FOX CHAPEL — Wrestling shifts into a different mode this weekend.

The Section 3-AAA Tournament takes place at 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Fox Chapel High School. The finals are set for 6 p.m. with the top five placers in each weight class advancing to the WPIAL Tournament.

“Up until now, it's been all about the team,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said. “This is a tough transition for wrestlers and coaches.

“Attitude and desire mean a lot right now. It's a long season and you've got to have the hunger to keep going.”

Knoch coach Mark McLaughlin said that “mental training is as important as physical” come this time of year.

“What do you do after that first loss in the section tournament?,” McLaughlin pondered. “Our kids are going to be in that situation. A lot of college coaches are interested in the kids who finish third.

“They like to see who responds to that one loss.”

Butler, Knoch, Seneca Valley and Mars will be competing in the section tourney. The Golden Tornado have four No. 1 seeds in Blake Caudill (28-3) at 113 pounds, Zach Reges (29-8) at 132, Jesse Spohn (24-10) at 138 and Dakoda Collins (30-6) at 152.

Two other Butler wrestlers — Nick Sutton (31-7) at 120 and Ryan Hannon (24-8) at 170 — are No. 2 seeds.

“When you're the No. 1 seed, it's on you to find a way to battle through the weight class and win it,” Stoner said. “I'm hoping to get 10 kids through to the WPIALs. We may need a couple of surprises to do that, but we're capable.”

Seneca Valley coach Kevin Wildrick hopes to get six players through to the WPIAL meet. Two of his wrestlers — Anthony Latess (22-7) at 113 and Austin Leon (20-8) at 132 — are No. 3 seeds.

“We've got other guys like Zain Skalas (15-13) at 120 and Matt King at 152 who could get through this,” Wildrick said. “Matt is only 1-2, but he was ineligible for much of the season.

“A lot of this does come down to how well a kid can handle an early loss and the ability he shows to bounce back from it.”

Because the season is long, Wildrick mixes up the practice routine to try to keep things fresh.

“It's all about maintaining your mental edge now,” he said. “There are no surprises in the seeding for this tournamnent. Most of these teams and most of these kids know each other and have faced each other.”

Knoch has a No. 3 seed at heavyweight in Ian Adkins (17-12). Other top Knights include Blaine Elliott (23-8) at 126, Col McLaughlin (16-8) at 132 and Tyler Hlbiczki (19-11) at 152.

“If we can get four guys through to WPIALs, I'll be dancing in the streets,” Coach McLaughlin said. “Blaine Elliott went 0-2 down here last year and that was rough on him. I know he still has a bitter feeling about that.”

Knoch was 12-9 in dual matches this season, the program's first-ever winning campaign.

“Butv we have to be realistic about that ... Most of our losses were in the section and those same kids are all going to be there,” McLaughlin said.

Mars has no particularly high seeds, but has 10 wrestlers with winning records in the tournament.

Among the top Planet marks are Richie Boeh (21-3) at 113, James Flinn (18-8) at 145, Ryan McMahon (16-9) at 152 and Trey Turnblacer (16-10) at 220.