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Anastasia Manchester’s comeback win the highlight in Butler girls wrestling loss vs Mars

BUTLER TWP — Talk about your role reversal.

Butler sophomore Anastasia Manchester pulled one off at 148 pounds Wednesday night during the Golden Tornado’s season-opening 29-24 girls wrestling loss to Kiski Area in the Intermediate High School gym.

Manchester trailed the Cavaliers’ Alyssa Tresco two periods into their match. Tresco scored a number of back points on Manchester, but could not polish off a pin.

Manchester did. At the beginning of the final period, she caught Tresco in a cradle and pinned her shoulders to the mat just 22 seconds into the period.

“That’s pretty rare,” Butler coach Nathan Bottiger admitted of the comeback win. “But with Anastasia’s style, she’s never out of a match. Once she gains control, she can finish.”

Related Article: PIAA girls wrestling season preview 2024-25: Meet the Top 6 grapplers to watch in Butler County Related Article: What additions of Knoch, Slippery Rock teams mean for growth of girls wrestling in Butler County
Butler's Anastasia Manchester spars with Kiski's Alyssa Tresco during a girls wrestling match at Butler Intermediate High School on Wednesday, Dec. 11. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle (12/11/2024)

Manchester was 25-8 as a freshman last year, placing third at 142 pounds in the WPIAL Tournament. She weighed in at 136.5 pounds Wednesday and wrestled up.

“I’m hoping to win (a WPIAL title) this year, at least place and get to states,” Manchester said. “I need better conditioning for myself. I was tiring out there. That happens to me a lot.”

But she wasn’t too tired to execute her winning move.

“I was able to cradle and get on top,” Manchester said.

Kiski Area coach Justin Tresco said Alyssa Tresco and 142-pound Ava Golding should be WPIAL contenders this season. Kiski is 1-1 after bouncing back from a 42-27 opening loss to Shaler.

“I’ve got a bunch of strong girls who are working hard,” Coach Tresco said. “I’m optimistic about what we can accomplish this year.”

As for Alyssa’s loss, he added, “Yeah ... she just got caught.”

Butler’s Brin Zemisch won by pin at 124 pounds. The Cavaliers got pins from Alyssa Perona at 155 and Katie Croyle at 190.

Bottiger said Manchester had to wrestle at a higher weight class than she weighed in at because of strict weight restrictions.

It’s difficult, the way the weight allowance is right now,“ Bottiger said of girls wrestling. ”I really think they need to re-evaluate that system to make it more accommodating to the female body.

“We’re facing some adversity at this point in the season. We forfeited at 170 because our girl is coming off an injury. Our 155-pounder has been sick and isn’t ready to get back on the mat just yet. We missed weight at 124 ... These things are going to happen.”

The Tornado host Pine-Richland next Wednesday.

“They have a full lineup, so that will be challenging for us,” Bottiger said.

KISKI AREA 29, BUTLER 24

112 pounds-Lillianna Burdardt (B) by forfeit; 124-Brin Zehmisch (B) pinned Marissa Prignon, 5:17; 130-Kara Dilts (KA) by forfeit; 142-Ava Golding (KA) by tech. fall (15-0) over Kaitlynn Plopi, 1:25; 148-Anastasia Manchester (B) pinned Alyssa Treso, 4:22; 155-Alyssa Perona (KA) pinned Mylee Toner, 4:44; 170-Lillie Moorehead (KA) by forfeit; 190-Katie Croyle (KA) pinned Olivia Hageman, :40; 235-Monica Osborne (B) by forfeit

Exhibition: 124-Rowan Zehmisch (B) pinned TJ Hoak, 3:06

Related Article: PIAA boys wrestling season preview 2024-25: Meet the Top 12 grapplers to watch in Butler County

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