BUTLER TWP — Butler used little steps to secure a big win Wednesday night.

Despite getting no pins — or even a major decision — the Golden Tornado wrestling team overcame an 18-0 deficit to claim a 33-21 WPIAL Section 3 fifth-place match over Hampton.

The victory sends Butler (5-3) to the WPIAL team tournament for the eighth consecutive season.

“That's big for us,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “I had a pep talk with the guys before the match, pointing out how they walk past the trophy case every day and see how some of our past teams have reached that tournament and went toe-to-toe with some of the stronger teams around here.

“They had to take some responsibility there. We want Butler wrestling to continue to be associated with the WPIAL team tournament.”

Hampton (15-3) made it difficult on the Tornado early, registering pins in the first three bouts. The dual started at 182 pounds, enabling the Talbots to open with top guns Brandon Olszewski (19-5) and Gus Schmitt (21-3) at 182 and 195, respectively.

Hampton's Tyler Huber led the 220-pound match 1-0 after two periods, but caught Seth McCrea on his back in the third and the Talbots had an 18-0 lead.

“I didn't want the match to start there (at 182),” Hampton coach Joe Bursick said. “It made us show our cards early and I knew what Butler had coming around at the end.”

First, the Tornado had to get started. JD Bojanac (12-3) won by decision at heavyweight, bringing winless 106-pound freshman Isaiah Christy to the mat.

Christy was 0-11 on the season. He never won a match in junior high and he didn't wrestle at all last year.

“I was nervous going out there ... felt a little pressure,” Christy said. “I knew what the score was and I knew the team was counting on me tonight.”

And he delivered.

Christy won by a 5-0 decision, scoring a takedown in the first period, an escape and takedown in the third to break open a tight match.

“I told him tonight could be his night,” Stoner said. “He was facing a similarly inexperienced kid and a young kid like him.”

The home crowd erupted when the final buzzer sounded and Christy's hand was raised.

“That felt pretty darn good,” Christy said, smiling.

Tornado senior 160-pounder Jeremiah Bortmas said Christy's win changed the atmosphere of the match.

“It got the crowd into it and the environment changed completely,” he said. “That win helped our other wrestlers who followed. It pumped everybody up.”

After winning by forfeit at 113, Butler eventually took a 24-18 lead behind decisions by Sam Dietrich, Connor Foust, Scott Dietrich and Caleb Baxter. Sam Dietrich won his match, 4-3.

The Talbots closed within 24-21 before Hank Finan's 3-0 decision at 152 set up Bortmas for a match-clinching victory.

“Someone had to close it out and if it's me, I'm fine with that,” Bortmas said.

Bortmas (15-2) scored a first-period takedown, took a 2-1 lead into the third period and decided the issue by taking down Nick Gust (15-9) with 37 seconds left.

“I try not to think about the score situation and just wrestle, but you're aware of it,” Bortmas said. “I was up against a good kid and had to be careful.”

Hampton missed qualifying for the WPIAL team tourney for the second straight year.

“We're in a bit of rebuilding mode, but we've been finding ways to win duals,” Bursick said. “We lost all of the swing matches tonight and that was the difference.

“It does sting not advancing into that tournament.”

Butler competes in the Chartiers Valley Duals Saturday before taking on another lower-seed team qualifier in the WPIALs Monday or Tuesday.

Wednesday's win was the 294th of Stoner's 22-year career.

“We had to scrap for it,” Stoner said. “They (Hampton) made us work hard for it and our kids responded.”

Butler 33, Hampton 21

(Match started at 182 pounds)

106-Isaiah Christy (B) dec. Daxon Erynei, 5-0; 113-Shane Culp (B) by forfeit; 120-Sam Dietrich (B) dec. Jacob Seymour, 4-3; 126-Connor Foust (B) dec. Alex Orkwis, 6-0; 132-Scott Dietrich (B) dec. Patrick Keyser, 7-2; 138-Caleb Baxter (B) dec. Joe Lehman, 9-3; 145-John Keyser (H) dec. Donovan Malovich, 5-4; 152-Hank Finan (B) dec. Andrew Siford, 3-0; 160-Jeremiah Bortmas (B) dec. Nick Gust, 5-2; 170-Tom Greaves (B) dec. Chad Sherer, 6-2; 182-Brandon Olszewski (H) pinned Nick Roth, 3:12; 195-Gus Schmitt (H) pinned Justin Johnson, 3:42; 220-Tyler Huber (H) pinned Seth McCrea, 5:12; Hwt.-JD Bojanac (B) dec. Erik Steinmetz, 9-4