Convincing start

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

December 06, 2007 Last Updated: December 06, 2007 02:00 PM High School

Butler's Aaron Raible works to get a better grip on Shaler's Slefa Drzmiecki in their 135-pound match Wednesday. Raible won a 9-2 decision as the Golden Tornado grabbed a 54-12 victory.

Tornado's season of promise begins with romp

BUTLER TWP — The freshmen won easily. The seniors followed suit.

And a promising wrestling season began on a positive note for Butler as the Golden Tornado rolled over Shaler, 54-12, Wednesday night.

"I'm expecting a lot from this year's team and I think we'll see that,"Butler coach Scott Stoner said. "I don't want to make any predictions because I've been disappointed in the past when we've fallen short."

There was no falling short on this night.

Through the 160-pound match, Butler had built a 45-3 lead. Shaler forfeited matches at 103, 112, 145 and heavyweight, but the Golden Tornado dominated regardless.

Of Butler's seven wins on the mat, the closest was Ken Rosenbauer's 8-3 decision at 140 — and he had a 6-2 lead by the end of the first period.

"They've got a very good team,"said second-year Shaler coach Drew D'Agostino, Stoner's roommate at Slippery Rock University. "Their seniors have been around a long time and their freshmen have been wrestling since elementary school."

The once-powerful Titans program was 6-13 last year. Six wrestlers who won 20-plus matches for Shaler last year graduated.

"It's hard to replace that,"D'Agostino said. "But we've got close to 180 kids in our elementary program and another 30 at the junior high level. We'll be back."

Two Butler freshmen wrestled their first varsity matches Wednesday and both won by pin. Mike Crawford stopped junior Jon Fitzgerald at 1:25 of the first period and Cole Baxter pinned junior Jon Sieber at 3:00 after building an 11-1 lead.

"Cole was undefeated coming up through the system and Mike Crawford is a goer. He's been Cole's workout partner and has definitely benefited from that.

"In the (practice)room, you're either the hammer or the anvil, the beater or the beatee. ... Sometimes the beatee gets tired of being the anvil."

The Tornado's two other freshmen, Eric Tuck at 103 and Daman Redenbach at 112, won by forfeit. Seniors Aaron Raible, Rosenbauer, Jon Sanko, Alex Evanoff and Josh Pascazi, Butler's wrestlers from 135 pounds through 160, were all victorious.

Evanoff scored a technical fall over Greg Nicosia, who placed sixth at the Eastern Area Tournament last weekend, in 1:15. Pascazi won by a 10-0 decision.

"We were only 5-8 in section meets last year and nobody expects us to do anything this year,"Pascazi said. "We're kinda the hidden team, but we're strong from top to bottom."

Butler wrestles at Pine-Richland next Wednesday before hosting North Hills Dec. 14.

Butler 54, Shaler 12103 — Eric Tuck (B)by forfeit;

112 — Daman Redenbach (B)by forfeit;

119 — Josh Stagel (S)dec. Dave Jaillet 11-5;

125 — Mike Crawford (B)pinned Jon Fitzgerald, 1:25;

130 — Cole Baxter (B)pinned Jon Sieber, 3:00;

135 — Aaron Raible (B)dec. Slefa Drzmiecki 9-2;

140 — Ken Rosenbauer (B)dec. Steve Zimmerman 8-3;

145 — Jon Sanko (B)by forfeit;

152 — Alex Evanoff (B)tech. fall (15-0) over Greg Nicosia, 1:15;

160 — Josh Pascazi (B)dec. Josh Fleming, 10-0;

171 — Josh Fleming (S)dec. Jake Lytle, 8-5;