ADAMSTWP— Last man standing.

That description aptly fits Mars senior 130-pound wrestler Luke Selker as he prepares for the Southwest Class AA regional tournament this weekend in Johnstown.

Selker (35-6) is the last Butler County wrestler competing in postseason tournaments. He needs to finish among the top five in his weight class at regionals to earn a trip to Hershey for the state tournament next weekend.

"I can definitely get there,"Selker said. "It's been my goal all year. I've worked hard to get to this point. Now I have to work harder."

Selker finished fourth in his weight class at last weekend's WPIALtournament at Charleroi. The top six in each weight class advanced to the regionals.

Selker, who started wrestling in sixth grade, never won any tournaments of note in junior high and was a .500 wrestler as a freshman and sophomore.

Last year, he posted a 23-10 record and fell one win shy of regionals.

"Luke had to pick up his work ethic and dedication to the sport, and that's what he did,"Mars coach Don Cooley said. "He hit the weight room harder and went to some wrestling clubs over the summer.

"He didn't talk for two years here. He was a shy kid. Now he's the true staple of the program. Luke just developed into a young man. ... I've watched him grow up for four years now."

Selker was one of few Mars wrestlers to post a winning record this season. Ben Ziggas was 20-10 at 160 pounds, but was injured just before the section meet.

The other three Planets wrestlers to qualify for the WPIALmeet, Billy Matoka (15-19) at 135 pounds, Josh Studeny (10-22) at 140 and C.J. Wilson (11-19) at 152), did not win a match there.

Selker said he worked out in the room with Matoka and Studeny on a regular basis.

"They're both young guys in their second year of wrestling,"he said. "I showed them the drills and some of the work it takes to reach the next level.

"When myself and the other seniors move on, someone has to take our spots and keep the program developing. We won 11 (dual) matches this year. Last year, we won six. We're headed in the right direction."

While Selker wants to win himself, he wants the Mars program to win more.

He carries a 4.0 grade-point average and will be attending the University of Pittsburgh next year.

"He's just a phenomenal kid,"Cooley said. "He's never been in trouble a day in his life and I think he's missed one practice in four years.

"He's the kind of kid you want representing your program."

Wrestling is Selker's lone sport. His father encouraged him to give it a try.

"It's a sport where you have to go out there alone and fight for yourself,"Selker said. "Dad thought I would like that and he was right.

"Your teammates support you and you support them. It's a good team sport as well as an individual sport."

Selker enters the regional tournament with a 91-46 career record. He is two wins shy of the Planets' career victory mark of 93, shared by current Penn State wrestler Adam Smetana and Slippery Rock University soccer player Steve Perri.

Headed to Pitt because his father works there, Selker is uncertain whether he will try to wrestle for the Panthers.

"I haven't decided yet," he said. "My biggest problem in wrestling is confidence. If I get in a high-pressure situation, I usually freak out and do bad.

"It's something I have to keep working at. Build my confidence in the room and it will come with time."

Cooley hopes Selker will stay with the sport in college.

"Do I think he can make Pitt's roster and succeed there?Yes, absolutely," Cooley said. "But that's up to Luke."