler wrestling standout, Lyneil Mitchell, played a major role in turning Quercio's career sround.

"I stayed with Lyneil for about a month last summer," Quercio said. "He showed me the value of working hard and staying nutritional with my diet.

"He helped me push my body to its physical limits."

Mitchell was a state qualifier for Butler in 1998, went on to Gannon and became a NCAA Division II national finalist.

He has since gone into the field of training athletes toward peak performance. Mitchell is living in the Erie area and Quercio plans to work with him further.

"Without Lyneil Mitchell, I don't think we get Marino Quercio," Gannon coach Don Henry said. "And I'm glad he's coming."

"Lyneil never knew how good he could be in high school," Stoner said. "I mean, he believed in himself, but it wasn't until college when he realized just what he was capable of."

Stoner figures Quercio to be a similar late-bloomer.

"His best wrestling years are ahead of him, no doubt," Stoner said.

Quercio will wrestle at 197 pounds at Gannon, which finished 10-2 in the PSAC and had three wrestlers become Division II All-Americans by placing among the top six at the national tournament.

Gannon had a 37-year-old man finish 6-2 at 197 last year. That man is staying with the program as an assistant coach next year, leaving that spot in the Knights' lineup vacant.

Quercio will be battling Chris Boyd, a high school state champion from Virginia, along others for varsity time. Boyd could also wrestle at 184 pounds.

"If he comes in here and works hard, the opportunity is there for him," Henry said of Quercio cracking the lineup right away. "Whether Marino is redshirted or not is in many ways up to him."

Despite his successful senior year, Quercio was knocked out of the section tournament and did not make it to the WPIAL Tournament.

He plans to make up for that in college, while majoring in criminal justice.

"My goal is to win a national championship someday," Quercio said.

Quercio also considered Thiel and Seton Hill before deciding upon Gannon.

"Lyneil being up there means a lot," he admitted. "I got to meet all the guys on the team when I visited there. The more I found out about the program, the more I felt like I could excel there.

"I've always dreamed about wrestling in college. It's high intensity. I can't wait to get back on the mat."

Quercio has maintained a solid workout regimen since his high school season ended.

"I credit him with changing his lifestyle," Stoner said. "Regular workouts and fitness are a big part of Marino's life now.

"A lot of people lose weight, look good for a while, but don't sustain it. Only a rare few make it a life-changing event and he's doing that."