BUTLER TWP — Something strange happened to undefeated Butler freshman 107-pound wrestler Santino Sloboda Wednesday night.

He didn’t lose ... but he gave up a point.

Santino allowed an escape to Seneca Valley’s Hunter Tillotson while building a quick 9-1 lead before pinning his opponent with 35 seconds left in the first period.

“That was the first point he’s allowed this season,” Butler wrestling coach Scott Stoner said. “Santino does things out there you just can’t teach. His mat awareness is incredible.”

That’s his wrestling style: Fast, furious, to the point.

Santino is 11-0 so far this season with six of those wins by pin. He’s produced 20 near-fall points.

And he has lofty goals.

“I want to break Cole Baxter’s (school) record of 33 wins by a freshman, his record of 160 wins total,” Santino said. “I want to be the best I can be. There’s always room to get better out there.”

Santino has been pretty good for quite a while. He was 29-0 as an eighth-grader last year, 21-0 in seventh grade before losing in the Pennsylvania Junior Wrestling state finals. He won seven consecutive PJW Area 7 wrestling championships.

He’s been wrestling since the age of 5.

“I couldn’t wait to get to the high school level,” Santino said. “I’m going up against some kids now who are stronger than me, more experienced. It’s a bigger challenge and I love it.

“This year, my goal is to place at the state meet. I want to put myself out there and go get it.”

Stoner doesn’t mind such talk — as long as his wrestler is willing to back it up.

“Anyone can talk like that,” the coach said. “Is Santino good enough to do all of those things? He definitely is, but if you’re gonna put those expectations on yourself, I need to see him come to the room each day and work hard to improve as he goes.

“And I have no doubt Santino is going to put that work in.”

Santino said his father worked with him a lot when he was younger and helped him develop a unique skill set that, frankly, is hard to coach.

“If I get myself in trouble, I feel like I can scramble out of it,” Santino said.

Stoner shakes his head and smiles when thinking about some of his matches.

“He’s so aggressive and so quick ... he’s a risk taker,” Stoner said. “I’ve seen him get out of messes time and time again. But when you wrestle like that, the time’s gonna come where he’s up against a tough, experienced opponent, and he’s gonna get caught.

“That day will come and he’ll have to handle that.”

Santino has wrestled in numerous state and national youth tournaments through the years. He’s proven he can handle himself against the best and the current high school wrestling rankings reflect that.

“Some have Santino ranked among the top eight (107-pounders) in the state,” Stoner said. “His name is well-known. But at this level, he’s only beginning.

“I’ve seen him wrestle kids who are physically stronger, with experience, and he just handles them. I want him to become more fundamentally sound, but I don’t want to interfere with that kind of drive.”

Even last year, Santino talked about eventually winning a state championship in high school, becoming a Division 1 collegiate wrestler and being known as one of the best to come out of Butler’s program.

“My scrambling skills are doing it for me now,” he said. “I know I have to get stronger as I get bigger. This (Wednesday night) was my first home match as a varsity wrestler.

“I was a little nervous at the start , but I settled down. I’m finally here.”