One losing season was enough for Hank Keller.

The Butler boys golf coach had nine winning seasons to start his career at Butler. Then came last year's 5-12 performance.

"We're definitely looking to improve on last year's record," said Keller. "We have some young talent and are looking to build the program around them."

Following are preview capsules for the 11 area boys' golf teams and two area girls' teams.

A-C Valley

Coach:

Dave Sherman, third year

2003 record:

The Falcons lost only one match and won the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference

Home course:

Foxburg Country Club

Key players lost:

Jesse Morrison and Jason Roessing

Top returning players:

Seniors Andy Smith and Chris Prosser, juniors Ted Marron, Sean Foust and John Kaufman

In the mix:

Sophomores Cody Anthony and Shawn Courson

Sherman says:

"We've got a lot of younger kids, but repeating as KSAC champs is still a goal of ours."

Butler

Coach:

Hank Keller, 11th year

2003 record:

5-12

Home course:

Butler Country Club

Key players lost:

Nate Bilski, Travis Shingleton, Jonathan Drone and Brady Randall

Top returning players:

Seniors Cory Young and Joe Palermo; juniors Aaron Ordy and Brandon Johnston; sophomore Collin Randall

In the mix:

Sophomore Nick Blymiller and freshmen Matt Maloy and Andrew Shakley

Keller says:

"We're hoping this group of kids can get us back to our winning ways. How much the younger players develop will determine how good we are this year."

Freeport

Coach:

Dave Panach, 15th year

2003 record:

15-5

Home course:

Buffalo Golf Course

Key players lost:

Eight seniors from 2003 including Bill Giesler, Adam Isenberg, Ryan Fuhrman, Aaron Staricek, Joe Musloe and Troy Barker

Top returning players:

Senior Matt Krchnak; juniors Joe Krowsoski, Dan Wesoloski and Dan Mattioli

In the mix:

Senior Josh Craig and sophomore Tyler Hill

Panach says:

"We've got a great bunch of kids this year. Hopefully, after we get a few matches in, they will jell and become a tight-knit group."

Grove City

Coach:

Pat Forese, fifth year

2003 record:

The Eagles finished with a .500 record

Home course:

Grove City Country Club

Key players lost:

Jesse Boles

Top returning players:

Junior Zach Frankenburger and sophomore Cameron Peterson

In the mix:

Junior Tony Campagna, sophomore Phil Lehman and freshman Derek Forese

Forese says:

"If we will get good play from our three through six guys, we should be competitive in our league."

Karns City

Coach:

Pat Preston, third year

2003 record:

The Gremlins finished third in the KSAC

Home course:

St. Jude Golf Club

Key players lost:

Shayne Bell, Travis Simpson and Neil Early

Top returning players:

Senior Shannon Christie and juniors Logan McCracken and Nathan Shirey

In the mix:

Sophomores Greg Parker and Shane Vensel

Preston says:

"We've got a young team but should improve as the year goes on."

Knoch

Coach:

Rob Voltz, third year

2003 record:

8-6

Home course:

Saxon Golf Course

Key players lost:

Andrew Rihn, Corey Brant, Noah Gammell, Jace Bazzani and Jesse Smolen

Top returning players:

Senior Kevin Zitzman and juniors Nate Rihn and Rob Gillespie

In the mix:

Sophomores Tom Gillespie, Cam Fusko and John Hook

Voltz says:

"The last two years we were able to finish around .500. If we can't improve on that, hopefully we can still be competitive."

Mars (boys)

Coach:

Tim Tyler, third year

2003 record:

10-8

Home course:

Rittswood Golf Course

Key players lost:

Mike Skurko, Zach Modig and Ryan Cooper

Top returning players:

Seniors Matt Lewis, Steve Brace and T.J. Bartley; sophomore Brian Routhieaux

In the mix:

Juniors Jeff Baur and Steve Smail

Tyler says:

"Most of the teams in our section lost their top players, though Shady Side Academy always has seven or eight strong kids. But we should be all right."

Mars (girls)

Coach:

Bill Pettigrew, first year

2003 record:

first year for program

Home course:

Rittswood Golf Course

In the mix:

Juniors Lauren Chadowski and Becky Pappas; sophomores Lauren Glew and Marisa Glew; freshmen Lisa Moser and Kathleen Howell

Pettigrew says:

"We're just glad to see the girls have interest in the program. Being that this is our first year, we'll go from there."

Moniteau

Coach:

Jay Wagner, first year

2003 record:

N/A

Home course:

Stoughton Acres Golf Course

Key players lost:

Matt Neff and Joe Tiche

Top returning players:

Senior Tyler Hunter and sophomore Devin Christie

In the mix:

Seniors Jeremy Bean and Nathan Markle

Coach says:

"We are very young and inexperienced. When five of your 10 kids have never played before, it's going to be difficult."

Seneca Valley (boys)

Coach:

Steve Mayes, 15th year

2003 record:

11-3 (lost in first round of WPIAL playoffs)

Home course:

Cranberry Highlands

Key players lost:

Kyle Ward, Vince Sabatine and Andy Zipf

Top returning players:

Senior Mike Riederer and juniors Jason Camp and Brett Spagnola

In the mix:

Juniors Mike Boros, Eric Hajduk, Kevin Day and Wes Roberts

Mayes says:

"We'd like to go undefeated at home. Our boys take great pride in that. After that, our goals are to make the playoffs and win the section."

Seneca Valley (girls)

Coach:

Lynn Wagner, fifth year

2003 record:

1

Home course:

Connoquenessing Country Club

Key players lost:

Caitlin Campbell

Top returning players:

Seniors Lauren Torso and Whitney Wilkinson

In the mix:

Sophomores Chelsey Schade and Jill Bramby; freshman Shannon O'Halloran

Wagner says:

"I'm excited about this year's team. We've got some young kids who are coming along well."

Slippery Rock

Coach:

Merle Whitmer, 20th year

2003 record:

0-18

Home course:

Oakview Golf Course

Key players lost:

Phillip Daugherty and Jacob Pastrovich

Top returning players:

seniors Wes LeFebvre and Matt Ralcewicz

In the mix:

seniors Josh Hoover and Tim Busi; freshmen Nick Cress

Whitmer says:

"The only one of our section opponents we know anything about is Grove City. Maplewood, Lakeview and the others, we know nothing about."

Union

Coach:

Tom Minick, sixth year

2003 record:

10-4-1

Home course:

Clarion Oaks Golf Course

Key players lost:

Nick McCall, Adam Mong, Brad Koch and Dustin Sams

Top returning players:

Seniors Cody Mortimer, Landen Cicciarelli, Devin Davis and junior Billy Burns

In the mix:

Senior Adam Milanovich, juniors Chad Carmichael and Chris Beichner; freshmen Clay Burns, Spencer Verner and John Heeter

Minick says:

"Cody, Landen and Devin all have two years of varsity experience and their skills will be a plus."