BUTLER TWP — When it comes to executing moves on a wrestling mat, Santino Sloboda has been there, done that.

Almost every day.

Seemingly hundreds of times.

The Butler resident became a six-time state placer recently, taking second place at the recent Keystone State Championships.

He's previously placed eighth twice, fifth, third and second one time each in the state tournament.

Oh, yeah ... he's in seventh grade.

“He just never gets tired of it,” Santino's father, Brian Sloboda, said. “During the season, he's either wrestling or practicing six or seven days a week.

“He'll practice for the junior high team, come home, have dinner, change clothes, and go off to wrestling club practice.”

Santino was 22-0 for the Butler Junior High team this season. He also does club wrestling at OMP in Evans City and Quest in Wexford.

His father estimates his overall record on the mat to be 50-1 this season. The lone loss was a 5-3 decision in the state championship match.

“Santino didn't give up a takedown all season until that last match,” Butler Junior High coach Donnie Geibel said. “He's a little unorthodox with his style.

“He's ambidextrous, for one, and he leads with his left leg. That is very unusual in wrestling. Opponents aren't used to countering that and Santino knows how to take advantage.

“He won only a couple of matches by decision this year. Everything else was either by technical fall or pin,” Geibel added.

Burning out on the sport?

No need to worry with this kid.

“We always guard against that because, yeah, it can happen,” Geibel said. “We tell parents never to force a kid to go to a tournament. It's only if they want to go.”

Santino hasn't turned one down yet — and he's been involved in wrestling since age 6.

“Going to practice is my favorite part of it,” Santino said of wrestling. “I like working on moves, getting good at them.”

“(Butler youth wrestling coach) Paul Roth got him started,” Sloboda's father said. “I knew Paul when Santino was little. He was a rambunctious kid. Paul said I needed to get him into wrestling.

“We had him try it and he's loved it from day one.”

In fact, Santino is already looking toward his wrestling future. He can't wait until his freshman year, when he can join the Golden Tornado varsity.

Santino wrestled in the 82-pound weight class this season. The smallest high school weight class is 106.

“I know I have to gain some weight, but I'll be ready,” Santino said.

One number stands out in his mind.

160.

That is Butler graduate Cole Baxter's Butler varsity wrestling career wins record. And Santino wants it.

“I don't know if I can get it, but I think I can get close to it,” Santino said. “I feel like I can win a state championship in high school.”

No Golden Tornado wrestler has done that.

Butler varsity coach Scott Stoner won't bet against this seventh grader.

“He's the best wrestler we've had come up through our youth program since Cole,” Stoner said. “You see a little kid with great talent and work ethic like he's got ... you can't wait for him to arrive.

“Santino has tremendous mat savvy. He knows when he's out of position and corrects it quickly. He has that unconventional leg style and does a lot of non-typical things on the mat.”

Participating in club wrestling for so long has benefitted Santino as well.

“He's been in (wrestling) rooms with better kids. Those challenges have paid off,” Stoner said. “Santino has been in major tournaments, wrestled at big events. They don't phase him. He knows how to handle them.”

Santino was Butler's only state placer. He won the Southwest Region qualifying championship at 82 pounds.

Other Butler wrestlers who qualified for the Keystone State Championships were Noah Ruby at 135 pounds and Ethan Deless at 160 in the 11-12 age division, Kase Chopp at 107 pounds, Troy Ritson and Legend Wilkinson at 140, Jaydon Mattingly at 157 at the junior high level.