BUTLER TWP — Once Butler's rifle team reached the top of its section, the Golden Tornado shooters have never lost focus.

And focus is the name of the game.

“This sport is 10 percent physical and 90 percent mental,” 16th-year head coach Eric Beveridge said. “This is a huge mental sport.”

The Tornado went 25 years without winning a section title before ending that drought in 2016. This year marked the fourth straight season in which Butler either tied for or won its section crown outright.

Butler was 11-1 overall this year, 7-1 in section matches. Its only loss was to Hempfield. The Tornado finished third in the WPIAL team tournament Tuesday for the second straight year.

Butler graduated a number of top shooters from a year ago.

“We lost six to eight of our top shooters,” senior captain Theresa Hays said. “A lot of people doubted us. But this is a deep team with a lot of confidence.”

The Tornado have 38 shooters on their squad — 21 boys and 17 girls. There are 16 WPIAL rifle teams and Butler's roster size is at the top.

“A couple of teams may have close to as many as us, but a lot of teams only have 12 to 15 shooters,” Beveridge said. “Numbers are a big advantage for us.

“Our recent run of success has helped in that regard. Kids want to be a part of this program now. About 50 percent of our roster came to us having never shot a gun before.”

Assistant coach Matt Hutchinson, in his 11th year with the rifle program, said the kids push each other.

“They help and support each other. They observe each other shooting and give tips,” Hutchinson said.

The 12 shooters Butler sent to the WPIAL team competition were seniors Hays, Tyler Leary, Sam Lambermont and co-captain Dylann Yarrington, juniors Andrew Arbanas, Alec Stamm, Riley Rodgers, Aiden Ketterer, Max Wertz, Taryn Thompson and Kayla Kopelic, and sophomore Cody Stroup.

Arbanas, Stamm, Rodgers, Stroup and Ketterer competed in the WPIAL Individual Rifle Championships Thursday.

Butler practices two hours after school on Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the regular season. Matches are on Tuesday and Thursday.

When the team members arrive at the rifle range, located at basement level of a building on campus, they are asked to leave the rest of their day behind.

“When they're in here, it's complete focus,” Hutchinson said. “Your girlfriend, the test you blew today, the fact you have to study tonight ... It all leaves your mind for a couple of hours. You need total concentration when you're aiming at that target.”

Arbanas and Stamm took that concentration to the perfect level this year. Both were among the WPIAL's Cramer Award winners — meaning they didn't drop a point the entire season.

In other words, they shot 100's every match.

“That is so hard to do,” Beveridge said. “Last year, only 12 shooters in the entire WPIAL won that award.”

Shooters watch their diet during the season, particularly on the days of competition.

“Sugar and caffeine intake can affect your steadfness holding the gun and on the trigger,” Hays said.

Stamm said he got ready for matches “by closing my eyes and meditating for 15 minutes, just to get the school day out of my mind.”

Arbanas said he “listens to calming music before a match.” He also cuts sugar and caffeine out of his diet during the season.

The pressure of maintaining their perfect marks didn't bother either shooter.

“When I'm in a match, setting my scope and preparing to shoot, I'm not even aware of that stuff,” Stamm said. “You're in the moment.”

Junior varsity rifle teams compete in only three matches each season, yet practice with the varsity every day.

Beveridge said first-time shooters joining the team “usually need about two years” before being readty to compete in a varsity match.

“Rifle requires a lot of patience. There is a lot to learn,” he said. “We've had a few kids quit because there are so few JV matches that they figure, why bother?

“But the ones who stick with it usually wind up doing pretty well.”

Hays credits the coaching for that.

“Our coaches spend as much time working with the JV as the varsity,” she said. “That's how this team keeps going. The next wave of shooters will be ready next year.

“I don't see this program slipping. Not at all.”