Butler's Brin Zehmisch, left, got a key win at 130 pounds in Monday’s dual-meet against Knoch. Butler Eagle file photo

BUTLER TWP — Brin Zehmisch gave away a lot of weight. She wasn’t about to give away the match.

The Butler junior, looking to cut down to 118 pounds, wrestled at 130 pounds during the Golden Tornado’s girls match against Knoch Monday night in the Butler Intermediate High School gym. She fell behind 12-2 in the first period.

After nearly being pinned twice in the first two minutes, Zehmisch (10-3) held the Knights’ Leila Crowe to a 0-0 deadlock in the second. She then pinned the freshman Crowe 1:04 into the final frame.

The pinfall was pivotal in the Tornado’s 48-30 victory. Only three matches were contested on the night.

“We had the matchups we wanted,” Knoch coach J.B. Orris said. “We expected to win that (130) match. Leila just got caught. She’s a young wrestler who made a mistake.

“She’ll learn from it. That won’t happen to her again.”

Zehmisch admitted giving up a lot of weight threw her off her game at first.

“I was getting tossed pretty good,” she said. “Even in the second period, she was mashing on my shoulder and I’ve had an injury to that shoulder. That wasn’t feeling real good.”

But Zehmisch bided her time, saw an opening and took it.

Butler coach Nathan Bottiger wasn’t surprised she did.

“Brin is a counter-attack wrestler,” Bottiger said. “She waits for an opening and takes advantage. She’s very patient that way.

“She wants to cut down to 118 pounds, and she’s in the process of doing that. We needed her to bump up to 130 tonight, and she gutted one out for us.”

Zehmisch could not explain the move she made to put Crowe on her back and secure the pin. Crowe entered the match with a 9-2 record this season.

“I know what I’m doing while I’m on the mat,” Zehmisch said. “Once I’m off the mat, I forget all about it. There’s no memory of that for me. I couldn’t tell you.”

Butler senior Mylee Toner won her match at 155 pounds, pinning freshman Kinsley Ireland in 3:15 after a scoreless first period.

“I have to give a shoutout to Mylee tonight,” Bottiger said. “She wasn’t feeling 100% as she’s been ill, but she knew her team needed her and she went out and battled. That’s why she’s one of our captains.”

Knoch’s lone win came courtesy of senior Braylee Ireland, who improved to 8-1 with a pin of Rowan Zehmisch at 124 pounds.

“Braylee’s wrestling very well right now,” Orris said. “We keep telling her that she can’t let the past interfere with her future. She keeps working on her skills and she’s getting better all the time.”

Bottiger attributed the high number of forfeitures Monday to both teams having competed in tournaments over the weekend.

“It’s tough to come back Monday night with a full, healthy lineup,” he said. “I think both of us were mindful of that.”

Knoch (1-1) returns to action Jan. 10 at the Mt. Lebanon Tournament. Butler (4-4) hosts Seneca Valley on Jan. 7.

Butler 48, Knoch 30

100 pounds-Azra Paraska (B) by forfeit; 106-Kenna Watson (K) by forfeit; 112-Riley Gayhart (B) by forfeit; 118-Sienna Stutz (B) by forfeit; 124-Braylee Ireland (K) pinned Rowan Zehmisch, 1:32; 130-Brin Zehmisch (B) pinned Leila Crowe, 5:04; 136-Kaylee Christie (B) by forfeit; 142-Anastasia Manchester (B) by forfeit; 148-Carma Forty (K) by forfeit; 155-Mylee Toner (B) by forfeit; 170-Makayla Pethel (K) by forfeit; 190-Isabella Messenger (K) by forfeit; 235-Monica Osborne (B) by forfeit