Butler matmen handle Knoch

By Mike Kilroy 
Eagle Staff Writer 


JEFFERSON TWP — Hunter Oskin got the Knoch wrestling team off on the right foot at 106 pounds. 
The middle weights for Butler, though, flexed their muscles. 
What resulted was a 53-9 win for the Golden Tornado Wednesday night. 
From the 132 pound match down to 182 pounds, Butler got four pins and a major decision. 
Sam Dietrich earned a pin at 132 in just 1:35. Scott Dietrich (138) earned a 17-5 major decision and Caleb Baxter (152) and Christian Sequete (170) also earned pins. 
Baxter's came in just 38 seconds. 
“We expected that out of them,” said Butler coach Scott Stoner. “Sammy is a guy who needed a win tonight. He hasn't had many this year and he basically has to come through for us in the next couple of weeks.” 
The tone was perhaps set for Butler at 113 pounds where Isaiah Christy battled for three grueling periods with Knoch's Bill Hockenberry and hung on for a 9-8 win. 
Christy, who is just a sophomore, impressed Stoner. 
“I though Isaiah Christy wrestled the best for us tonight,” Stoner said. “He's been improving constantly in the room and really working hard. He is getting some focus and learning wrestling instead of just pushing people around. He's just halfway through his second year and we're finally starting to see some actual wrestling technique.” 
Stoner was most impressed by the way Christy handled himself after falling behind. 
“He didn't get rattled once he gave up the first takedown,” Stoner said. “He kept wrestling and did a lot of really good things.” 
While Stoner saw a lot of things he liked, he also saw some things he didn't. 
“I would have liked to see a little more assertiveness,” Stoner said. “But we got some wins.” 
Butler (4-2) had been off a week before the match against Knoch. 
The Knights were coming off a shutout loss to Kiski Area Tuesday. 
Knoch coach Steve Carney said he saw a lot of good things against Butler. 
“Last night we didn't win a match, but we took a couple into overtime and were battling,” Carney said. “We're a fairly young team and we're still learning. We're getting our mat sense. What we saw tonight — we kept our heads up and we're battling and learning with each match.” 
Oskin's decision gave Knoch a 3-0 lead out of the gate. 
The Knights (2-7) also got a win by pin by Max Freyermuth at 145 pounds. 
“There's good things happening,” Carney said. “Little Hunter (Oskin), he wanted to get us going and he did that. And Max Freyermuth, he's wrestling well. 
“In every match there are small battles that we are winning,” Carney added. “We know that. We're getting better.” 
Butler hopes to get better before a key section clash with Seneca Valley next week. 
The win over Knoch helped put the Golden Tornado into a better playoff position, but they need a win over the rival Raiders. 
“It's really important in the section standings,” Stoner said. “We still have to win a few more matches and obviously the match against Seneca is very important. They already beat North Allegheny this year. Hopefully we'll be ready for it. We'll see what happens.” 
Butler 53, Knoch 9 
(Match started at 106 pounds) 
106-Hunter Oskin (K) dec. Brandon Hoffman 9-8; 113-Isaiah Christy (B) dec. Bill Hockenberry 9-8; 120-Double forfeit; 126-Shane Culp (B) by forfeit; 132-Sam Dietrich (B) pinned Chris Butler 1:35; 138-Scott Dietrich (B) maj. dec. Lucas Laughner 17-5; 145-Max Freyermuth (K) pinned Michael Vought 2:49; 152-Caleb Bowser (B) pinned Noah Kison :38; 160-Hank Finan (B) dec. Eric Green 5-4; 170-Christian Sequete (B) pinned Matt Walter 3:54; 182-Thomas Greaves (B) pinned Alex Walter 4:10; 195-Justin Johnson (B) dec. Dalton Ashton 3-2; 220-Seth McCrea maj. dec. Cameron Ashton 9-0; Hwt.-Saavon Mosby (B) by forfeit