BUTLER TWP — Something is missing from the wall next to the lanes the Butler High School bowling team practices and competes on at Family Bowlaway.

“There’s a picture of our girls team that won the (2013) state title,” Butler bowling coach Bob Cupp said. “Our boys aren’t on that wall, have never won the state. It’s time to get them up there. This team is capable of making history this year.

“It’s no secret. That’s the goal.”

The Tornado have five bowlers — Eric DeVore (230.33), Alex Ekas (218), Luke Keene (213.75), Rocco Rice (206.83) and Zachary Kniess (202.67) — with averages above 200. All five are seniors.

DeVore, Ekas and Keene carry the top three averages in the North section on the WPIBL through 12 games. DeVore and Ekas rank 1-2 in average in the entire league. Butler is off to a 4-0 start as a result.

“We’ve never gotten off to a start like this,” Cupp said. “I mean, we’ve produced four straight 3,000 series to begin the season. That has never happened for us.”

A 3,000 series means all five Butler bowlers averaged 200 for the match. The Tornado are doing that for the season.

“All five bowlers in our lineup have the potential to win the section,” DeVore said. “We can definitely make a run at the state title. I hope to take a shot at the state singles championship.”

Keene said Butler is shooting for the WPIBL, regional and state championships.

“Honestly, I’ll be happy with one out of three,” he said. “But I think we can do more.”

Why not?

The seniors have been on Butler’s high school team for four years. They push each other. They’ve become friends with each other. Kniess rolled a 600 series in his first start of the year.

“They are competitive with each other on the lanes during practice, yet their friendship with each other has really developed over the years,” Cupp said. “When one has an off day, the others pick him up. They help each other in discussing the shot and the patterns ... Their communication is outstanding.

“As coaches, we’re just here to steer the ship and make sure we don’t sink it. This is a group of seniors that has been dead serious about what it wants to do this year from the first day of conditioning.”

The bowlers view Cupp and assistants Bill Fay, Kurt Huff and Jim Hepler as much more than that.

“They give up so much of their time every day to help us, so we want to bowl well for them,” Keene said.

DeVore, Ekas and Keene have all been bowling since they were young children. Ekas said he turned the corner as a quality bowler in eighth grade, helped along by Fay.

“Until eighth grade, I was OK, I guess, but I was bowling off the wrong foot, doing a number of things fundamentally wrong,” Ekas said. “Bill Fay taught me. He fixed my game. I owe a lot to him.”

DeVore averaged 208 last year before seeing his average jump by another 22 pins through the early portion of this season. That increase is not by coincidence.

“My friend, Jake Bowser, from Kittanning’s lanes helped put the passion in the sport for me,” DeVore said. “I began working harder on my game last year. I bowled a lot more over the summer and stay another hour after practice to work on things.

“We know the shot here (at Family Bowlaway) and it’s a tough one. When we go to other centers, figuring out the patterns is challenging ... It can be a mental game. Having so many good bowlers on the team helps in that regard. We figure it out.”

Butler’s girls are 3-1 through four matches. They have four of the top 10 averages in the North section, including senior Natalie Coughenour at 200.42 and junior Kelsee McConnell at 194. Freshman Kaylee Kniess and sophomore Makenzie Zimmerman are both averaging over 150.

Cupp admitted he was unsure what he had with the overall girls team this season. Its only loss is to league favorite Deer Lakes.

“I knew Natalie and Kelsee would be a couple of strong anchors and they’ve been exactly that,” Cupp said. “We have a young team otherwise and these girls are stepping up. We’ll never sell ourselves short. You never know what can happen.

“There is tradition in this program. Teams see the ‘Butler’ on our shirts and they know they’re in for a battle. At the same time, we know we have a target on our backs and we embrace that. As bowlers, coaches, supporters ... It keeps us focused.”