Short night

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

December 11, 2008 Last Updated: December 11, 2008 02:44 PM High School

Butler's Alex Truman pins Knoch's Abe Zito during the 275 pound match at Butler Intermediate High School.

Butler wrestlers handle depleted Knoch, 76-3

BUTLER TWP— Opening night, the show must go on. And it did.

Barely.

Butler opened its varsity wrestling season Wednesday night with a 76-3 triumph over Knoch. Only four matches were actually contested and the competition was completed in 30 minutes.

"This was tough,"Butler coach Scott Stoner admitted. "It's the first match of the year, big crowd, all the kids are in uniform raring to go. You want to get them all out there and you can't."

Knoch (0-2) normally has an 11-wrestler lineup, but six are sidelined by injuries and a seventh failed to make weight.

The Knights averted the shutout on the final match of the evening. Grayson Hixon scored two back points with eight seconds remaining to edge Golden Tornado freshman Zach Reges, 6-4.

"That was a big win for Grayson and a big win for our team,"Knoch coach Mark McLaughlin said. "Nobody wants to get shut out.

"It's been depressing in our (wrestling)room, with three or four kids on the mat practicing with six others standing around watching."

The Knights are missing Graham Evans with a foot injury, Brit Faust was unavailable Wednesday after having wisdom teeth extracted, Jakob Will has a high ankle sprain, Davis Mowry a shoulder separation, Jim Zellhardt a concussion and Joe Hlebizcki a torn labrum.

"We've just been decimated,"McLaughlin said. "We're not even looking at the scoreboard right now. We're concentating on individual improvement and getting healthy."

Reges took a 4-2 first-period lead on the experienced Hixon, scoring a quick takedown and reversal in the first two minutes.

"Zach came out aggressively and took him down right away,"Stoner said. "That speaks volumes for where he's at mentally.

"A month from now, we'll have him at the point where he gets off his back in the third period."

The third period began with the match even at four and Reges in the down position. Hixon never let him escape before securing the winning back points."

(Reges) was a scrappy kid. Grayson had trouble with him," McLaughlin said. "For a freshman to come out and battle like that in his first match shows what kind of junior high and youth program Butler has."

The Tornado won the other three contested matches. Cole Baxter scored a pin at 145 pounds and Derek Hays notched a 14-3 decision at 152.

Senior heavyweight Alex Truman pinned Abe Zito just 38 seconds into their bout.

"We've only had Alex for two years, but he's a power-lifter and a physical specimen,"Stoner said. "And he's very disciplined for someone hisage. It's a pleasure having him in our program."

The Tornado return to action Saturday at the Commodore Perry Duals, facing Port Allegany, Hickory, Mercer, Reynolds and Sharpsville.

"We'll get a full load of action in that day,"Stoner said. "I feel for their coach (McLaughlin) and what they're going through with health issues.

"I've had losing seasons when we weren't able to put our lineup on the mat because of injuries. It's rough. It's not fun."

Butler 76, Knoch 3103 — Brandon Bauer (B)by forfeit;

112 — Randy Kelley (B)by forfeit;

119 — Grayson Hixon(K)dec. Zach Reges, 6-4;

125 — Eric Tuck (B)by forfeit;

130 — Cody Hartman (B)by forfeit;

135 — Sam Stuckey (B)by forfeit;

140 — Mike Crawford (B)by forfeit;

145 — Cole Baxter (B)pinned Mason Kauffman, 1:54;

152 — Derek Hays (B)dec. Kevin Green, 14-3;