PIAA wrestling championships: Butler junior, Pitt commit Santino Sloboda ‘proved’ resilience to win bronze
Butler’s Santino Sloboda congratulates Pennridge’s Quinn McBride after defeating him by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda shakes Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon’s hand after defeating by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda took third place in the 127-pound class on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda took third place in the 127-pound class on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Butler’s Santino Sloboda took third place in the 127-pound class on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda congratulates Pennridge’s Quinn McBride after defeating him by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Pennridge’s Quinn McBride by an 8-3 decision in a 127-pound fifth-round consolation bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda shakes Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon’s hand after defeating by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda took third place in the 127-pound class on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda took third place in the 127-pound class on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Santino Sloboda took third place in the 127-pound class on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
Santino Sloboda’s trip to the PIAA Individual Wrestling Championships was a chance to prove his growth — physically, sure, but also mentally.
A year ago, Sloboda struggled to recover from a loss in the state semifinals.
This weekend at Hershey’s GIANT Center, the junior 127-pounder was not so easily undone.
Sloboda claimed his third medal at the state championships Saturday afternoon, beating Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon 4-1 for bronze, Sloboda’s best finish so far.
Butler’s Santino Sloboda defeated Cedar Cliff’s Aiden Herndon by an 4-1 decision in a 127-pound third-place bout on Day 3 of the PIAA Wrestling Individual Championships on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at GIANT Center, Hershey. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
“This state tournament, I kind of just proved to myself you take one loss it’s not the end of the world,” Sloboda said over the phone Saturday.
Sloboda, who finished fourth as a freshman, lost in the semis last year as a sophomore to Ridley’s Curtis Nelson at 114 pounds. He slid to sixth after two more consecutive losses.
But Sloboda learned from the experience and showed his resilience this season after Friday’s quarterfinal loss to Northampton’s Gabriel Ballard, who lost in the final to Bethlehem Catholic’s Keanu Dillard 8-2, bouncing back with three straight wins.
“He continued to wrestle smart and dominate all of his matches,” Butler head coach Scott Stoner said. “It was a good test mentally to see how he came back.“
Sloboda finished the season 50-1 as a two-time WPIAL champion and three-time state medalist.
“I’m kind of glad it worked out the way it did,” Stoner said.
Sloboda went 2-0 Saturday, beating Pennridge’s Quinn McBride 8-3 in the final round of consolations to set up a match with Herndon, a former state silver medalist. Sloboda took down Herndon in the first period, got an escape to start the second and was “calculated,” Stoner said, the rest of the match to pick up the win.
“He slowed the match down and got his initial lead and managed the rest of the match,” Stoner said.
Sloboda heads into next season with a chance to win a third straight WPIAL title, break the Butler career wins record of 160 — his record is now 128-7 — and build off this year’s third at the state level.
He knows he needs to continue to not “get too hyped up about a match,” and stay level. Stoner said there’s also more improvements to make in his game, particular on top and bottom.
“I think next year is going to be the same thing,” said Sloboda, who is committed to wrestle at Pitt. “I think I’m going to try to take it all in next year (too).”
