Wrestling is a sport of steps — and some are higher up the staircase than others.

Seneca Valley's Louis Newell placed second at the PIAA Championships last year. He wants a state title.

Slippery Rock's Mike Doerflinger placed sixth at the state meet a year ago. He wants to place higher.

Mars' Alex Hornfeck and Butler's Christian Sequete fell a match short of qualifying for the PIAA tourney. They want to get there.

Numerous other wrestlers begin the 2017-18 season with other goals in mind. Here is a look at Butler County teams this season:

Butler

Coach: Scott Stoner, 25th year, 335-160, 7th on WPIAL all-time dual match win list

2017 graduates wrestling in college: Caleb Baxter (Waynesburg), Seth McCrea (Thiel), Scott Dietrich (Mercyhurst)

Top returnees: Christian Sequete (senior, 182) 18-5; Jack Codispot (junior, 145) 30-12; Justin Stewart (senior, 160-170) 13-18, Robbie Hays (senior, 160-170) 6-16, Colton Spohn (soph., 120) 15-14; Nate McDonald (soph., 138) 11-18

Top newcomers: Clayton Dressler (freshman, 106); Nate McMaster (freshman, 126); Steven Green (freshman, 132); Ian Thompson (junior, 285); Pacey Rokoci (junior, 220)

Stoner says: “Our numbers are down with only 15 wrestlers on the varsity. We will probably have to forfeit a couple of weight classes, which will make it hard for us to win a lot of dual matches. We'll work on guys' individual skills and will get better as we go along.”

C.W. North Catholic

Coach: Troy Benson, program suspended due to no wrestlers

Only returnee: Matt Ferraro (junior, 132) 26-5

Benson says: “I'm working privately with Matt this year. He will enter weekend tournaments and hopes to reach the state tournament. He was knocked out in regional competition last year.

Knoch

Coach: Steve Carney, fourth year

Top Returnees: Kameron Grassi (soph., 132) 13-13; Eric Green (senior, 182) 19-8; Guy DeLeonardis (soph., 145) 8-9; Brendan Hinchberger (soph., 152) 12-15; Hunter Oskin (junior, 126) 10-16

Top Newcomers: Saavon Mosby (junior, 285) 28-11 at Butler; Ty Misitis (freshman, 106); Brandon Rogers (freshman, 138); Sam Freyermuth (freshman, 160); Ernie Zilka (soph., 170); Kody Moore (freshman, 195); Dalton Reed (freshman, 220)

Carney says: “I'm excited about this year. We have a good group of kids and this is the fullest our room has been since I've been here. We're getting off to a good start.”

Mars

Coach: Jason Wilk, fourth year

Top returnees: Alex Hornfeck (senior, 145) 31-3; Jake Richardson (soph., 160) 13-1; junior Noah Hunkele (junior, 106) 20-10; Nolan Wicker (senior, 126) 21-15; Aidan Leshinsky (senior, 132) 20-16

Top newcomer: Keith Brubach (freshman, 113)

Wilk says: “Our goals are to break through and reach the se ction and WPIAL team tournaments for the first time. Alex Hornfeck lost in double overtime for fourth place in the WPIAL last year and a berth at states. He wants to get there and place this year.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: Kevin Wildrick, seventh year

Top returnees: Louis Newell (senior, 126) 41-5, state runner-up; Jason Geyer (junior, 132) 26-12; Drew Vlasnik (soph., 145-152) 23-12; Nick Montalbano (junior, 145) 22-13; Ty Gross (senior, 170) 29-14)

Top newcomers: Dylan Chappell (freshman, 106-113); Alejandro Herrera (freshman, 106-113); Antonio Amelio (freshman, 132-138)

Wildrick says: “I feel like we can make a run at the section title this year and the WPIAL championship. You always have those goals, but we've got a better possibility of achieving that now than we had in the past couple of years.”