What we learned at Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day | New looks in Butler, Knoch, Seneca Valley, more
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Slippery Rock boys basketball head coach Ricci Larocco poses with Luke Caldwell (1), Fred Campagna (23), and Andrew Harry (4) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's girls basketball players Emily Matz (25), Sayge Brunst (22) and Alyssa Thompson (15) pose for a fun photo during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch boys basketball's Liam Avon (24) and Roman DeFelice (13) pose for a fun photo during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Mars' girls basketball players Karmella Vigliotti (33) and Vivian Black (3) pose for a fun photo during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Mars' girls basketball players Karmella Vigliotti (33) and Vivian Black (3) pose for a fun photo during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch boys basketball's Liam Avon (24) and Roman DeFelice (13) pose for a fun photo during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport boys basketball assistant coach Jalen Brown poses for a fun photo with players Brayden Riddell (3) and Max Ziggo (4) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic girls basketball players Brady Wehner (5) and Maggie Tatar (23) pose for a fun photo during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic girls head basketball coach Molly Rottman poses for a fun photo with Brady Wehner (5) and Maggie Tatar (23) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley boys basketball head coach Steve Lodovico poses for a fun photo with players Jack Catheart (5) and Daniel Forst (1) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Union boys basketball head coach Logan Pistorius poses for a fun photo with Traelan Pinson (35), Hayden Corle (10), and Luca Ruffner (5) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Freeport girls basketball head coach Nate Conroy poses for a fun photo with players Lilly Holloway (3) and Macy Stivenson (5) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Union-AC Valley girls basketball head coach Kelli Kifer poses for a fun photo with players Mallorie Fair (1), Reagan Best (2), and Ruby Watson (22) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau girls head basketball coach Dee Arblaster poses for a photo with Emily Matz (25), Alyssa Thompson (15) and Sayge Brunst (22) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley girls basketball head coach Dorothea Epps poses for a fun photo with players Taylor Dixon (11), Reece McFadden (2) and Ella Omastis (21) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau girls head basketball coach Dee Arblaster poses for a fun photo with Emily Matz (25), Alyssa Thompson (15) and Sayge Brunst (22) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau boys basketball head coach Jake Jewart poses for a fun photo with Carson Minnear (4), Braden Beachem (45) and Weston Cook (20) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic boys basketball head coach Jim Long poses for a fun photo with Zac Zolkowski (2), Jackson Long (13), and Brady Trout (3) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Mars' Adam Petcash (0) and Sam Miller (14) pose for a fun photo during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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A-C Valley boys basketball head coach Caleb Penny poses for a fun photo with Noah Ithen (1), Jake Fisher (24), and Andrew Preston (13) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Knoch girls basketball head coach Shane McGraw poses for a fun photo with players Aubrey Spencer (13), Liv Foster (10) and Beyla Nunes (11) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler boys basketball head coach Aiden Albert poses for a fun photo with Cael Hanley (3), Joseph Porneluzi (23) and Aden Livermore (10) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler girls head basketball coach Mark Maier poses for a fun photo with players Eva Stutz (10), Payton Kamerer (13), and Julianna Lockwood (5) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City boys basketball head coach Jalen Price poses for a fun photo with players Bryce Galan (3), Cole Johnston (11), and Xavier Bartop (23) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock girls basketball head coach Jeff Steele poses for fun photos with players Vanessa Hinkle (14), Brielle Jordan (10), and Gia Kovacik (12) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City girls basketball head coach Steve Andreassi has fun posing for a photo with players, from left, Alivia Farren (5), Hannah Summerville (3) and Maddie Mahood (52) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City girls basketball head coach Steve Andreassi has fun posing for a photo with players, from left, Alivia Farren (5), Hannah Summerville (3) and Maddie Mahood (52) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Karns City girls basketball head coach Steve Andreassi has fun posing for a photo with players, from left, Alivia Farren (5), Maddie Mahood (52) and Hannah Summerville (3) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's girls basketball players Alyssa Thompson (15), Emily Matz (25) and Sayge Brunst (22) stand over the boys' Braden Beachem, left, Weston Cook and Carson Minnear during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Butler girls head basketball coach Mark Maier poses for a fun photo with players Eva Stutz (10), Payton Kamerer (13), and Julianna Lockwood (5) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Andrew Jackson/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Ella Omasits (21) poses for a portrait during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Brendan Howe interviews Knoch's Roman DeFelice (13) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Zac Zolkowski (2) plays a pingpong game during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Eagle photographer Andrew Jackson photographs Karns City's Maddie Mahood (52) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Brady Trout (3) plays a pingpong game during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Radio's Tyler Friel interviews the Moniteau boys basketball team during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Eagle photographer Andrew Jackson photographs the Karns City girls basketball team during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Butler Eagle's Gricel Hernandez records the Slippery Rock boys basketball team during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Eva Stutz (10) interviews with Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Merda Adams for the "Eye On Sports" podcast during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley's Reece McFadden (2) poses for a portrait during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Eagle photographer Andrew Jackson photographs the the Union/A-C Valley girls basketball team during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Moniteau's Weston Cook, center, and other members of the boys basketball team interview with Butler Radio's Tyler Friel during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars' Vivian Black, left, and Karmella Vigliotti interview with Butler Radio's Tyler Friel during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Eagle photographer Andrew Jackson speaks with the Union/A-C Valley girls basketball team during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Eagle photographer Andrew Jackson speaks with the Seneca Valley girl's basketball team during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Eagle reporter Derek Pyda interviews Karns City girls basketball coach Steve Andreassi during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler's Eva Stutz (10) interviews with Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Merda Adams for the "Eye On Sports" podcast during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Moniteau girls basketball team interview with Butler Radio's Tyler Friel during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Eagle photographer Andrew Jackson shows a photo to Slippery Rock boys basketball coach Ricci LaRocco during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Brielle Jordan (10) interviews with Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Merda Adams for the "Eye On Sports" podcast during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Slippery Rock's Brielle Jordan (10) interviews with Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Merda Adams for the "Eye On Sports" podcast during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Butler Eagle sports editor Jake Merda Adams interviews North Catholic's Brady Wehner (5) for the "Eye On Sports" podcast during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day held Monday, Nov. 9, 2026, at Butler County Community College. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
BUTLER TWP — Butler County-area boys and girls teams unofficially tipped off the 2026-27 season Monday night at Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day.
The event brought in 21 schools from around the county to talk about themselves and this year’s expectations, take photos and get ready for the start of the season. Over the coming weeks, the Eagle will be publishing preseason players to watch lists, analysis and more ahead of opening night Dec. 4.
Here are 11 things we learned from media day:
Butler's girls will be without senior point guard Malina McElroy this season.
A three-year starter, McElroy decided not to return to basketball this year after suffering a shoulder injury midway through last season.
McElroy is a lacrosse standout and missed the spring season because of the injury. She has committed to Westminster College for the sport.
“Malina doesn't want to risk getting hurt and missing another lacrosse season,” Butler head coach Mark Maier said. “That's understandable. She's a talented, veteran player we're going to miss, but it does open up playing time for others to step in.”
– John Enrietto
Freeport's girls, now under the direction of first-year coach Nate Conroy, are waiting on four of their starters, including senior guard Macy Stivenson, to be done with state playoff runs with the volleyball and soccer teams, both of which won WPIAL titles.
Senior guard Lilly Holloway is anxiously awaiting them.
“Kinda nervous, because I just want them to hurry up and be done,” Holloway said. “And I wanna be able to start open gyms with them, but I'm still practicing all the time, multiple times a week with the other girls and the younger girls. I think the younger girls are starting to really bring their intensity up because they are the only ones there with me, so it's helping them learn a lot.”
– Brendan Howe
Defending WPIAL Class 4A boys basketball champion Knoch will be counting on more depth this year than last.
Post player Liam Avon and point guard Roman DeFelice are the team's lone returning starters. Evan Fink — last year's sixth man — will be a starter.
Mason Heller, Cade Sundie, Owen Gillis, Dylan Avon, Jack and Quinn McCool will all see plenty of varsity minutes.
“Just because they didn't get varsity minutes last year, these guys are experienced, good basketball players,” Liam Avon said. “They are seniors and it's their time. I know they're going to do well.”
– Enrietto
Knoch went 4-18 a campaign ago, but you wouldn't know it by the excitement the Knights have about the upcoming season.
“Just because we didn't win everything doesn't mean that's what we are,” senior Olyvian Foster said. “Yeah, we had a losing record, but we're not a losing team. All put together, I think we all work really well.”
Bonding as a team comes easy for Knoch, which brings a sort of family vibe to the court.
“It's not like we have to be like, 'Oh well, this person has this, and this person has this,'” Foster said. “We're all willing to change our own schedules to be together.”
– Howe
Moniteau's girls return all five starters in guards Alyssa Thompson, Maddy Eury and Sayge Brunst; forward Emily Matz and center Charlotte Thompson.
“It's a lot of experience, and we hope to hit the ground running,” Moniteau head coach Dee Arblaster said.
Brunst will be the team's main point guard, though Eury will be able to spell her.
Matz is the leader of the group after averaging 9.2 points and 6.9 rebounds as a junior last year.
“When she is on the floor, we are a much better team,” Arblaster said. “She goes 120% all the time.”
– Derek Pyda
North Catholic's girls will feature a pair of 6-footers in the starting lineup in junior guard Sam Weir (6-1) and senior forward/center Lauren Reitz (6-2).
“Obviously, it's going to allow us to be strong defensively in the paint,” North head coach Molly Rottmann said. “But they're both very athletic girls, and are very effective when we need to go to a full-court press.”
As a pair in the 2025-26 season, Weir and Reitz produced a combined 18.2 points and 10.2 rebounds per game.
“Between the two of them, we can score inside and outside,” Rottmann said. “They are going to cause matchup issues for our opponents.”
– Pyda
North Catholic boys basketball team is looking to keep the good times rolling as they finished last season with a record of 21-7.
Things will look a little different this year as the team lost two of their most talented seniors, Jason Frederick and Jude Rottmann. Frederick averaged 23 points per game last season and Rottmann averaged 16. Not to mention new head coach Jim Long takes over.
“We lost Tom Arth and Jude Rottmann, and we have his little brother, but it is a big loss. We also had a player transfer out to Central Catholic,” Long said.
The transfer is a big hit to the Trojans, as Brandon Pickette was a standout freshman, averaging 14 points per game, five rebounds per game and 25 3-pointers last season.
– Scott Giebel
Seneca Valley girls junior Reece McFadden can play any of the five positions on the court. That versatility is a big reason why she attracted attention from numerous Division I colleges.
McFadden verbally committed to Youngstown State over the summer and is now focused on being the leader for the Raiders.
“She just kept getting better and better with each game,” SV head coach Dorothea Epps said of McFadden's sophomore campaign, which included 14 points, three rebounds and 2.8 assists per game. “She's a vocal leader and knows the game so well. She's our centerpiece.”
With the graduation of star guard Natalie Hambly from last year's WPIAL semifinalist, McFadden said she expects to spend a lot of time in the backcourt this season.
– Pyda
Seneca Valley boys’ personnel will look different under new head coach Steve Lodovico. The way the Raiders look on the court will change, as well. Conditioning will play a huge role in what the results look like.
“I think it's a lot to fill in,” 6-6 senior forward Daniel Forst said. “So we've been pushing hard, getting (ready). We're gonna try and run a fast system, getting out, running, those things. It's a lot of change, but I think we're filling in good. … We haven't learned all our sets and everything yet.”
– Howe
Two years ago, Slippery Rock girls basketball was a running team under first-year head coach Jeff Steele.
“We sat in the halfcourt for much of last season because that's where Madison (Romanovich) and Brielle (Jordan) thrived,” Steele said.
The duo helped the Rockets win 20 games last season. But Romanovich, last year's Butler Eagle Girls Basketball Player of the Year (21.7 ppg., 6.8 rpg), has graduated, and Jordan (12.9 ppg., 2.7 apg.) will not play this season due to a torn ACL. Jordan committed to Concord recently.
“We're going to play with pace again and see who steps up,” Steele said.
Returning leaders include juniors Gia Kovacik (6.3 ppg.) and Vanessa Hinkle (7.3 rpg.).
– Pyda
Shooting the ball more was a common theme at media day for the Union/A-C Valley girls basketball team as they try to make up for losing two of their best players.
Emma Raschiatore and Maddy Dehart both graduated, taking with them 5.5 points per game (Raschiatore) and 16.9 points and 12 rebounds per game (Dehart).
Junior Raelynn Fletcher and senior Mallorie Fair will be stepping into leadership roles in the absence of Raschiatore and Dehart, as well as providing scoring. Fletcher averaged 7.6 points per game last season, and Fair averaged 4.1.
“We just lost two of our best players, so I think we are just starting to come together because we are a younger team and we need to establish connections with the girls,” Fair said.
Seniors Reagan Best and Ruby Watson added they also need to step up as leaders, and they want to push themselves to shoot more.
– Giebel
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Thank you to our sponsors: Butler County Community College, The Beacon, Troy-Alan Chevrolet Buick GMC and Robert Stephens Custom Jewelers, for helping make today’s event possible.
