BUTLER TWP — Butler’s boys bowling success may have arrived a year early last season.

Now it may be here to stay.

The Golden Tornado boys finished second in the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Bowling League last season with a relatively young lineup. The team then placed sixth at the state meet.

“The success we had last year was a fantastic year,” third-year Butler coach Bob Cupp said. “It happened a year sooner than I expected.

“Now we’ve got a full team on the boys side with 12 or 13 guys averaging well above 170.”

The Tornado’s six seniors are led by Hunter Lefever (200 average), Matt Wetzel (198), David Howell (187), Kyle Bintrim (186), Jeffrey Cupp (185) and Nick Bonomo (180).

Nick Huff, a junior, averages 207 and will be the Tornado’s anchor bowler. Shawn Marcellus is a sophomore “who may be our best bowler,” Cupp said.

He added that the boys team is keeping 18 bowlers because of the six seniors on the roster.

“That’s going to be a lot of bowlers to lose in one year and we want to get other bowlers varsity experience so we can keep this cycle going,” Cupp said.

“The only senior we lost last year was Dan Bellis and he was our definite leader. We need to have someone else step into that role.”

The Tornado girls have lost a number of standout bowlers from a year ago, including individual state champion Megan Paul, region champion MiKayla White, Baylee Verner and Abby Bagley.

Paul is bowling for the Lindenwood (Mo.) University team this season.

Butler’s girls roster has only eight bowlers. Sophomore Nicole Nebel is the top returnee with a 169 average. Other sophomores on the squad include Ashley McCue (147), Mercedes Belch (142), Abby Kyle and Morgan Rosenbauer.

Freshman Jordyn Graham figures to crack the starting lineup. Senior twins Merissa and Brianna Stivason will contribute as well.

“We’re trying hard to recruit girls in the school to come out for the team,” Cupp said. “We want to increase those numbers.”

Butler competes in Section 2 of the WPIBL with Armstrong, Karns City, Knoch, Mars and Seneca Valley.

The season gets under way today with Seneca Valley traveling to Armstrong, Knoch at Butler and Karns City at Mars.

“Armstrong has a great program and they will replenish after graduation losses,” Cupp said. “Mars girls will be very good, too.”

Mars coach Ralph Jockel said his team opens the season against Butler and Armstrong “so we’ll see right away where we’re at.”

Alison Bruce, a junior at Mars this year, was one of the top bowlers in the section last year with a 167 average. Karlie Arendt is a junior with a 162 average while Hali Hartley averages 158.

The Planets have eight boys and seven girls in the program. Seniors Daniel Schell and Kyle Barnes lead the boys with averages of 157 and 150, respectively.

“I expect our girls to finish among the top three in the section,” Jockel said.

Denny Morrow, now in his seventh year, is the only bowling coach Karns City has ever had. He anticipates having 15 to 20 bowlers this season, but only a handful of girls on the roster.

“Our boys should be able to compete with anyone we play,” Morrow said. “We’ve got three very solid guys right now.”

Grant Curdo, a senior, averages 175 while junior Noah Claypoole is at 170. Jacob Weckerly, a freshman who has bowled a 239 game and 600 series in the junior program at Bruin Lanes, will add to the lineup.

On the girls side, juniors Mackenzee Claypoole and Courtney Sutton — both averaging 150 — top the lineup.

Nick Cooter is the new coach at Knoch as former coach Kevin Hindman is now bowling and attending college at Morehead State in Kentucky. The Knights have nine boys and five girls in the program.

“We’ve got some solid individuals who could do well in the region,” Cooter said.

Three bowlers — sophomore Brian Hindman, juniors Derek McGill and Dylan McCommon — average 190 or better. Bill Sweeney, a senior, averages between 170 and 180.

Chelsea Cimbala tops the Knoch girls with a 170 average.

“Not many teams in our section will field a full girls lineup,” Cooter said. “I think our boys have a good opportunity to do well.”

Terry Cochran is in his fourth year at Seneca Valley and has nine bowlers. Juniors Tyler Preininger, Derek Weaver and Brady McBrian lead the boys with approximate 165 averages.

Cochan has four girls on the team, none with high averages.

“There is definite potential there, though,” he said. “Our girls don’t realize yet how good they can be. When it’s all said and done, I think we’ll have a winning season.”