Students in Butler County were shaken that such a tragic security breach could happen at a school so close to them.

The stabbing Wednesday of 21 students and an adult security officer at Franklin Regional High School “was kind of a reality check,” said Alice Gordon, 17, a junior at Knoch High School. “They seem to be a similar school to us. It made it more real.”

It also is more real to students in the South Butler and Mars districts because those schools play Franklin Regional in football. Knoch is just 30 miles away from Franklin Regional, which is in Murrysville.

Also, some students in the county have relatives and friends who attend Franklin Regional schools.

“I was shocked,” said Mars junior Liz Matusik as she walked to her car at dismissal Wednesday. “You hear about these things happening farther away from us, but to have it happen this close really brings things into reality.”

Kendall Angeletti, a Mars junior, said she and most students were online all day checking updates on the situation.

“I was scared,” she said. “I guess it can happen anywhere, and so close to us, too.”

Brad Nanna, also a Mars junior, lamented that a Franklin Regional student was apparently able to access the school with a weapon.

“It makes us feel better about our school’s safety,” Nanna said.

Mars High School security measures include a captured entrance where a security guard must unlock a door to allow access, metal detectors, and a visual check of bags. All visitors must sign in before being allowed into the adjacent office or hallway.

“It’s shocking that a student would have that access and could bring a knife into school without being checked,” said Mars junior Tyler Grove.

Reghan Jones, a Mars junior, also said she felt scared when she heard of the stabbing.

“I’m happy we have a bag check and metal detectors, because it would be harder for this to happen here,” she said.

At Knoch, senior Adam Albert, 18, said, “It’s insane to think of how close it was. It kind of puts in perspective safety and being aware that things can happen at any second.”

The situation also was more tangible to Albert and to Gordon because both of them know Franklin Regional students.

Gordon’s childhood friend and former next-door neighbor goes to school there.

“That’s automatically where my mind went,” she said.

She learned during her lunch break that her friend was OK.

Butler High School junior Lauren Denny said, “I found out what happened at lunch from (principal) Mr. (Jeff) Schnur. I have three cousins who go to the middle school there (Franklin Regional).

“At first, I didn’t know at what school (in the district) it happened and that was pretty scary. By the end of lunch, I was told that the stabbings happened at the high school.”

“I feel safe at Butler because of the metal detectors and armed guards, but something like this could happen even at our school.

“We have practiced lockdowns. If something like this happened at Butler, I guess that is how I would treat it.”

Mark Gross, a junior at Butler, said, “When we found out, everybody was shocked. People like to think that if something like this happened at our school, they would be the brave one, the one to confront the person.

“But if it actually did happen, they might react in a different way.”

School administrators in the county also felt a closeness to the tragedy.

Mike King, South Butler athletic director and Knoch varsity football coach, said, “I think the first thing you think about is the kids at Franklin Regional. We see them so much in sports and have a lot of connections over there.

“You think about the kids at your school and your kids. You think about kids and they are right to go to school everyday. That was the last thing on your mind.”

“I called (Franklin Regional football) coach Greg Botta; we’re pretty good buddies. I called to let him know we’re thinking about them,” King said.

“He didn’t know much about the situation. I wanted to call and let him know we’re thinking about him.”

Mars Superintendent Jim Budzilek said that any situation in which students or staff are injured is “the worst tragedy any school district can ever endure.”

He said he contacted all Mars administrators Wednesday morning to make sure they all were aware of the situation just 30 miles away.

Budzilek then e-mailed all the staff members in each of the district’s five schools and two administration offices.

“I asked them to stay diligent in all their safety measures,” Budzilek said.

He said the day proceeded as usual at Mars, but the high school guidance counselors were made available to any students or staff affected by the situation at Franklin Regional.

“With today’s technology, I’m sure students are aware of the situation,” Budzilek said.

Dale Lumley, South Butler superintendent, said, “Our hearts and prayers go out to family, students and staff at Franklin Regional. (Safety) is a concern that every district shares.”

Both the Mars and Seneca Valley districts sent letters to parents reaffirming their commitments to safety.

They urged parents to talk with their children about the incident and to report any potential threats to authorities.

Eagle staff writers Paula Grubbs, Kate Malongowski, Derek Pyda and Josh Rizzo contributed to this report.