Butler wrestling’s Sutton Stoner has ‘better perspective’ after a trying two years
Simply being back on the mat was not enough for Sutton Stoner last year.
The Butler wrestler had missed his entire sophomore season with a dislocated left elbow. His junior campaign yielded a 20-13 record, fifth-place finish at the WPIAL Class 3A Northern Sectional tournament and an early exit at districts.
“Physically, I think I was ready to go last year,” he said. “But I was still sour about missing my sophomore year. I was angry at wrestling and it left me unsatisfied.
“I have a better perspective on things now. I was dealt a bad hand and it is what it is.”
Putting disappointment behind him, Sutton is now focused on making the most of his senior year. At 160 pounds, he carries a 12-2 record, including four pins, into this weekend’s Mid-Winter Mayhem tournament at Indiana (Pa.) University.
“He’s not flashy like some wrestlers,” said Sutton’s father and Butler coach Scott Stoner. “Some kids go out and execute a bunch of different moves, but Sutton’s more of a powerful wrestler, and to win matches, he has to be disciplined and compete within himself.”
At the Southmoreland Tournament in late December, Sutton pinned the top seed, Meyersdale’s Caleb Sines, in the semifinals. He then dominated the No. 2 seed, Freedom Area’s Brayden Reynolds, with a 17-2 technical fall to win the title.
“In that semifinal match, I was on my back twice, but came back to get the pin,” Sutton said. “At the beginning of the season, I didn’t fix my mind on any one particular goal. I’m literally taking it one match at a time, trying to get better every day. I don’t want to walk off the mat with regrets like I did last year.
“I love that there is always improvement to be made in wrestling. No matter how good you become, there’s always another level to reach.”
Scott Stoner has been Butler’s head coach for over 30 years. Sutton said it is difficult to separate their father/son relationship from that of coach/athlete.
“It’s not easy,” he said. “Every conversation we have seems to circle back to wrestling at some point. We butt heads, both get upset with each other, and I think we could both do better with that. I have to remind myself that my dad is just trying to make me better. He instilled in me the drive to make constant improvements.”
Scott Stoner pointed out that he offers constructive criticism to all of his wrestlers, including senior Santino Sloboda, who is chasing Butler’s school record and the Butler County record for career victories.
Off the mat, Sutton excels in the classroom. He received a B as a freshman, but has otherwise been a straight-A student.
“There are times he’ll stay up all night studying for a test and I marvel at that,” Scott said. “If it were me, I’d go to bed and settle for a B or C.
“I should tell Sutton more of the positive things I see in him,” Scott said. “As coaches, we want to see improvement, but we are also hoping to help shape athletes into good, young men. I believe he is becoming one.”
One example came during Sutton’s lost 2023-24 season. After realizing he would not be competing that year, he remained a constant presence around his teammates.
“It was tough just sitting there, seeing my buddies go out and compete,” Sutton said. “But the injury was my issue and I didn’t want to detach myself from the team.”
According to his father, Sutton did not miss a practice or match that season.
“That had to be brutal for him, but he wanted to support the team,” Scott said. “I’ve had wrestlers get injured for the season and I never saw them again, but Sutton was there every day.
“Because we had an incredibly talented team his freshman year, I left him down on the junior high team. Then the injury happened two years ago. If he had wrestled varsity all four years, he’d be looking at a career with way over 100 wins.”
Sutton explained that he will not take for granted any time he has left on the mat. He is undecided on whether or not that will include competing in college.
His father’s desire on the subject is not surprising.
“I hope Sutton gets a mindset that his career does not have to be over after this year,” Scott said. “He showed a lot of guts at Southmoreland, but wrestling at the next level has to be something he wants to do. It has to be his goal.”
