North Hills consistency stops Butler on mats
BUTLER TWP — Butler enjoyed a run of three consecutive pins.
North Hills enjoyed a run of consistent wrestling otherwise, winning all but one of the other matches in rolling to a 48-23 dual match victory over the Golden Tornado on Wednesday night in the Butler Intermediate gym.
The Indians (7-1) have only one wrestler in their lineup with a losing record. North Hills’ lone dual match loss this season is a close decision to Fox Chapel.
The match started at 189 pounds, where the Tornado (2-6) forfeited. It was one of three Butler forfeits on the night.
“Our regular 215-pounder wasn’t here tonight,” North Hills coach Jose Martinez said. “We could have bumped our 189-pounder up, but Dan (Kunesky) is our back-up at 215 and he’s been practicing hard all year.
“He deserved a shot, so we gave it to him.”
Kunesky surrendered an early takedown to Butler’s Lucas Zanaglio, but came back to secure a pin at the 1:44 mark of the opening period.
“We won that first match by forfeit, but it was important for us to get jump-started by winning the first match on the mat,” Martinez said. “That’s why Kunesky is our wrestler of the night.”
The Indians jumped out to a 33-5 lead — Butler’s five points courtesy of a technical fall by unbeaten Santino Sloboda at 114 pounds — before the Tornado reeled off their three pins in a row.
Leo Iarrapino (16-8) got things started at 133 pounds with a pin in 1:56. Kase Chopp followed suit at 139, pinning his opponent in 1:40. Chopp is 16-2 on the year with 13 of his victories coming by pinfall.
“Kase has been coming along,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “He did a great job at the Southmoreland Tournament and was in position to win there. He was tied 5-5 with a tough kid from Baldwin.
“Kase went for it, got caught and put on his back. I don’t mind that. He was aggressive on the mat.”
Gavin Rush (9-5), battling injury all year at 145, completed the run of pins by putting his foe to the mat in 2:36.
Dawson Davis (4-11) nearly scored a surprise win for Butler at 160 pounds, leading Santo Cerminaro (9-3) 2-1 after two periods. Cerminaro scored a reversal with 1:22 left in the match and held on for a 3-2 decision.
“We could have won that one,” Stoner said. “We got put on our back and didn’t have an answer from there.
“Our guys who won tonight ... They’ve been wrestling during the summer and compete beyond the (high school) season. That’s the result you get.”
Sloboda (15-0) faced Giovanie Schipani (11-3) at 114 and controlled the match throughout, building a 19-4 lead to stop the bout with 23 seconds left.
“He didn’t get the pin, but 19-4 is a domination,” Martinez said. “That kid (Sloboda) is that good. He’s probably going to win the WPIAL.”
The Tornado return to action next Wednesday, traveling to North Allegheny.
North Hills 48, Butler 23
(match started at 189)
107 pounds-Brady Rohaly (NH) dec. Nick Savannah, 6-2; 114-Satio Sloboda (B) tech fall (19-4) over Giovanie Schipani, 5:37; 121-Logan Milligan(NH) by forfeit; 127-Paul Cerminaro (NH) pinned Ira Stiefel, :32; 133-Leo Iarrapino (B) pinned Tristan Albert, 1:56; 139-Kase Chopp (B) pinned Kaden Salvatore, 1:40; 145-Gavin Rush (B) pinned Dominic Horton, 2:36; 152-Carter Morvay (NH) pinned Brycen Seth, :50; 160-Santo Cerminaro (NH) dec. Dawson Davis, 3-2; 172-Parker Geiger (NH) by forfeit; 189-Evan Letke (NH) by forfeit; 215-Dan Kunesky (NH) pinned Lucas Zanaglio, 1:44; 285-Burkhonjan Sobirjonav (NH) pinned Diamond Cantera, 5:16
