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Butler wrestling, with Gavin Rush battling through shoulder injury, beats Seneca Valley

JACKSON TWP — Taking to the mat despite being less than 100% healthy is nothing new for Butler’s Gavin Rush.

He wrestled all of last season with a torn labrum. After beginning this season completely healthy, he’s dealing with discomfort in his right shoulder once again.

“It’s not as bad as last year,” said Rush, who pinned Seneca Valley’s Dean Sauers at 152 pounds Wednesday to run his record this season to 11-4. “It’s not so much the pain, that’s not bad, but it’s a feeling of weakness in my shoulder.”

Rush helped the Golden Tornado defeat SV 58-12, improving Butler’s record to 4-0.

Butler’s Gavin Rush defeated Seneca Valley’s Dean Sauers by pin in a 152-pound match in a boys wrestling match Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at Seneca Valley High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

He was originally injured in a preseason practice in 2023, but remained in Butler’s lineup and went 20-15 while reaching the WPIAL tournament for the third time.

“After the injury, I basically forgot about any goals I had,” he said. “At that point, it was just fighting to get through each match. I had to be tough.”

Toughness is one thing Butler coach Scott Stoner knows he can count on with Rush.

“Gavin was dealing with that shoulder every match last year,” he said. “Most guys wouldn’t be able to fight through it, but we had five other wrestlers go out with season-ending injuries last year and Gavin has a love for the sport, wanted to be there for his team. I admire that in a kid.”

Possibly the most impressive aspect of Rush’s junior season is that he was not pinned the entire year. In fact, he has lost by fall just twice in his varsity career.

Butler’s Charlie Rodgers defeated Seneca Valley’s Tyler Nguyen by pin in a 133-pound match in a boys wrestling match Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025, at Seneca Valley High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

“When the injury first happened, I was at probably 80% of my ability,” he said. “By the end of the season, maybe 60%. I couldn’t even lift a gallon of milk.”

At the Southmoreland Holiday Classic tournament two weeks ago, Rush led Frazier’s Jonah Erdely late before being taken down in a 4-3 loss. Erdely is 21-1 on the season.

Rush said he hopes to wrestle in college, but his future beyond this season is in doubt because of his nagging injury. This year, he’s not letting his shoulder keep him from aiming high. His career record stands at 81-49.

“I’ve been to WPIALs three times, but have not placed,” he said. “I want to change that, I think I can ... and I still have a shot at 100 wins.”

“If he wasn’t injured last year, he probably would have won eight or nine more matches,” Stoner said.

Related Article: PIAA girls wrestling season preview 2024-25: Meet the Top 6 grapplers to watch in Butler County
Butler's Mylee Toner and Seneca Valley's Ava Schmiedlin spar in a girls wrestling match at Seneca Valley Senior High School on Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025. Morgan Phillips/Butler Eagle
Raiders girls beat Butler 36-24

SV senior Maddee Fischer moved her record to 10-2 thanks to a forfeit at 130 pounds. But when she has been opposed, she’s fared very well, with nine victories and seven pins in 11 bouts.

“She has a lot of experience and we have high hopes for her,” SV coach Jessica Leighty said. “She’s in a tough weight class, though, and there’s no easy road to get to states.”

Fischer went 26-9 as a junior, but her season fizzled out at WPIALs.

“I’ve worked with my brother Alex, who wrestled here,” she said. “I struggled on the bottom last year and have worked on making quicker moves in that position.”

Girls

Seneca Valley 36, Butler 24

100: Jillian Atwood (SV) won by forfeit; 106: No bout; 112: Adele Shih-Calabro (SV) pinned Lillianna Burdardt; 118: No bout; 124: Brin Zehmisch (B) pinned Rowan Myers; 130: Maddee Fischer (SV) won by forfeit; 136: No bout; 142: Anastasia Manchester (B) pinned Grace Christian; 148: Mylee Toner (B) pinned Ava Schmiedlin; 155: Kaeleigh Tuell (SV) won by forfeit; 170: Harlee Hornick (SV) won by forfeit; 190: Hannah Hornick (SV) pinned Olivia Hageman; 235: Monica Osborne (B) pinned Carlyn Sedar

Boys

Butler 58, Seneca Valley 12

107: Nick Savannah (B) major dec. Riley Smith, 16-4: 114: Bryce Berekstazi (SV) pinned Nathan Dickey, 2:30; 121: Sullivan Stutz (B) pinned Logan Brethauer, 5:17; 127: Santino Sloboda (B) tech. fall Cole Corrigan, 15-0; 133: Charlie Rodgers (B) pinned Tyler Nguyen, 1:48; 139: Zach Hill (SV) pinned Leo Iarrapino, 2:24; 145: Kase Chopp (B) pinned Logan Caldwell, 1:02; 152: Gavin Rush (B) pinned Dean Sauers, 4:39; 160: Sutton Stoner (B) major dec. James Bidoli, 16-3; 172: Brennan Michael (B) pinned David Cerra, 2:36; 189: Troy Ritson (B) dec. Cooper Beres, 9-3; 215: Ace McElravy (B) pinned Braden Wood, :47; 285: Diamond Cantera (B) pinned Oren Musser

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