NORTH HUNTINGDON — And then there were two.

Butler’s Dakoda Collins and Blake Caudill each earned narrow victories Friday night en route to the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Tournament at Norwin High School.

At 113 pounds, Caudill (33-3) scored a reverse in the final moments to claim a 2-0 victory over Upper St. Clair’s Garrett Walnoha (25-9).

“I didn’t mean for it to be like that, but I was wrestling real conservative and it came down to getting a takedown,” said Caudill. “It feels great. I’m just pumped and ready for tomorrow.”

Collins (35-6) also enjoyed a dramatic triumph. The 152-pound senior trailed 1-0 to Ringgold’s Devin Fallenstein (34-9) heading into the third period, but scored an escape to knot the match before a takedown with 38 seconds left paved the way for a 3-2 win.

“Dakoda wrestled classic Dakoda-style wrestling,” said Butler coach Scott Stoner. “He kept the match slow, kept everything under control, kept things in front of him and won the match.

“That’s what we expect him to do.”

Collins is looking forward to the next challenge.

“I accomplished my goals to make it here to WPIALs and make to the semifinals,” Collins said. “Now I have to give it all I got to beat the next kid.”

Collins will face Zach Voytek (41-3) of Greensburg Salem in the semifinals, while Caudill is matched up against Canon-McMillan’s Dalton Macri (38-2).

“Both had to work very hard to get it,” said Stoner. “Blake did not wrestle well. If he wrestles that poorly tomorrow, he will not go through to the final.

“He found a way,” Stoner added. “Whether it be 1-0 or a fall or a technical fall, he’s still advancing, but we cannot have that kind of performance tomorrow.”

Nick Sutton (120 pounds), Zach Reges (132) and Zach Weaver (182) all suffered defeats in quarterfinal action and will wrestle in the second round of consolations today.

The five quarterfinalists along with Jesse Spohn (138) and Korey Caudill (126) gives the Golden Tornado seven wrestlers still alive in the tournament. However, Stoner wishes there were a few more.

Will Bortmas (160), Ryan Hannon (170), Nick Gibson (195) and Ben McKnight (220) had their seasons come to an end Friday.

“I’m a little disappointed in our upper weights,” said Stoner. “Ryan Hannon, Willie Bortmas and Nick Gibson all had winnable matches. ... They just made a lot of basic mistakes.”

McKnight, a senior who came out for the team two years ago, impressed his coach in defeat.

“He really did a great job for us this year in improving and developing. We got basically all we could out of him,” Stoner explained. “He really put a lot of heart and desire into it.

“I could coach Butler kids like that all my life.”

Austin Leon is the last wrestler standing for Seneca Valley.

The 132-pound freshman edged Indiana’s Zack Long 2-1 in the first round of consolations.

The only other Raider with hopes of extending his season was 138-pound junior Tyler Schillero, who endured an 8-3 loss to Jesse Giallonardo of Hempfield in a first-round consolation match.

The final hope for Mars was Richie Boeh, but the 113-pound freshman was also eliminated in the first round of consolations after a 4-2 defeat at the hands of Chartiers Valley’s Mark Tharp. He finished the campaign with a 24-6 record.

“I think he had a good match. Technique-wise, I think he was right there,” said Mars coach Ray Machusko. “For a freshman, getting to this level is a pretty big feat. He puts the time in, he deserves to be here and it’s a shame that he’s out right now.”

Saturday’s action began at 10 a.m. with the second round of consolations, followed by the semifinals and third round of consolations at noon. The top-three finishers in each weight class advance to states.