BUTLER TWP — Butler High School's varsity boys and girls bowling teams have one senior each.

Beyond that, the boys have much more on-lane experience than the girls, though the goal remains the same for both. Get to the regionals and go from there.

“They're only taking the top two teams from each (WPIBL) section this year,” Golden Tornado coach Bob Cupp said. “But they've added four wild-card teams this season, based on average.

“If our girls can't finish in the top two, I think we stand a good chance of getting in that way.”

Butler's girls are 1-1 thus far, losing to Kiski Area and defeating Shaler. Cupp considers Deer Lakes to be the section favorite on the girls side.

While the Tornado girls have three experienced bowlers at the top of the lineup, the rest of the squad is relatively inexperienced.

The boys feature plenty of bowlers sporting high averages early.

“We had to use eight guys in our first match because we were struggling that day,” Cupp said. “Since then, our game has come together. We have a lot of depth on the boys side.

“There's as many as 10 guys who are good enough to bowl varsity. The problem is, there's only so many spots.”

Logan McClaine, a sophomore, was one of the eight bowlers Cupp used in the season opener. He bowled a 203 in his only game. Getting back in the starting five may be a challenge.

Four of the five starting spots are held down by veteran bowlers. Brock Hepler, the team's lone senior, had a 187 average early. Junior Alex Ekas averaged 195, junior Luke Keene 182 and junior Rocco Rice 173 after a handful of games.

Eric Devore, another junior, rolled a 222 game and 596 series in his first action of the season.

“If Eric is able to anchor down that fifth spot, our boys lineup should be as good as anybody's,” Cupp said.

For the girls, junior Natalie Coughenour averaged 192 through her first six games this year. Sophomore Kelsee McConnell and senior Harley Kriess were both averaging 167.

Freshman Makenzie Zimmerman (130) and junior Avery Cooper (121) hope to round out that lineup.

“Both of those girls bowled very well in our win over Shaler,” Cupp said. “We'll need them to contribute this season.”

Butler's boys and girls finished second in the WPIBL Championships last season. The Tornado girls placed fourth in the regional, the boys fifth, with neither team advancing to the state tourney.

Butler's boys (2-0) and girls return to action Jan. 5, hosting Deer Lakes at Family Bowlaway. They travel to North Allegheny Jan. 7.

“Those are big matches right after the (holiday) break,” Cupp said. “Our season may be determined pretty quickly.”