Golden Tornado squad poised for historic season

By John Enrietto Eagle Sports Editor

December 11, 2010 Last Updated: December 11, 2010 01:52 PM High School

Cole Baxter, top, leads an experienced and talented Butler wrestling team into a rearranged section for the 2010-11 season.

The potential is there; now it must be realized.

The Butler wrestling team hits the mats with seasoned veterans Cole Baxter (115-13 career record), Mike Crawford (91-25) and Eric Tuck (80-38). All three are seniors.

They are joined by 32-match winner Blake Caudill, 26-match winner Matt Pribis, 21-match winners Dakoda Collins and Nick Sutton, and 20-match winner Zach Reges, as well as a number of developed younger wrestlers.

The Golden Tornado are poised to make a run at the program's first section title.

“Yeah, that possibility is there,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “That's been the step we're waiting to take.

“Our section has been changed around this year, so things will be a little different.”

Annual nemesis North Allegheny — a team the Golden Tornado has never beaten — was moved to the other side of the section. So was longtime rival Seneca Valley.

Shaler has moved into Butler's side and Mars has bumped up to Class AAA to join the mix.

“Seneca Valley was a standard we chased for a lot of years,” Stoner said. “We've been right with them for the past couple of years and to not be wrestling them this season is disappointing.”

Here is a look at Butler County area wrestling squads this season:

Coach: Scott Stoner, 18th season.Last Year: 20-4Starters Lost: Chris White at 215 pounds (Lock Haven), Mike Scialabba at 189Prospective Lineup: 103 pounds-Cody Houston (Fr.); 112-Blake Caudill (So., 32-6); 119-Nick Sutton (Jr., 21-16); 125-Brandon Bauer (Jr., 10-20) or Zach Reges (Jr., 20-16); 130-Zach Collins (So, 14-16) or Jesse Spohn (So., 1-3); 135-Cody Hartman (Sr., 18-7); 140-Doug DeFrancisis (So.); 145-Eric Tuck (Sr., 27-8) or Dillon Weston (Sr., 3-5); 152-Mike Crawford (Sr., 30-5); 160-Dakoda Collins (Jr., 21-14) or Matt Pribis (Sr., 26-11); 171-Cole Baxter (Sr., 37-3); 189-Carlos Sanchez (Jr., 1-0) or Blaise Wheeler (Sr.); 215-Sanchez or Wheeler; 275-Tim Fulks (Jr., 11-14)Stoner says: “We've got some tough competition for spots at 145 and 160 pounds. ... We've upgraded our tournaments and our goal is to finish among the top three in each.”

Coach: Marty Ruley, 33rd yearLast Year: 3 dual match winsStarters Lost: Ian Abplanalp at 119 (Mercyhurst), Garrett Zarecky at 140, Kirby Buchanon at 135Prospective Lineup: 103-Kenny Bable (Fr.); 112-Shane Magee (Fr.); 119-Jesse Ribera (Jr.); 125-Jared Sample (Fr.); 130-John-Scott Somora (So., 12-12); 135-Cole Cameron (Jr.); 140-Trey Maher (So.); 145-Cody Alderson (Sr.); 152-Kevin Moore (Sr., 25-7); 160-Juan Navia (Sr.) or Jacob Graham (Fr.); 171-Wes Phipps (Jr., 39-3); 189-Harold Price (So.); 215-Devin Limberg (Jr.); 275-Cameron Marlowe (Jr.)Ruley says: “We have some experience and a lot of young kids. Phipps was third in the state at 160 last year. ... I'm looking for good things to happen with a lot of these guys.”

Coach: Mark McLaughlin, fifth yearLast Year: 13-17Starters Lost: Brittany Faust at 125 (Missouri Valley), Grayson Hixon at 119 (Penn State-Behrend), Kevin Green at 145Prospective Lineup: 103-Dillion Holben (Fr.); 112-Allee Oskin (Jr., 15-6) or Joel Hixon (Jr.); 119-Evan Merhaut (Fr.); 125-Blaine Elliott (So.); 130-Justin Grossman (Jr., 12-11) or Col McLaughlin (Fr.); 135-Open; 140-Trevor Hilliard (Fr.); 145-Tyler Hlebiczki (So.); 152-Henry Spring (Sr.); 160-Kody Bracken (Fr.) or Adam Maruscak (Sr.); 171-Robbie Milson (Sr.), Tyler Roush or Brian Mowry; 189-Joe Hlebiczki (Sr., 19-10); 215-Steve Mowry (Sr., 13-8); 275-Ian Adkins (Jr.)McLaughlin says: “We've increased the level of competition in tournaments and we've increased the challenges for our team. There's some good teams in our section and that's another challenge as well.”

Coach: Don Cooley, seventh yearLast Year: 14-15Starters Lost: Dylan Lennen at 135, Billy Matoka at 145Prospective Lineup: 103-Jimmy Ronczco (Fr.); 112-Jake Snyder (Fr.); 119-Kevin Gannon (Fr.); 125-Chad McDade (So.); 130-Andy Selker (So.); 135-Blake Bernard (Jr.); 140-Ryan McMahon (So., 10-15); 145-James Flinn (Jr., 18-15); 152-Open; 160-Christopher Boggs (Sr., 19-7); 171-Ronnie Dakan (Sr., 24-4); 189-Shane Smith (Sr., 20-6); 215-Austin Bitzer (So.); 275-Cameron Cress (Sr., 18-10)Cooley says: “Over the last four years, we've gotten a little better each year. Now that we're in Triple-A, we want to continue to keep climbing.”

Coach: Tom Tomeo, third yearLast Year: 12-12Starters Lost: Nate Cully at 145, Dan Papst at 152 (Thiel), Nick Marchi at 189 (Thiel), Dave Bonetti at 275, Nick Phillips at 135, Jason Hildum at 130Prospective Lineup: 103-Nick Zorai (Fr.); 112-Anthony Latess (Fr.); 119-Jake Perri (Jr.) or Tim O'Shea (Jr.); 125-Aaron Schettler (Sr.); 130-Jimmy Nusser (Jr.); 135-Tyler Schillero (So.), 140-Mike Hildum (Jr.); 145-Tyler Bommer (So.); 152-Matt King (Jr.); 160-Jake Eaton (So.); 171-Zach Eichelberger (Sr.); 189-Joe Duggan (Jr.); 215-Clayton Hoover (So.); 275-Rob Aleva (Jr.)Tomeo says: “We have a young team, a lot of sophomores and juniors. Aaron Schettler is our only returning senior. But I like what we've got to work with.”First-year Slippery Rock coach Tyler Allen could not be reached for comment