Work in Progress
JACKSON TWP — The varsity wrestling teams at Butler and Seneca Valley are both dealing with a lot of youth and inexperience on the roster.
However, the Raiders’ green lineup showed it is well ahead of the Golden Tornado.
SV (4-2) tallied six pins in a 49-19 victory over Butler in the Raiders’ William Paul Gymnasium on Wednesday.
SV’s wrestlers managed an early takedown in many of the bouts.
“We want our guys to get that initial contact, start scoring points by getting the first takedown,” said SV coach Kevin Wildrick. “We’re a pretty young team, with a few vets like Connor Smith and J.T. Mallery leading the way.
“We’ve wrestled tough in the early going this season. Right now, we’re working on a lot of little things that will help our guys improve.”
Jack Tofanelli (127 pounds), Angel Kristo (152), Brody Pirt (160), Brooks Beres (172), Tom Wuycheck (215) and Roman Royal (285) all earned pins for the Raiders, who jumped out to a 39-0 lead before Butler’s Nicholas Savannah earned a major decision at 107 pounds.
Sullivan Stutz and Kase Chopp tallied pins for the Golden Tornado (2-5).
“We have five starters out with injury right now and that makes all the difference,” said Butler coach Scott Stoner. “We’re throwing bodies out there, trying to teach them a few moves and hoping they don’t get pinned, but they’re not ready. They’re not close to being in the lineup under normal circumstances.”
Several SV wrestlers will compete at the Powerade Tournament at Canon-McMillan High School, beginning Dec. 29.
Butler will compete in the Southmoreland Duals next week.
Girls Wrestling
Seneca Valley 42, Butler 24
The Golden Tornado won four of the five bouts that were held, but forfeits lifted SV to the team win.
Scoring pins for Butler were Brin Zehmisch (112 pounds), Kaylee Christie (124), Anastasia Manchester (136) and Kaitlynn Plopi (148).
“There’s things we need to improve on, particularly footwork and aggressiveness during tie-ups, but in the matches we wrestled tonight, I was pleased,” said Butler coach Nathan Bottiger. “I thought our girls did well, especially against some of Seneca’s experienced girls.”
Butler star senior Ana Malovich did not wrestle due to a concussion. She is expected to return to the mat in a couple of weeks.
Seneca Valley’s lone win in competition was a pin from Natalie Tofanelli at 130 pounds. The Raiders have 13 girls on the varsity roster.
“What I’m most excited about is the improvement I’ve seen in the girls since last year,” said SV coach Jessica Leighty. “I think it’s going to be an exciting season.”
Boys
Seneca Valley 49, Butler 19
107 pounds-Nicholas Savannah (B) major dec. Riley Smith; 114-Sullivan Stutz (B) pinned Vincent Garrastazu, 1:35; 121-Santino Sloboda (B) dec. Connor Smith, 7-4; 127- Jack Tofanelli (SV) pinned Ira Stiefel, :25; 133-Zach Hill (SV) major dec. Leo Iarrapino, 12-1; 139-Kase Chopp (B) pinned James Bidoli, 1:37; 145-Noah Rieger (SV) dec. Brycen Seth, 2-0; 152-Angel Kristo (SV) pinned Ryan Curry, 2:53; 160-Brody Pirt (SV) pinned Devin Loy, :24; 172-Brooks Beres (SV) pinned Dawson Davis, :57; 189-Corey Wolfe (SV) won by forfeit; 215-Tom Wuycheck (SV) pinned Luke Zanaglio; 285-Roman Royal (SV) pinned Stone Spack
Girls
Seneca Valley 42, Butler 24
100 pounds-Sara Breeger (SV) won by forfeit; 106-no bout; 112-Brin Zehmisch (B) pinned Everly Harrell, 1:56; 118-Izzy Leighty (SV) won by forfeit; 124-Kaylee Christie (B) pinned Rowan Myers, 2:58; 130-Natalie Tofanelli (SV) pinned Melissa Arcuri, :35; 136-Anastasia Manchester (B) pinned Maddee Fischer, 2:58; 142-no bout; 148-Kaitlynn Plopi (B) pinned Carriss Avondo, 4:20; 155-Hannah Hornick (SV) won by forfeit; 170-Kenley Alexander (SV) won by forfeit; 190-Anna Hardt (SV) won by forfeit; 285-Haley Hunter (SV) won by forfeit
