BUTLER TWP — Entering the PIAA Class AAA Wrestling Tournament, Cole Baxter already is among exclusive company.

Butler's 145-pound WPIAL champion is:

• the Golden Tornado's first wrestler to reach the state tournament since Don Geibel, Garrett Boarts and T.J. McCance in 2000.

• the only sophomore among the 16-wrestler 145-pound field in the state meet.

• one of 13 undefeated wrestlers in PIAA Class AAA.

• one of three wrestlers, Franklin Regional 112-pounder Nico Megaludis and Hempfield 160-pound Jack Kemerer are the others, to emerge from the WPIAL Tournament still unbeaten.

"Those things are a solid indicator of just how special this kid is," Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner said.

He will have to be extra special to emerge from this weekend's competition in Hershey unbeaten.

Baxter (42-0) is one of three wrestlers in the 145-pound field with perfect records. The other two are defending state champions.

Joey Napoli (42-0) of Cumberland Valley won the 145-pound title last year. Dylan Alton (43-0) of Central Mountain won the 135-pound title a year ago.

Only one other weight class in PIAA Class AAA — heavyweight — has three unbeaten wrestlers.

"The brackets are pre-slotted for the state meet," Stoner said. "When they were originally posted, Napoli and Alton were in the same bracket, opposite of Cole's.

"The state reserves the right to change that when two returning state champions are in the same weight class. I didn't like it at first, but it's fair for the sport."

Napoli was placed in Baxter's side of the bracket, though the two wouldn't meet until the semifinal round.

"I have a lot of work to do before I can even worry about that," Baxter said.

Baxter begins his quest for a state title today against Matt Dugan (30-4), a Northeast Catholic senior who placed third in the Southeast district tournament.

"He's out of District 12, which is the district we were hoping to draw a kid from early," Stoner said. "If Cole wins there, he'll face a kid with either six losses (Shane Fenningham of Northampton) or eight losses (Mike English of Lower Dauphin).

Both of them are seniors as well. Of the 16 wrestlers in the 145-pound field, 12 are seniors, three are juniors and Baxter's the sophomore.

"I know I'm still growing as a varsity wrestler, but I'm not going out there with the idea of losing," he said. "Everybody's going to be hard to beat and I believe I will be, too."

Only one wrestler in Butler history — Lyneil Mitchell in 1998 — has won a state tournament match. None has placed.

"Cole gets frustrated if he doesn't get a pin or score early," Stoner said. "But at this level, it's about working your opponent and being the smarter wrestler, knowing the situation."

Baxter has proven adept at that as well, winning close matches in the WPIAL semifinals and finals.

Baxter has been taken down only once all season: at the Brockway Tournament over Christmas break. His record is 75-8 over two years and all but one of his losses last season was against a senior.

"The atmosphere out there won't get to him," Stoner said. "Cole knows how to maintain focus."

While Baxter is the area's lone Class AAA wrestler, four Grove City High School wrestlers will compete in the Class AA tournament

Senior Johnny Pas (31-4) at 112 pounds, freshman Wesley Phipps (30-8) at 160, senior Caleb Kolb (35-0) at 171 and senior Nuick Miller (28-3) at 189 are in the tournament. Phipps and Kolb are coming off regional championships.

Class AAA preliminaries at Hershey's Giant Center begin at 4 p.m. today. Quarterfinals are at 1 p.m. Friday, semifinals at 8 a.m. and finals at 8 p.m. Saturday.

Class AA preliminaries are at 9 a.m. today, quarterfinals at 8 a.m. and semifinals at 6:30 p.m. Friday, finals at 2:30 p.m. Saturday.