SLIPPERY ROCK — Heather Urbaniak accepted her new designated among her teammates.

For now, the Slippery Rock High School senior will serve as a reluctant assistant coach.

Urbaniak, who finished seventh in Class AA in the 100 hurdles last season, blew out her ACL last July.

It was a tough blow for someone who had high expectations for this season.

“My coach told me after last year that I could have a chance to move up in the top four and maybe drop a second off my time,” Urbaniak said. “It’s painful to think about how good I could have been had I been able to run.”

Urbaniak is one of several local athletes trying to return from a torn ACL. Mars seniors Lydia Dennis and Karli Paracca both suffered the injury playing soccer in the fall and summer.

Paracca decided to return to track for the first time since her freshman season to prepare for playing soccer at Kent State University.

“I definitely think track puts you in good shape. My freshman year I did track and soccer and I felt great on the soccer field,” Paracca said. “I could play the whole game with no breaks. It really helps with my speed and endurance.”

Dennis, who finished in eighth place in the long jump, still hasn’t been cleared to jump. She is able to sprint and will compete in a relay event.

Having the injury actually served as a benefit. She got to spend more time rebuilding her form.

Running-wise, her strides weren’t right before.

“My form wasn’t good before,” said Dennis, who signed with the University of Pittsburgh for track and field. “I started over and bettered myself. It was kind of like a restart.”

Urbaniak is in the process of getting cleared and hopes to compete in the sprints late in the season. Hurdles may not be a possibility.

She will always have a position as unofficial hurdles coach.

“I’m going to try and keep a positive attitude and be present with the team emotionally and mentally, even if I can’t be there physically,” Urbaniak said.

Here’s a team-by-team rundown of the Butler County track teams:

A-C Valley

Coach: Dave Sherman, 16th season.

Last season: N/A.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Impact athletes: Senior — Emily Elder (hudles). Juniors — Sayde Longo (hurdles), Melanie Lewis (long jump). Sophomores — Emily Brenneman (sprints), Morgan Cratty (sprints), Shannon Quaill (middle distance).

Sherman says: “We have a good group of kids and are going to be competitive in some events. We’re a little thin with 20 girls, but we will be competitive.”

Butler

Coach: John Williams, first season.

Last season: 4-2.

Returning state qualifiers: Julia Baxter (senior, high jump).

Impact athletes: Seniors — Amanda Wiest (middle distance), Macy Stalnaker (middle distance), Kristen Knass (jumps, sprints), Holly Keefer (middle distance, distance), Angela McKnight (shotput, discus). Juniors — Julia Baxter (high jump, shotput), Kalynn Callihan (discus, shotput), Alyssa DiPippa (jumps, sprints), Rachel Laughlin (hurdles), Alissa Wulff (pole vault).

Wiliams says: “We’re a young team, looking at our numbers. We have five senior letterwinners coming back. We have some senior leadership, but we’re a young team.”

Freeport

Coach: John Gaillot, third season.

Last season: 12-1.

Returning state qualifiers: Brittney Bianco (senior, 4x800 relay), Rebecca Dudek (senior, 4x800).

Impact athletes: Seniors — Michaela Bowser (jumps), Hayley Davis (distance), Erica Jack (sprints), Dava Jack (sprints). Junior — Macy Smolic (shotput).

Gaillot says: “It’s hard to say (if Freeport can make run at a WPIAL title). We have a good group of girls that should be in the hunt for sections. Every year, we have a good group of freshmen and sophomores that surprises us. It seems like every year someone comes out of the woodwork.”

Grove City

Coach: Lou Mariotto, second season.

Last season: 6-0, District 10 champions.

Returning state qualifiers: McKenzie Fagan (senior, high jump), Mary Jaskowak (senior, 4x800 and 1,600), Hailey Hall (senior, pole vault), Catie Jaskowak (sophomore, 3,200), Olivia Lowe (sophomore, 4x800).

Impact athletes: Senior — Liz Aque (jumps). Junior — Kristen Bishop (jumps). Sophomores — Lauren Steele (hurdles), Hannah Stanford (distance), Maddie Hamilton (distance).

Mariotto says: “We’re looking to rebuild our team. We’ve lost a lot of seniors and are about 40 to 45 percent freshman. We’re hoping to advance those who made it to district and states back to the level, while helping the freshmen make districts.”

Karns City

Coach: Roger King, fifth season.

Last year: 8-0, KSAC Champions.

Returning state qualifiers: Senior Breann Wood (4x100 relay), Junior Brittany Coyle (4x100), junior Annie Hegedus (4x100), Emily Schumacher (400, 800).

Impact athletes: Senior — Emily Jones (distance). Juniors — Cheyenn Troutman (jumps), LeErin Jones (jumps).

King says: “I think we’ll do really good. We have a strong team and I think the young kids can do well.”

Knoch

Coach: Judy Geist, third season.

Last season: 3-3.

Returning state qualifier: Katie Bozzo (junior, hudles).

Impact athletes: Seniors — Mary Zellhart (throws), Miranda McCune (throws). Juniors — Rachel Kronenberg (throws), Jenna Platyk (jumps), Ashlyn Carlsson (middle distance), Mackenzie Rodgers (throws), Nicole Cress (sprints). Sophomores — Mandi Moxie (distance), Emily Robb (hurdles and jumps).

Geist says: “I’m excited to see how we do this year. They are a young team and we had 20 more girls sign up this year. I think the program is getting better.”

Mars

Coach: Larry Young, second season as Planets’ coach; 41st season overall.

Last season: 5-1.

Returning state qualifiers: Lydia Dennis (jumps).

Impact athletes: Seniors — Karli Paracca (sprints, middle distance), Haley Flecker (pole vault), Liz Dakan (throws). Juniors — Sabrina Edwards (hurdler), Ali Goetz (throws), Sydney Cole (distance), Kristina LaRocca (middle distance). Freshmen — Natalie Petrini (distance), Rachel Honchorek (sprint), Annabelle Gnath (sprints, middle distance).

Young says: “Our goal is to win the section title, we only missed by one meet last year. Also, among the more experienced girls our goal is to break six school records.”

Moniteau

Coach: Sue Scialabba, 15th season.

Last season: 7-2.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Impact athletes: Seniors — Brittany Boring (jumps, sprints), Kristin McDeavitt (jumps, middle distance), Michaela Mrozek (jumps, sprints), Emily Rider (distance, jumps). Juniors — Stephanie McCall (jumps, javelin, sprints), Megan Sosigian (javelin, hurdles). Sophomores — Allison DeMatteis (distance), Maura Kimmel (throws), Brittany Lindsay (throws), Kara Mental (jumps, sprints).

Scialabba says: “We have great numbers this season (42). We are excited about the way this team is working. The senior leadership has been great so far and everyone is expecting big things for this season.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: Ray Peaco, fifth season.

Last season: 4-3.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Impact athletes: Seniors — Katie Gutmann (hurdles), Taryn Latsko (distance), Angela Mignanelli (disance), Becky Paine (distance), Courtney Powell (thrower), Abbie Trzeciak (throws). Juniors — Claire Kocur (jumps, hurdles), Victoria Love (sprints, jumps), Katie Lutz (distance), Mikayla Psenick (sprinter), Katelyn Stebbins (jumper), Nicole Walters (sprints). Sophomores — Emily Cekella (middle distance, jumps), Freshmen — Maria Alfano (jumps), Isabelle Biase (distance), Rachel Hensler (distance), Michaela Lamont (sprints), Danielle Martz (sprints).

Peaco says: “The girls team is young and we hardly had anyone make the WPIAL finals last year. We’re hoping to change that with this group.”

Slippery Rock

Coach: Tom Meling, first season.

Last season: 4-2.

Returning state qualifiers: Heather Urbaniak (senior, hurdles), Emily Campbell (senior, shotput), Megan Stephenson (senior, sprinter).

Impact athletes: Senior —Aster Chmielewski (hurdles). Freshmen — Brady Dalton (hurdles, long jump), Tabitha Donaldson (distance).

Meling says: “The strength of the girls is that we have a lot of quality individuals. We will struggle against the large schools in dual meets because we have large numbers.”

Union

Coach: Lacey Blose, second season.

Last season: 1-8.

Returning state qualifiers: None.

Impact athletes: Seniors — Shannon Roberst (800), Sydney Varner (javelin), Danielle Curry (shotput). Junior — Tabby Dietz (100, 200, 4x100 relay). Sophomore — Raianne Chains (400). Freshman — Lexey Shick (sprints, jumps).

Blose says: “We’re hoping to get more kids to districts. I’m hoping the 4x400 will be able to have a podium finish (at districts).”