Call it a changing of the guard.

Butler County area high school wrestling is entering a bit of a transition period this season.

• Butler graduated seven starters and has eight freshmen or sophomores contending to replace them.

• Mars has 10 freshmen or sophomores in its lineup and has built its system to 50 wrestlers.

• Bob Becker, a member of Slippery Rock's first high school wrestling team, has returned from the Air Force and joins fellow former Rockets wrestler Jeff Kline as co-head coach.

• Marty Ruley is entering his 31st — and final — season as Grove City coach.

• Tom Tomeo — one of Ruley's finest wrestlers — is taking over as Seneca Valley coach.

Here is a look at area wrestling teams for the coming season:

Butler

Coach:Scott Stoner, 16th year

Last year: 21-6

Starters lost:Dave Jaillet (119 pounds), Aaron Raible (135), Ken Rosenabuer (140), Jon Sanko (145, Waynesburg College), Alex Evanoff (145-160, Waynesburg College), Josh Pascazi (145-160, Duquesne), Mark Moses (HWT)

Prospective lineup:103 and 112-Brandon Bauer (Fr., 18-13), Nick Sutton (Fr.) or Randy Kelley (Fr., 18-9),

119-Zach Reges (Fr., 21-8),

125-Eric Tuck (So., 24-17),

130-Cody Hartman (So., 23-7),

135-Dillon Weston (17-0),

140-Mike Crawford (So., 32-9),

145-Cole Baxter (So., 33-8),

152-Dakoda Collins (Fr., 27-1),

160-Derek Hays (Sr., 19-14),

171-Mike Scialabba (Jr., 2-5),

189-Chris White (Jr., 12-16),

215-Marino Quercio (Sr., 14-12) or Alex Miranda (Jr., 7-10),

275-Alex Truman (Sr.)

Note:Bauer, Kelley, Reges, Hartman, Weston, Collins' records are from junior high.

Stoner says:"Seven of Baxter's losses were by one point last year and he should be a beast. Crawford is jumping from 119 to 140 and is physically maturing. We've got four WPIALqualifiers back (Tuck, Crawford, Baxter, Quercio) and Truman can bench 365 pounds at heavyweight as a first-year senior."Grove City

Coach:Marty Ruley, 31st year

Starters graduated:Craig Johnson (140-145, 30-3)

Prospective lineup:103-Ben Hoffman (Fr.),

112-None,

119-Johnny Pas Sr., 30-8) or Ian Abplanalp (Jr.),

125-Brady Fyffe (Sr., 32-7),

130-Dane Hutchinson (Sr., 20-12),

135-Aaron Anderson (Jr., 15-15),

140-Kirby Buchanan (Jr., 16 wins),

145-Rudy Retort (Sr.),

152-Wesley Phipps (Fr.),

160-None;

171-Caleb Kolb (Sr., 35-5),

189-Nick Miller (Sr., 30-7),

215-Curtis Sholler (Sr., 10 wins),

275-Tyler Miller (Sr.)

Ruley says:"I was going to retire last year, but we've got a great group of seniors and I wanted to see them through. We'll be a better tournament team than dual match team since we have holes in our lineup. We got two kids to Hershey last year (Kolb, Nick Miller) and I'd like to at least double that this year."Knoch

Coach:Mark McLaughlin, third year

Last year:2 wins

Starters graduated:None

Prospective lineup:103-None,

112-Dustin Kreiss (So.),

119-Grayson Hixon (Jr., 20 wins),

125-Brit Faust (Jr., ranked ninth by U.S. Girls Wrestling Association),

130-Graham Evans (So.),

135-Richard Richerd (Jr.),

140-Mason Kauffman (Jr.),

145-Kevin Green (Jr.),

152-Jakob Will (Jr.),

160-None,

171-David Mowry (Jr.),

189-James Zellhart (So.),

215-Joe Hlebizcki (So.),

275-Abe Zito (So.)

McLaughlin says:"Hixon is a two-time section champion and Green was around .500 last year. Will is an exchange student from Germany. All of our wrestlers came back this year and we've got a good crop of sophomores and juniors. Things are looking up."Mars

Coach:Don Cooley, fifth year

Last year:12-16

Starters graduated:Luke Selker (130, 32 wins) and Ben Ziggas (160, 20 wins)

Prospective lineup:

103-Brendan Frank (So.),

112-None;

119-Nate Nelson (Fr.),

125-Dillon Lennen (Jr.),

130-James Flynn (Fr.),

135-Luke Salter (Sr., 6-8),

140-Billy Matoka (Jr.),

145-Josh Studeny (Sr.),

152-Ronnie Daklan (So., 18-18),

160-Shane Smith (So, 12-11),

171-George Reuning (Sr.),

189-Rich Fallecker (Sr.) or Dominic Cossentino (So.) or Chris Boggs (So.),

215-Cody Moody (So.),

275-Nick Bushee (So.) or Jon Glomb (So.)

Cooley says:"We're getting there. We've got 30 kids in the junior high program. We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores coming in. We just need to continue the process and get ready to turn the corner."Seneca Valley

Coach:Tom Tomeo, first year

Last year:8-6

Starters graduated:Zach Eckstrom (HWT)

Prospective lineup:

103-Nick Dantella (So.),

112-Colton Schiever (Jr.),

119-Aaron Schettler (So.),

125-Grant Evans (Sr., 22-5),

130-Jason Hildum (Jr.) or Jimmy Nusser (Fr.),

135-Dan Papst (Jr.),

140-Nick Phillips (Jr.),

145-Nathan Cully (Jr., 23-5),

152-Shon Schettler (Sr.) or Bart Lalonde (Sr.),

160-Ryan Behing (Jr.),

171-Eric Stanley (Sr.),

189-Grant Colton (Soph.),

215-Jordan Williams (Sr.),

275-David Bonetti (Jr.)

Tomeo says:"Our younger guys are following the leadership of the veteran guys well. I see a lot of fight in this team and they're buying into the system. Create a positive atmosphere with a positive attitude and everything else will take care of itself."Slippery Rock

Co-Coaches:Bob Becker and Jeff Kline

Last year:3-6

Starters graduated:Cory Schievel (125)

Prospective lineup:

103-Ryan Gossett (Sr., 17-9),

112-Kayla Brendlinger (So.) or Gordon Bieber (Fr.),

119-Ryan Peoples (Fr.),

125-None;

130-Brett Clark (Jr.),

135-Justin Andrascik (Sr.),

140-Adam McDowell (So., 12-7),

145-DevinMcDaniels (So., 2-10) or Eric Beggs (Jr., 13-9),

152-Adam Kummer (Sr., 13-12),

160-None;

171-Mike Ramirez (Sr., 20-3),

189-None;

215-None,

275-None

Becker says: "We're excited to be back here coaching the sport we love and we're excited about opening the season. Our numbers are down and it may take a while to build them up, but we're not worried about wins, losses, individual or team performances. We just want everyone to continually improve as the year goes on."