It will be difficult for several high school boys track and field teams to try to duplicate last year's success, but they'll certainly give it a shot.

Butler was the WPIAL Class AAA champion, while Seneca Valley tied the Tornado for the section title and made it to the WPIAL finals as well.

"We have another great group of kids. It seems if a couple of young sprinters develop, we have a real shot to win the section and the WPIAL," said Butler coach Rick Schontz.

The Raiders bid farewell to head coach Wayne Roccia, who decided to hang it up after 31 seasons.

"It was a great run for Coach Roccia," said first-year head coach Ray Peaco, one of Roccia's longtime assistants. "It was such a wonderful year and every one got caught up in it. No one thought to take pictures."

Not to be outdone, Mars went a perfect 14-0, rolling to the WPIALClass AA title with a senior-laden squad.

Karns City won its fifth consecutive Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference crown and extended its dual meet winning streak to 72 while Moniteau finished 8-1 and was runner-up to the Gremlins for the fourth straight campaign.

"Anything less than an undefeated season would be a pretty big disappointment," said Gremlins coach Don Black.

Of the 12 teams in the coverage area, only two, Summit Academy and A-C Valley, sported losing records.

Here's a look at the area boys track teams:

ButlerCoach: Rick Schontz, seventh year

Last season: 11-1 overall, section co-champions and WPIAL champions

Top returners: Seniors Mike Martin (jumps), Eric Braun (pole vault), Carl Fejko (pole vault), Matt Cooper (throws), Mike Schontz (throws), Wayne Dailey (distance), J.T. Fleming (distance); juniors Jordan Emrick (throws), Ben Porter (distance), Mason McLaughlin (sprints), Nathan Neff (sprints, middle distance), Josh Reddick (sprints); sophomores Logan Renwick (jumps), Jeff Tompkins (jumps), Adam Marzullo (pole vault), Dylan O'Donnell (throws), Eli Christy (sprints)

Strengths: Jumps, middle distance, throws, depth

Weaknesses: Youth at sprints, sprint relay

Coach's comment: "We're still looking for a couple more sprinters (which will include freshman Darius Hightower). We have 125 kids. There's been such a tremendous response. I think in some situations, every meet in the section is a tough meet. Most of the teams in the section are real serious threats. It'll be a horserace and it'll be tough. There will be no easy meets."

Seneca ValleyCoach: Ray Peaco, first year

Last season: 12-4 overall, section co-champions, fourth at WPIALmeet

Top returners: Seniors Conor Barrett (high jump), Frank Campisino (sprints), Chris Cipro (distance), Kevan Kelleher (middle distance), John Kerlak (middle distance), Mike Rose (throws), Andy Sporrer (jumps); juniors Jon Boyd (jumps); Cam Stauffer (distance), Eric Geddis (distance), Matt Marchese (distance); Grant Evans (pole vault)

Strengths: Distance, middle distance, jumps

Weaknesses: Hurdles, throws

Coach's comment: "I see a lot of kids that'll make it to the WPIAL finals and maybe the state meet. Maybe after our first meet, we'll find out what kind of depth we have. There are a lot of new faces, some first-year athletes, so I'm excited to get out there."

KnochCoach: Wess Brahler, fifth season

Last season: 5-3 overall

Top returners: Seniors Zac Gross (throws), C.J. Wise (jumps), Bobby Bateman (jumps), Mike Fugate (distance), Tyler Krahe (throws); juniors Tim McNerney (sprints), Dylan Beck (jumps), Brandon Flick (hurdler), Tim McCorkle (throws), Chris Stock (throws), Owen Venesky (distance); sophomores Mitch Shaw (sprints), Paul Kletzli (hurdles, middle distance)

Strengths: Distance, jumps, throws

Weaknesses: Sprints, experienced depth in most events

Coach's comment: "(We've) seen an increase not only in the number of athletes coming out for the program recently, but also a buzz of excitement about being on the track team as an athlete in general."

MarsCoach: Brandon Rios, first year

Last season: 14-0 overall, section and WPIALClass AA champions

Top returners: Seniors Billy Bair (sprints), Justin Stadelmyer (distance), Brandon Stadelmyer (distance), Justin Piocquidio (jumps), Mike Bordt (throws), Ben Howcroft (throws), Mike Sybert (jumps); juniors Shane Kaclik (jumps), Ian Schauer (throws), Vinny Smith (hurdles), Kale Cimberman (pole vault), Nick Edinger (distance)

Strengths: Distance, jumps

Weaknesses: Experienced depth in several events

Coach's comment: "These guys are highly motivated, confident, but not overconfident. We've got great senior leadership and a good junior core. We've got good people back to surround the stars."

FreeportCoach: Bill Dillen, 15th year

Last season: 7-3 overall

Top returners: Seniors Kirk Naedele (sprints), Sergei Dines (distance), Cody Clark (jumps); juniors Miles Smolic (throws), Matt Lucas (javelin); sophomores Alex Isenberg (jumps), Tyler Collins (jumps)

Strengths: Depth, top performer in most events

Weaknesses: Lack of experience

Coach's comment: "We have 70 boys out with a lot of young kids. We have a nice freshman group. Our senior class is small."

Summit AcademyCoach: Rich Monti, third year

Last season: 2-7 overall

Top performers: Seniors Chris Cole (sprints), Eric Walker (middle distance, jumps), Derek Smeal (throws); juniors Kevin Tarr (sprints, jumps), Trevor Johnson (sprints), Brad Smith (middle distance), Cedrick Green (discus)

Strengths: Sprints, jumps, middle distance

Weaknesses: Distance, inexperience in throws

Coach's comment: "I think we'll take teams to task and be competitive. With a couple of breaks, we should do well. The main thing is I want the kids to be competitive and do well."

Slippery RockCoach: Mike Kish, 29th year

Last season: 4-2 overall

Top returners: Seniors Nathan Eilenfeldt (middle distance), Dan Hartzell (middle distance, Nate King (middle distance), Ed Schreiber (distance); juniors Owen Bowser (middle distance), David Caldwell (hurdles, pole vault), Ethan Geisler (hurdles), Isaac Osborne (hurdles), Brant Sloan (jumps), Matt Thomas (throws); sophomores Jack Cravener (sprints), Sam Lotz (jumps), Jon Spurk (distance), Jackson Udy (distance)

Strengths: Middle distance, distance, hurdles

Weaknesses: Sprints, throws

Coach's comment: "We lost two strong throwers in Dan Dillman and Doug Orloski (double District 10 medalists) ... but have a strong distance team with Nate King, Dan Hartzell. If they run like they did in cross country, they'll be all right. There are some spots we are weak. We didn't lose a lot, but we're a little weaker in some areas."

Grove CityCoach: Mickey Hardenburg, first year

Last season: 5-5 overall

Top returners: Seniors Jordan Nichols (distance), Justin Spencer (sprints, long jump); juniors Tom Bollinger (distance), Ryan McGeehan (middle distance), Ryan Sestak (middle distance)

Strengths: Middle distance, distance

Weaknesses: Jumps, sprints

Coach's comment: "They have the potential to be strong in spots. We'll give teams a run for their money. ... At most jumps, we will be rebuilding there and a lot of our sprinters decided to concentrate on football, which definitely depleted our core. Justin is leading the group and we hope our freshmen can fill in."

Karns CityCoach: Don Black, 21st year

Last season: 10-0, KSAC champions

Top returners: Seniors Chris Harmon (distance), Charlie Beck (distance); Cory Terwilliger (jumps); juniors Aaron McGarvey (distance), Nick Sypulski (throws), Corey Gifford (throws), Shane Dillon (throws), Cody Williams (throws), Anthony Stimac (sprints), Josh Grenninger (sprints), Josh Callender (sprints), A.J. Rees (sprints), Brett Callihan (jumps), Markus LaVan (jumps), Jonathan Burns (jumps), Tyler Barger (jumps); sophomores Bryce Foreback (distance), Cameron Harp (distance)

Strengths: Depth, experience in all events

Weaknesses: Lost a few seniors at several events

Coach's comment: "We have a lot of good athletes, some we move around if we have a weakness. We'll move an athlete to try and fill a hole."

MoniteauCoach: Mark Kosick, 25th year

Last season: 8-1 in the KSAC for second place

Top returners: Seniors Eric Hillard (distance), Paul Thompson (distance), Mike Kosick (hurdles), Justin Ellenberger (throws); junior Tyler Armagost (throws)

Strengths: Distance, throws

Weaknesses: Sprints, jumps

Coach's comment: "We put the word out that we would work the kids harder, go back to what we used to do. We said if you come out, you have to understand what you're getting into. I'd rather have 35 hard-working kids than 50 who may not want to work."

UnionCoach: Denny Stewart, 34th year

Last season: 5-4 in the KSAC

Top returners: Seniors Kirk Nichols (hurdles), Drew Logue (shot put), A.J. Ethriedge (javelin), Spencer Varner (pole vault); juniors Colby Davis (sprints), Cameron Adams (distance), John Zanot (hurdles), Ed Stewart (discus), Jake Slease (discus), Neil Scott (javelin), Travis Anthony (jumps), Andre Rhoads (pole vault); sophomores Zach Traister (sprints), Adam Myers (distance), Brennan Bliss (shot put), Scott Booth (jumps)

Strengths: Throws, depth in every event

Weaknesses: Sprints, distance, middle distance

Coach's comment: "Our biggest problem is we lost some pretty good athletes. We lost a lot of district qualifiers. Nate Boltz in the hurdles and all our sprinters. Brett Moore could run anything from the 200 to the 3,200 and jumped six feet in the high jump. We put him in the triple jump last year for the first time and jumped over 42 feet. You don't replace that."

A-C ValleyCoach: Bruce Beichner, first year

Last season: 0-8 in the KSAC

Top returner: Senior Mike Himes

Strengths: Numbers

Weaknesses: Lack of experience and depth in most events

Coach's comment: "We had 14 kids last year and graduated nine. We have 24 kids and are pretty much freshmen and sophomores. I started the junior high program three years ago with Dave Kinman and now those kids are up and willing to try at varsity. We're going to try and build the program like it was strong in the 1990s. We want the kids to improve with every meet."