FOX CHAPEL — Call it living on the edge.

Butler's wrestlers did a good job of that Saturday night during the Class 3-AAA Section Tournament at Fox Chapel High School.

Ryan Hannon won the Golden Tornado's lone section title despite trailing 2-1 entering the third period of his 170-pound championship match against North Allegheny's Clay Byerly.

Five other Butler matmen — Xavier Bennett at 138 pounds, Will Bortmas at 160, Zach Weaver at 182, Nick Gibson at 195 and Damian Wheeler at heavyweight — extended their seasons by winning fifth-place matches to qualify for the WPIAL Tournament.

“This is the hand we're dealt with and we're going to play it,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said prior to the final round.

Hannon scored the first point of his match with Byerly via a second-period escape, but was taken down with 30 seconds left in the frame. He began the third period in the top position.

“I tried to turn him on his back, but it wasn't happening. I couldn't do it,” Hannon said of the early seconds of the final period. “I had to let him go.”

Hannon gave Byerly an escape point with 1:24 left in the match. He took him down to tie the bout with 38 seconds left, then pinned him with 13 seconds left.

“It was a risky move called a broomstick, a single-leg, reaching around the body ... it's a five-point move if you hit it,” Hannon said.

“I was able to put him on his back and finish it. It felt good. I wanted that win for myself and the team.”

The win was Hannon's 30th of the season, joining Tornado teammates Blake and Korey Caudill, Cody Houston and Weaver in the 30-win club this season.

Hannon had one of only two pins in the section finals. The other belonged to Dom Forys of North Allegheny, who pinned Butler's Connor Foust in the 113-pound finale.

Two other Tornado wrestlers reached the section finals, but Korey Caudill dropped an 11-3 decision to North Hills' Tyler Walker at 126 and Houston dropped a 19-9 verdict to the Indians' Drew Walker at 132.

The Walker brothers are a combined 59-5 on the season.

“Those guys are studs and Forys placed third in the state last year,” Stoner said. “We had some tough draws there. Ryan's win was big, especially getting a pin in the finals. That doesn't happen often.”

Butler qualified 11 wrestlers to the WPIAL tourney, which begins Thursday at Norwin. Blake Caudill placed third at 120 pounds after winning section titles the previous two years.

“That was a tough weight class this year,” Stoner said. “It shows how this section keeps getting stronger.”

Mars qualified four wrestlers for the WPIAL meet. All four qualifiers — Richie Boeh at 126, Ryan McMahon at 160, Austin Bitzer at 195 and Johan VanWyke at 220 — placed fourth in the section.

Two Planets, Andrew Schultheis at 132 and Trey Turnblacer at heavyweight, lost fifth-place bouts to end their campaigns. Wheeler pinned Turnblacer in 27 seconds.

Seneca Valley advanced three wrestlers, including third-place finisher Ben Lynch at 113 pounds. Twin brother Alex placed fifth at 106 and Austin Leon was fifth at 145.

The Lynch brothers have combined for 48 wins this year as freshmen.

“They're exceptional kids and they both weigh in at 106,” Raiders coach Kevin Wildrick said. “One of them has to bump up to 113.

“Getting them both through will be a great experience for them. They should have great careers.”

Four SV wrestlers — Nick Zoria, Anthony Latess, Tyler Schillero and Tyler Miller — lost fifth-place matches.

“With the addition of Central Catholic, our section has gotten a lot deeper,” Wildrick said. “It's a grind to get through this thing.”

Knoch has never qualified more than two wrestlers to the WPIAL tourney and did so again Saturday, advancing Blaine Elliott (fourth) at 132 pounds and Ben Nowicki (fifth) at 170. Brian Mowry was involved in a 2-2 tie with Gibson in the 195 fifth-place match, but was suddenly pinned with 14 seconds left in the first period.

“He put his head down and the kid caught him,” Knoch coach Mark McLaughlin said. “It was as simple as that.

“We wrestled average today, very average. And we got average results.”

Section 3-AAA Finals

(Top 5 to WPIAL tourney)

Championship Finals

106-Gage Curry (North Hills) dec. Scott Stossel (North Allegheny), 11-4; 113-Dom Forys (North Allegheny) pinned Connor Foust (Butler), 2:30; 120-Vincenzo Joseph (Central Cath.) dec. Logan Heinl (Shaler), 4-3; 126-Tyler Walker (North Hills) dec. Korey Caudill (Butler), 11-3; 132-Drew Walker (North Hills) dec. Cody Houston (Butler), 19-9; 138-Jesse Rodgers (North Allegheny) dec. Justin Alexander (Central Cath.), 2-0; 145-Chris Nuss (Central Cath.) dec. Kevin Synan (Hampton), 6-4; 152-Brendan Burnham (Pine-Richland) dec. Kyle Coniker (Central Cath.), 4-3; 160-Jonathan Avon (North Hills) dec. Ben Schweiger (North Allegheny), 5-3 in OT; 170-Ryan Hannon (Butler) pinned Clay Byerly (North Allegheny), 5:47; 182-Alex DeCiantis (North Allegheny) dec. Justin Aippersbach (Hampton), 20-7; 195-Jacob Hart (Hampton) dec. Alen Turcinhodzic (North Hills), 6-2; 220-Zach DeLuca (Central Cath.) dec. Noah Shulman (Hampton), 5-1; Hwt.-Pat Kline (Pine-Richland) dec. Tyler Lever (Fox Chapel), 10-2

Consolation Finals

106-Mike Heinl (Shaler) dec. Jared Rice (Fox Chapel), 4-2; 113-Ben Lynch (Seneca Valley) dec. Alex Orkwis (Hampton), 13-0; 120-Blake Caudill (Butler) dec. Tommy Zummo (Plum), 6-5; 126-Jordan McGonigle (Shaler) dec. Richie Boeh (Mars), 6-2; 132-Austin Heinl (Shaler) dec. Blaine Elliott (Knoch), 7-2; 138-Eric Green (Plum) dec. Chris Olszewski (Hampton), 3-2; 145-Vince Leschak (North Allegheny) dec. David Tuzikow (North Hills), 5-3; 152-Zach Kocak (Hampton) dec. Zach Martin (Plum), 3-2; 160-Collin Siford (Hampton) dec. Ryan McMahon (Mars), 5-1; 170-Brandon Olszewski (Hampton) dec. Elliot King (North Hills), 10-1; 182-Nathan Turchick (Plum) pinned Rich Giovanetti (Fox Chapel), 2:36; 195-Zach Smith (North Allegheny) pinned Austin Bitzer (Mars), 1:33; 220-Jake DiGuilio (Plum) dec. Johan VanWyke (Mars), 11-1; Hwt.-Dan Watson (North Allegheny) dec. Stephen Turchick (Plum), 2-1

5th-6th Place Matches

106-Alex Lynch (Seneca Valley) dec. Patrick Keyser (Hampton), 9-0; 113-Bryce DeLeon (Pine-Richland) dec. Aaron Rouda (Shaler), 4-2; 120-Sal Peluso (North Allegheny) dec. Nick Zoria (Seneca Valley), 2-0; 126-Blynn Shideler (North Allegheny) dec. Anthony Latess (Seneca Valley), 7-2; 132-Joe Lehman (Hampton) dec. Andrew Schulthies (Mars), 2-0 ; 138-Xavier Bennett (Butler) dec. Derrin Dietz (Fox Chapel), 2-1; 145-Austin Leon (Seneca Valley) dec. Jeremiah Bortmas (Butler), 7-4; 152-Tyler Heasley (Fox Chapel) dec. Tyler Schillero (Seneca Valley), 5-2; 160-Will Bortmas (Butler) dec. Hunter Fenk (Plum), 6-2; 170-Ben Nowicki (Knoch) injury default over Andrew McRandal (Plum); 182-Zach Weaver (Butler) pinned Sam Fallon (Central Cath.), 3:04; 195-Nick Gibson (Butler) pinned Brian Mowry (Knoch), 1:46; 220-Michael Bonsmann (North Hills) dec. Tyler Miller (Seneca Valley), 6-3; Hwt.-Damian Wheeler (Butler) pinned Trey Turnblacer (Mars), :27