Seniors
Quercio, Truman pins spark
BUTLER TWP— Senior Night turned into Drama Night for the
The Golden Tornado fell behind Waynesburg 27-18 before winning the final five
matches — two by pin, three by one-point decisions — to score a 39-27 dual
match triumph.
The victory marked a program-record 22nd dual match win of the season for
"It wasn't the most important match of my career, but it was one of the
most emotional," Quercio said. "Senior Night, my final home match, we
were down on the scoreboard ... I wanted that pin."
The scoreboard said Quercio (31-6) pinned Robert Simpson(2-4)
in nine seconds, but the match clock started late. The fall actually occurred
in about 30 seconds.
Truman (19-15) followed by putting Mike Weidner's (8-12) shoulders to the mat
While Quercio's win was the 80th of his career, Truman is only 21-19 as a
varsity matman, losing most of his junior year to a broken leg.
Truman was a
"I know I'm going to be physically stronger than pretty much every
wrestler I face," Truman said. "What I have to do is listen to Coach
(Scott) Stoner, every match, and do what he tells me to do."
His team now leading 30-27 with three matches remaining, Stoner sent freshman
Nick Sutton (2-17) to the mat at 103 pounds to face Nate Ribar (13-14).
The improving Sutton defeated teammate Brandon Bauer (17-15) in the practice
room to get the nod Wednesday night.
"Nick is a first-year wrestler and he's been taking a pounding at 112 just
to get some varsity matches for us," Stoner said. "He earned this
spot (at 103) tonight and he took advantage of it."
Sutton gave up a go-ahead takedown to Ribar with 26 seconds left, then scored a reversal with two seconds on the clock for a
7-6 decision.
Butler's Zach Reges (19-15) followed that up by taking down Eric Jones (5-4)
with five seconds left, securing a 6-5 decision at 112 pounds.
Eric Tuck (26-10) scored an escape with 34 seconds left in his 119-pound match
against Jesse Perrots (1-5), getting a 1-0 decision.
Waynesburg (13-10) had five starters out of its lineup because of illness or
injury, including Zach McGinnis (24-4) at 112 and Derrick Nelson (24-4) at 119.
"It might have been different if we had those guys,"Raiders coach Joe
Throckmorton said. "We didn't have Kyle Gray (12-13) at 189, either, which
kept us from moving Jake Butcher (24-7) to 215 and maybe saving some points
there.
"That's how it goes, though. Injuries happen. I thought the matches that
turned things tonight were at 152 and 103."
Sutton's decision at 103 was preceded by Tornado freshman Dakoda Collins
(25-12) getting an 8-5 decision over Alex Teagarden (19-12) at 152.
Waynesburg forfeited to unbeaten Cole Baxter (34-0) at 145.
"We were hoping to get Baxter against Teagarden,"Stoner said.
"But they weighed (John) Dibuono (22-9) in at 160 pounds. We weren't
expecting that.
"He (Throckmorton) did his homework on us. He was trying to win the dual,
too."
Cody Hartman (26-9) won by technical fall at 130 pounds and Dillon Weston
(17-8) won by major decision at 135 for the Tornado.
"
Notes:Hays
is 57-43 in his career for
Butler 39, Waynesburg 27
103 — Nick Sutton (B)dec. Nate Ribar, 7-6; 112 — Zach Reges (B)dec.
Eric Jones, 6-5; 119 — Eric Tuck (B)dec. Jesse Perrots, 1-0; 125
— Tom Henderson (W)pinned Lee DiMichele, 1:23; 130 — Cody Hartman
(B)tech. fall over Brian Bennett, 18-2 (4:47); 135 — Dillon Weston
(B)dec. John Remsing, 8-0; 140 —