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Out-manned Butler boys wrestling team downed by North Allegheny

Butler’s Nicholas Savannah, left, uses a single leg takedown on North Allegheny’s Joseph Synan in a boys wrestling match Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025, at Butler High School. Savannah would beat Synan 8-2. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

BUTLER TWP — With a pair of pins, Butler gained momentum.

But with two pins inside of a minute, North Allegheny gained victory in a showdown for the Section 4-3A boys wrestling title on Wednesday night in the Intermediate High School gym.

“Those were good wins at the end for us,” Tigers coach Jamie Kyriazis said of the Tigers’ 44-24 triumph.

Both teams entered the match with 3-0 section records. The Tornado (7-3 overall) pulled within 32-24 on pins by Brennan Michael (4-7) at 172 pounds and Troy Ritson (17-10) at 189 pounds. Ritson’s pin was his team-leading 14th of the season.

But NA put the match away in the final two matches as Mason Hartung (24-10) secured a pin in 20 seconds at 190 pounds and Bradyn McConneha (26-6) followed suit with a fall in 40 seconds.

“We were probably a rather heavy underdog tonight and we’re a little banged up right now,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “I mixed our lineup up a little because my job is to do what I can to try to win the dual. The section was on the line tonight.

“We were just out-manned a bit.”

The Tornado’s Santino Sloboda won by forfeit at 133 pounds, improving his season record to 24-0 and overall high school mark to 102-6. Nick Savannah (20-4) and Sullivan Stutz (13-6) won by decision for Butler.

Stoner moved Kase Chopp (24-6) up to 152 pounds to take on Tiger standout Griffen Reid (31-7), but Reid rolled to an 11-1 major decision.

“That was a challenge for Kase, but again, we’re trying to win the dual,” Stoner said. “Troy had been struggling in his last few matches, so that pin tonight was a big step for him. Brennan’s match was encouraging, too. We need contributions all through the lineup.”

Butler and North Allegheny will both compete in the WPIAL team tournament next week. Both figure to have matches next Wednesday.

“We were the No. 5 seed last year and I thought the top six seeds all had a shot at winning it,” Kyriazis said. “We lost a tight match to Bethel Park in the quarterfinals and all of the matches after that were tight.

“This year, Connellsville is the favorite to win it and Franklin Regional is really good. But I believe my team is capable if wrestling with anybody.”

NORTH ALLEGHENY 44, BUTLER 24

(match started at 107 pounds)

107 pounds-Nick Savannah (B) dec. Joseph Synan, 8-3; 114-Charlie LaQuatra (NA) pinned Nathan Dickey, 3:38; 121-Evan Schomburg (NA) by forfeit; 127-Sullivan Stutz (B) dec. Dalton Stragand, 11-6; 133-Santino Sloboda (B) by forfeit; 139-Gus Stedeford (NA) pinned Charlie Rodgers, 2:13; 145-Brody Magorian (NA) pinned Dennis Brunton, 2:20; 152-Griffen Reid (NA) dec. Kase Chopp, 11-1; 160-Kellen Buggey (NA) dec. Gavin Rush, 16-5; 172-Brennan Michsel (B) pinned Sean O’Donnell, 3:23; 189-Troy Ritson (B) pinned Kyran Rautenbach, 1:08; 215-Mason Hartung (NA) pinned Ace McElravy, :20; 285-Bradyn McConneha (NA) pinned Diamond Cantera, :40

Related Article: Butler wrestler Santino Sloboda wins 100th match with pin but has sites set on bigger goals Related Article: Knoch girls wrestling celebrates two more firsts with home bout vs Butler, Makayla Pethtel’s pin Related Article: Every Butler County high school wrestler with 100 career wins

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