Pinning down success
BUTLER TWP — Some wrestlers need to be taught to be aggressive.
Though he's just eight bouts into his sophomore season, Jack Codispot has no problem going on the offensive.
Butler's 126-pounder scored a takedown and three near-fall points in the first period of his bout with Freedom's Gordon Kalamasz. It led to a pin in the second period and helped the Golden Tornado defeat the Bulldogs 45-33 Thursday night at Butler's Intermediate High School.
“Jack is scrappy and physical,” said Butler coach Scott Stoner. “Right now we're trying to develop his fundamentals. He has a confidence about him and goes after it, but we are trying to change his offense a bit, give him moves that are more high-percentage.
“He basically did what I thought he'd do tonight. I didn't think his opponent had what it took to beat him.”
Codispot won over half of his varsity bouts as a freshman last year while competing at 120 pounds. He placed third in Section 3 before sustaining two losses at the WPIAL tournament. Thursday's win improved his record to 6-2 this season with four pins.
“Varsity wrestling is a lot more intense, you really have to put your body into it and be focused at all times,” Codispot said. “I was able to get my toes in the water last year. My goals this year are to win a section championship and not go 0-2 at WPIALs.”
Stoner sees an intangible in Codispot that could help the latter continue to rise in the district ranks.
“Most kids today are not tough,” Stoner said, “but Jack is tough. Last year, he placed seventh out of 30-some wrestlers at the Southmoreland Tournament. That's a long, grueling two-day tournament and he was dealing with a torn meniscus, but kept going.”
Also tallying pins for Butler (2-0) were Justin Stewart (152 pounds) and Tom Greaves (195), both in the first period.
Butler senior Caleb Baxter moved his season record to 7-1 with a decision over D.J. Ward at 160 pounds.
The Tornado's win came after Butler fell to Freedom at the Chartiers-Houston Tournament last weekend.
The Bulldogs (1-1) were runner-up in the WPIAL Class AA team tournament last year.
“We have eight guys back from that team, but only five wrestled tonight,” said Freedom coach Jim Covert. “We have five guys who are out because they are ineligible.”
“Freedom gave us (18) points tonight with three forfeits,” added Stoner. “We had four guys get pinned tonight. You aren't going to win many matches that way. It's troublesome.”
Butler will host Mars on Wednesday.
Butler 45, Freedom 33
(Match started at 106 pounds)
106-Cam Weisenstein (B) won by forfeit; 113-Z.J. Ward (F) pinned Isaiah Christy, 4:25; 120-Colton Spohn (B) won by forfeit; 126-Jack Codispot (B) pinned Gordon Kalamasz, 3:09; 132-Jacob Pail (F) major dec. Nate McDonald, 10-2; 138-Scott Dietrich (B) won by injury default over Chase Komara; 145-Kody Komara (F) by tech. fall over Sam Dietrich, 19-3; 152-Justin Stewart (B) pinned Brett Johnson, 1:32; 160-Caleb Baxter (B) by dec. over D.J. Ward, 8-2; 170-Rob Hays (B) won by forfeit; 182-Noah Trombetto (F) pinned Jacob White, 3:59; 195-Tom Greaves (B) pinned Andrew Kalamasz, :41; 220-Randy Simmons (F) pinned Seth McCrea, 3:02; Hwt.-Evan Sweesy (F) pinned Saavon Mosby, 5:51
