Butler wrestling drops home opener
BUTLER TWP — A positive start, but a painful finish.
Butler opened its dual match wrestling season Wednesday night with three consecutive first-period pins, only to drop five straight matches later in watching a 27-12 lead evaporate into a 42-33 loss to Indiana in the Butler Intermediate gym.
“That was tough sledding,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “I knew coming in that Indiana has a stronger lineup than us. We had to generate a lot of pins and not give up many.
“It didn’t work out that way.”
Butler got pins from Nick Savannah at 107 pounds, Santino Sloboda at 114 and Sullivan Stutz at 121 to jump out to an 18-0 lead. All of those pinfalls were decisive.
“We’re not that weak in the lighter weights,” Indiana coach Tony Donatelli said. “Butler’s just really strong there. We felt we could do well at the heavier weights and get back in it.”
The Indians, seeing their first varsity action of the season, went on to record pins at 127, 145, 152, 160, 172 and 215 pounds. The latter pin occurred 16 seconds into the third period. Carson Beatty led Butler’s Ethan DeLess 2-1 after two periods.
Beatty scored a reverse and quick pin of DeLess in the third period, giving his team a 42-27 lead and clinching the team win.
“Butler has a great wrestling program, but I know they’re dealing with a bunch of injuries right now,” Donatelli said. “We have a young team with a few freshmen in our lineup. We needed to take advantage (of Butler’s injuries) and we did.”
The Tornado’s Kase Chopp won by pin at 145 pounds and heavyweight Diamond Cantera closed the evening with a pin in 42 seconds. But those points weren’t enough.
Gavin Rush, one of Butler’s top returnees, is out with a shoulder injury, adding to a growing list of sidelined Tornado wrestlers. Troy Ritson, counted on as a starter this year, injured a knee at last weekend’s Chartiers Houston Tournament.
Butler has four would-be starters sidelined right now, likely for the season.
“Our work in the room hasn’t been very good so far,” Stoner said. “We’re just not intense enough ... definitely a lack of focus. I don’t know if the kids see all the injuries and just figure we’re not gong to be that good this year, so we're not working hard ... I don’t know what goes on in kids’ heads.
“The guys who are healthy, they have to work hard on their own skills. I’m not sure what direction this season is gonna go right now, but the potential is here.”
Butler forfeited matches at 133 and 189 pounds, “a costly 12 points to give up,” Stoner said. The only match to go the distance Wednesday was at 139 pounds, where Butler’s Leo Iarrapino rallied for a 5-4 decision over Jacob Snyder.
Iarrapino scored a couple of escape points late. With the score tied at 4-4, Snyder voluntarily allowed Iarrapino to escape wit 20 seconds left. Iarrapino held on for the decision.
“I think our guy lost track of what the score was at the time,” Donatelli said. “He is known to get some quick takedowns, but I don’t know if he lets their kid up if he knew the score was tied.”
Butler’s varsity does not return to action until Dec. 16 at the Kiski Duals. The Golden Tornado host the Doc Phillips JV Tournament this Saturday. The inaugural Butler girls tournament takes place that day as well.
Indiana 42, Butler 33
107 pounds-Nick Savannah (B) pinned Hunter Williams, 1:30; 114-Santino Sloboda (B) pinned Rowan Grantz, 1:13; 121-Sullivan Stutz (B) pinned Connor Sevajian, 1:09; 127-Nico Fanella (I) pinned Ira Stiefel, 1:17; 133-Carter Putt (I) by forfeit; 139-Leo Iarrapino (B) dec. Tyson Blystone, 5-4; 145-Kase Chopp (B) pinned Jacob Snyder, 2:49; 152-Trent Bufalo (I) pinned Bryson Seth, 1:56; 160-Will Turner (I) pinned Ryan Curry, :29; 172-Dominic Fanella (I) pinned Dawson Davis, 4:49; 189-Jackson Higgins (I) by forfeit; 215-Carson Beatty (I) pinned Ethan DeLess, 4:16; 285-Diamond Cantera (B) pinned Cash Allshouse, :42
