Butler wrestlers tally 8 pins in beating Mars

Butler wrestlers tally 8 pins in beating Mars

BUTLER TWP — It may be the season of giving, but Butler's wrestling team spent Wednesday night taking away.
The Tornado tallied eight pins and won 13 of the 14 bouts in a 70-6 win over visiting Mars.
Ten of those victories featured a Butler takedown in the first 35 seconds.
“We want to be able to do that, no matter the caliber of team we are facing,” said Butler coach Scott Stoner of his wrestlers' dominance early on in matches. “We just got back from the King of the Mountain Tournament and it opened our guys' eyes to what kind of talent is out there.”
Butler's pins went to Korey Caudill (112 pounds), Zach Reges (125), Zach Collins (135), Jesse Spohn (140), Eric Tuck (145), Mike Crawford (152), Carlos Sanchez (215) and Tim Fulks (285).
“We made a lot of little mistakes tonight,” said Stoner. “I know the score was lopsided, but I'm looking at this from a different point of view from everybody else in this gym.
“I need to challenge myself to make this team better.”
The night's best matchup occurred at 130 pounds between Butler's Xavier Bennett and Mars' Andy Selker.
Bennett managed a quick takedown and carried a 4-2 edge into the second period, where an escape and another takedown gave him a 7-2 lead.
Selker, a sophomore, answered in the third period with a reversal, an escape and a takedown of his own to tie the score at seven.
Neither grappler gained an edge in the first two overtimes. Finally, Bennett was awarded three near-fall points to claim a 10-7 victory.
“Xavier has some natural ability, but he also has some habits that can get him in trouble,” said Stoner. “We're trying to break those. He's extremely powerful.”
Mars coach Don Cooley was impressed with Selker's comeback.
“He's a Selker. Just like his (older) brother Luke, his work ethic is unmatched,” Cooley said.
“After that third overtime, he's standing there hardly breathing at all and talking to me about the match. That shows you what kind of shape he's in.”
At 171 pounds, Butler's Cole Baxter defeated Ronnie Dakan 10-2.
“It may go unnoticed, but Ronnie battled a very good wrestler tonight,” said Cooley. “He's had trouble in the past against worthy opponents, but I'm proud of his effort tonight.”
Mars' lone win came with Shane Smith's first-period pin of Matt Pribis at 189 pounds.
Smith held a 3-2 lead before the fall.
“Shane put himself in a good position tonight,” said Cooley. “He's come a long way and is starting to believe in himself.”
Both Mars (0-2) and Butler (2-0) will compete at the Wheeling Park Duals Dec. 28-29.
Butler 70, Mars 6
103 pounds: Cody Houston (B) pinned Jimmy Ronczco, 3:02*; 112: Korey Caudill (B) pinned Jake Snyder, :31; 119: Nick Sutton (B) technical fall over Kevin Gannon, 17-1*; 125: Zach Reges (B) pinned Chad McDade, 3:34; 130: Xavier Bennett (B) dec. Andy Selker, 10-7 (3OT); 135: Zach Collins (B) pinned Blake Bernard, 3:15; 140: Jesse Spohn (B) pinned Greg Waslo, 1:11; 145: Eric Tuck (B) pinned Ryan McMahon, 3:21; 152: Mike Crawford (B) pinned Jacob Wright, 1:19; 160: Dakoda Collins (B) dec. Chris Boggs, 7-1; 171: Cole Baxter (B) major dec. Ronnie Dakan, 10-2; 189: Shane Smith (M) pinned Matt Pribis, :49; 215: Carlos Sanchez (B) pinned Austin Bitzer, :42; 285: Tim Fulks (B) pinned Cameron Cress, :49.
Notes: Match began at 103 pounds ... Though bouts took place at 103 and 119 pounds, they were officially ruled as exhibitions due to Mars' wrestlers not making weight. Butler was awarded forfeit wins in both instances.