BUTLER TWP — Award stands are no big deal to Ike Collins.

He’s used to stepping up.

Ike, a 10U, 95-pound Butler youth wrestler, recently placed second in that division at the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling (PJW) state tournament, hosted by the University of Pittsburgh’s Petersen Events Center. He lost to Brody Brown of Chartiers Valley in the title match.

But losing on a wrestling mat isn’t something this kid does very often.

“He’s competed in 18 tournaments since October,” Ike’s father, Matt Collins, said. “The kid never gets tired of it. Out of those 18 events, he’s finished first 10 times, second twice and third once.

“At the PJW tournament, he beat a kid in the semifinals who beat him before. He’s very into the technical side of wrestling and learns as he goes.”

Ike allowed only one point in his first four matches at the PJW state tourney. He won by decisions of 6-0, 1-0, 3-0 and 5-1 before bowing in the finals. He was 63-5 overall this season.

“We basically went to a tournament every weekend, usually within a two-hour radius of home,” Mr. Collins said. “He loves it. He’ll come home from practice and watches YouTube videos of college wrestlers. It’s all part of him wanting to get better.”

One of Ike’s older brothers, Ryan Collins, is a wrestler as well. He did not compete this season because of a shoulder injury.

Ike is following in his footsteps.

“He’s pretty intense for someone his age,” Butler High School wrestling coach Scott Stoner said. “Ike is really into it. He’s become a big fan of (PIAA runner-up and Butler freshman) Santino Sloboda and asks him to critique and analyze his matches quite often.

“Santino’s good with him. They’ve talked a lot. He’ll send Santino videos of his matches and they’ll go over them together.”

“Santino has taught me some moves I’ve been able to use in matches,” Ike said. “The more moves I know, the more options I have when I’m on the mat.”

T.J. McCance, one of Butler’s youth wrestling coaches and a member of the Golden Tornado’s 100-win club during his high school days, has worked closely with Ike. McCance’s son, 75-pound wrestler Isaac, is good friends with Ike.

“They wrestle together in the (practice) room quite a bit,” McCance said. “Ike is a fun kid to coach because he’s one of those sponges, a kid who soaks everything in. He picks things up incredibly quick. You go over something with him once and he’s got it.

“Because he’s so technically sound, I want to work with him on the mat awareness side of wrestling ... clock management, knowing the situation, when to take a stalling call, things like that.”

Ike says wrestling is his favorite sport. It’s not his only sport.

“I like winning,” he said of his performance on the mat. “Just having fun. I can beat kids up and not get in any trouble.”

Ike is a pitcher and shortstop in youth baseball as well. He used to play lacrosse, but gave it up because it conflicted with baseball.

McCance is happy Ike participates in other sports.

“Sometimes it’s good to take a break, switch gears, do something else,” the coach said. “He’s into baseball and that’s great. Ike doesn’t need to do wresting around the calendar. He’s well ahead of the curve already.”

His father agreed.

“A lot of this just comes natural to him,” Mr. Collins said.

And when it doesn’t, Ike works on a skill until he gets it.

“He’s showing more technique at that age than most (wrestlers) I’ve seen,” Stoner said. “He can’t get enough of it.”

Before baseball began, Ike was at wrestling practice three nights a week in addition to all of those tournaments.

“I get tired, a little sore ... But it’s worth it,” he said.