BUTLER TWP — You can't do better than a perfect season — unless you do it twice.

Or back-to-back.

Butler seventh-graders Jamie Friel, Sarah Lucas, Avery Maier, Madi McGarrah, Evie Paserba and Maura Penrod have done the latter.

Those six girls played on the Golden Tornado's 12-0 volleyball team last fall. They were part of a 13-player roster that recently completed a 20-0 basketball season.

That's 32 wins and zero losses.

“Their goal since last summer was not to lose a game,” Butler seventh-grade volleyball coach Hannah Williams said. “The volleyball team was undefeated two years ago and lost only twice last season.

“These girls work so hard and they are non-stop. It's done with one sport, on to the next. Most of them will be running track this spring.”

Many of the girls come from athletic families. Avery Maier's father is Butler varsity girls basketball coach and former Golden Tornado hoop standout Mark Maier. Sarah Lucas is the youngest daughter of Butler varsity girls volleyball coach Meghan Lucas.

Madi McGarrah is the daughter of former Tornado hoop star Kevin McGarrah. Evie Paserba is daughter of former Butler baseball player Kris Paserba and Maura Penrod's family has had a number of Butler athletes.

Williams can identify with such legacies. Her father is Butler varsity track coach John Williams.

“A lot of these girls have developed their competitive spirit through their families,” she said. “They grew up with sports.”

Tornado seventh grade girls basketball coach Alicia Bly played multiple sports at Karns City and applauds the seventh grade girls for doing the same.

“We have a number of tall, very athletic girls,” Bly said. “They play hard. They practice hard. They can never get enough of it.

“We had one stretch this year where we played six games in seven days. I went with a light practice in between and at the end of it, they wanted more. They didn't feel they practiced hard enough.”

While volleyball and basketball utilize similar skills, “you're using different muscles in different ways,” Bly said. “That's good for these kids.”

High school volleyball coach Meghan Lucas agreed.

“These girls have all put the work in, put the time in,” she said. “All of them keep going year-round. When you're in seventh grade, that's what you should be doing.

“At that age, try as many different things as you can. These kids all get along and they've got that fire in their belly. They simply don't want to lose.”

The seventh grade girls basketball team was sparked by Amelia McMichael — daughter of former 6-foot-8 Butler basketball player Chris McMichael — who led the league in scoring, averaging 16 points per game.

“Amelia scored 258 points this year. No one else scored more than 65. She was fun to watch,” Bly said.

The basketball team's closest game this year was Jan. 27 against North Allegheny, when Evie Paserba scored the winning bucket on a layup with 28 seconds left.

Coach Lucas said Sarah was “placed in the ball cart ... That was her packing place” when she was little and her mother brought her to volleyball practice.

“We never forced volleyball or any sport open our kids,” Lucas said. “But when they grow up all around it and see their mother's passion for it ... Some of that can rub off.”

Lucas' oldest daughter is playing volleyball at Shippensburg. Another one recently committed to Grove City College “and our third daughter is getting ready to commit,” she said.

Mark Maier lauded the quality feeder programs in the Butler system. Like Bly, he encourages kids to play multiple sports.

“Just from the social aspect, they're doing it with their buddies,” he said. “It's a great accomplishment, going undefeated in two sports like that. It's hard enough to do it in one.

“These kids will always remember that feat. Most kids, once they're done with school, they won't put on an athletic uniform again. Enjoy it while you can.”