BUTLER TWP — Butler's high school bowling program started at the top — and hasn't come down yet.

Through their first three seasons, the Golden Tornado varsity girls are 30-0 in the regular season. They placed sixth in the state tournament in their debut season and placed second last year.

This year? Their eye is on the prize.

“There aren't a lot of girls with high averages throughout the state,” senior Heather Paul said. “We've got a bunch of ‘em.”

Fellow senior Nicole Balk is second in the Western Pa. Interscholastic Bowling League (WPIBL) with a 191 average. Brea Suchonic is fourth at 180.02, Autumn Hepler fifth at 180.5 and Megan Paul sixth at 179.

That quartet had bowled 26 200-games entering the regular season finale last week. Balk has 11 of those. Suchonic has the team's high game at 254.

“We have a bunch of kids who are dedicated to the sport and who work as a team,” Balk said. “We all bowl multiple days a week and see each other in the Saturday morning youth leagues.”

Balk bowls six to seven days a week, including Fridays, when she helps coach Special Olympic bowlers.

“I get a lot of practice time in,” she said.

Kelly Bintrim averages 172 and Heather Paul 168 for the Golden Tornado, who have no weak spot in their lineup.

“We're pretty competitive with each other,” Heather Paul said. “We have fun with it.”

Third-year coach Bill Fay leaves no mystery as to how he feels about his team.

“They're all good bowlers,” he said. “They could bowl with the top adults around here and more than hold their own.

“If they play to their potential, they could blow everybody out of the water.”

Assistant coach Jim Hepler agreed.

“It's fun to work with these kids. They make it easy for us,” Hepler said. “They've been bowling since they were little kids. By the time we get them, they're pretty well seasoned.

“All we do is tweak a couple of things here and there. Four of these girls — Nicole, Brea, Autumn and Heather — have been here all three years.”

Heather Paul and Balk are the lone seniors on the squad.

Butler's boys team has no seniors. They posted a 9-1 regular season record and are 26-4 over three years.

The Tornado boys lineup of Garrett Sexton (193 average), Jacob Cookson (191.5), captain Brandt Fleming (185), Matt Blose (182) and Cody Rosenbauer (174) has combined to roll 39 200-games.

Cookson owns the team-high game of 268 — and is only a sophomore.

“Top young bowlers just keep rolling through here,” Fay said.

“Cookson is averaging around 200 in the Saturday league,” Hepler said. “The kid is outstanding.

“We've seen a lot of these kids grow up at Family Bowlaway or Sherwood Lanes over the years. Now they've formed the foundation for a great high school program. The kids have done all this. The coaches haven't bowled a frame.”

The WPIBL league championship tournaments are Wednesday at Legacy Lanes in Pittsburgh for the boys, Thursday at Sims Lanes in Beaver Falls for the girls.

Because they are section champions, Butler's boys and girls teams automatically qualify for the Western Pa. regional tourney March 9-10 in North Versailles.

The top six teams and 12 individual bowlers go from there to the state tournament the following weekend.

“The baker games (each bowler rolling every fifth frame) did us in last year,” Heather Paul recalled. “We were leading (the state tournament) going into those.

“We have to make our spares. That always decides things.”