BUTLER TWP - Photographers lining the mat, video cameras working, hundreds of onlookers in the stands.

Welcome to the world of elementary-level wrestling.

Wrestlers ages 5 to 12 participate in weekend tournaments from October through March.

"They can wrestle every weekend if they want to and stay in the Pittsburgh area," Knoch elementary wrestling coach Shawn Davis said. "Just about every program hosts a tournament as its fund-raiser."

That includes Butler, which had 280 young wrestlers from 31 school districts participating in the Butler Area Wrestling Open Tournament Jan. 15.

Butler varsity assistant coach Bill Mylan said that mostly advanced youth wrestlers participate in tournaments of this magnitude.

Most elementary programs have a novice division in which first- and second-year participants learn the sport against each other.

Butler doesn't have a novice program.

"It makes events like this a little tough for us," Butler elementary wrestling coordinator Will Bortmas said. "But tournaments like this are voluntary, anyway.

"I've never seen a kid get stage fright on the mat, but some kids may get overwhelmed and forget their moves."

Youngsters are made aware of the one-on-one aspect of the sport kicks almost immediately.

"Some kids are really into that," Davis said. "Others aren't. Those are the ones who give it up after a week or two."

Coaches from Butler, Seneca Valley, Mars, Knoch and Grove City said they lose anywhere from three to eight first-year wrestlers that way each season. But the number of participants is still considerable.

Seneca Valley has 55 elementary-age wrestlers, including 35 first-year participants. Butler has 49 elementary wrestlers, and Grove City has between 40 and 50.

Mars has 28 and Knoch, in only its third year, has 23. Knoch had 15 during its first season.

"Parents love this sport for what it teaches," Mars coach Doug Wright said. "Strength, conditioning, flexibility - and character.

"We practice three nights a week for two hours a night, and we drill the kids with the basics. They want to learn because they know they're in the spotlight out there."

Wright said elementary coaches have to be careful not to bombard youngsters with too much technique too soon.

"A young kid doesn't need to know 28 takedowns," he said. "If he learns one takedown, one move on top, one move on bottom and executes, he'll be successful."

Seneca Valley elementary assistant Derek Ritter said the Raiders' youth program had 65 participants last year. It had 35 when the elementary program began in 1975.

"The first time on the mat in an atmosphere like this can be trying for a little kid," Ritter said. "But after two or three tournaments, they get acclimated."

On-mat injuries are rare, however.

"Nah - they don't happen," Ritter said. "They might get a bruise or something, that's it."

No pain, no gain? Even before a kid turns 10?

In Bortmas' mind, the gain is well worth it.

"We had one kid lose his first match today and refused to wrestle anymore the rest of the day," Bortmas said. "The first loss, standing there while the referee holds the other kid's arm in the air, can be embarrassing to a little kid.

"But once they learn it's OK to give your best and lose, that you can learn from it and still have fun, they're fine with it."

Bortmas said wrestling helps youths develop confident personalities that other sports might not provide.

"It's all about you out there," he said. "You can't blame a teammate or someone else for making a mistake. You are what you make of yourself.

"My own son is in elementary wrestling, and this sport has brought him out of his shell. He wasn't paying attention to his teachers, not purposely, (but) his mind would just wander.

"He learned focus through wrestling because the competitive nature of the sport demands it. It's a disciplined regimen. Kids have to buy into it or they're going to get out there and get stomped. Wrestling motivates them," Bortmas added.

Jason Slagle is in his fifth year as coach of Grove City's elementary wrestling program. Of the 40-plus kids on this year's roster, he's lost only one.

"We prepare the kids for the atmosphere they'll be facing on the mat," Slagle said. "We keep them focused and we listen to them to get their perspective.

"We try to promote good sportsmanship and keep team spirit high."

The system works, as 95 percent of Grove City's elementary wrestlers wind up joining the junior high squad.

That's why youth programs hosting major weekend tournaments spend hours the night before preparing the site, then run an eight- or nine-hour tournament the following day.

"We can't expect young kids to stay attentive all day, so we set the tournament up by age brackets," Mylan said. "One age group wraps up, another comes in, etc.

"It's well worth our time. These are our feeder programs. This is what keeps high school wrestling alive."