Butler wrestlers roll past Planets
January 16, 2020 High School Wrestling
Butler's
Nate McMaster takes down Mars' Davis Luedtke in their 145-pound match Wednesday
night. McMaster pinned Luedtke in 2:47 and the Golden Tornado scored a 66-12
dual match win.
SEB FOLTZ/BUTLER EAGLE
BUTLER TWP — If the Butler wrestling team
was looking for momentum, it found it.
The Golden Tornado wound up winning four of
six dual matches at the prestigious Virginia Duals last weekend, then cruised
to a 72-9 win at New Castle Tuesday night.
Butler returned home Wednesday evening and
defeated Mars, 66-12, in the Intermediate High School gym.
“These were two lighter opponents (in terms
of wrestling numbers) and I recognize that,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said.
“But all we can do is stay focused and get better on the mat.
“I feel we've done that over the past week.
And this is the time to do it.”
Butler (11-3) does not see action again
until next Wednesday at North Allegheny for the section duals.
Butler won five matches by pin against the
Planets (1-4): Nick Schaukowitsch at 113 pounds, Colton Spohn at 132, Nate
McMaster at 145, Hunter Neff at 170 and Cooper Baxter at 182. Baxter improved
to 19-3 on the year and recorded his pinfall — his 11th of the season — in just
55 seconds.
Levi Donnel improved to 20-1 on the season
with a 7-0 decision of Brandon Krul at 120 pounds.
“It was good to see Levi get a match
tonight,” Stoner said. “I thought they (Mars) might skip over him, but they
sent their kid out there to compete and I appreciate that.”
The Planets forfeited five weight classes,
but recorded a pair of pins for their only points of the match. Christian
Scheller (17-8) won by fall at 138 pounds and Griffin Frazier closed the night
with a pin at 106.
Frazier lost a 5-0 lead in the final seconds
of the first period when the Tornado's Aidan Plopi reversed him and scored
three near-fall points. But Frazier scored the pin 27 seconds into the second
period.
“That was a good way for us to end,” Mars
coach Bob Jox said. “Griffin's been wrestling for only two months and that was
his third pin.
“He's paying attention to the coaches and
he's learning. That's what hard work can do.”
Rocco Darocy — who was pinned by
Schaukowitsch — is 13-9 at 113 pounds for Mars. Krul is 12-9 at 120 and Sean
McElhinny is 13-11 at 160. Nate McDonald decisioned him, 6-3, Wednesday.
“We're focusing on individuals right now at
this level, but our junior high lineup is full,” Jox said. “The future looks
bright for us.
“Butler is a good team that's getting better
every day. We wish them luck in the upcoming playoffs.”
Though he won by forfeit Wednesday, Butler
195-pound senior Caleb Hartung improved to 19-4. He shares the team lead of 12
pins with Donnel and 152-pounder Steven Green.
“Caleb is putting together a great year,”
Stoner said. “He wants to wrestle in college. He's looking at Gannon as a
possibility. I know he's going to be moving on somewhere.”
Butler 66, Mars 12
(Match started at 113 pounds)
106-Griffin Frazier (M) pinned Aiden Plopi,
2:27; 113-Nick Schaukowitsch (B) pinned Rocco Darocy, 1:44; 120-Levi Donnel (B)
dec. Brandon Krul, 7-0; 126-Clayton Dressler (B) by forfeit; 132-Colton Spohn
(B) pinned Eli Wright, 3:47; 138-Christian Scheller (M) pinned Dominic
Vivirito, 4:45; 145-Nat McMaster (B) pinned Davis Luedtke, 2:47; 152-Steven
Green (B) by forfeit; 160-Nate McDonald (B) dec. Sean McElhinny, 6-3;
170-Hunter Neff (B) Logan Santa, 5:41; 182-Cooper Baxter (B) pinned Charlie
Luedtke, :55; 195-Caleb Hartung (B) by forfeit; 220-Jake Pomykata (B) by
forfeit; Hwt.-Tyler Soldati (B) by forfeit