The marathon has become a sprint.

The WPIAL Class AAA Wrestling Tournament — normally a three-day event — has been reduced to one day this year and a three-match run to district gold.

“It seems like such a strange thing this year,” Butler coach Scott Stoner said.

The tournament takes place Saturday at Canon-McMillan High School with eight wrestlers in each weight class. The top three move on to the West AAA Regional next weekend in Altoona.

Seneca Valley has six wrestlers in the tourney, including No. 1 seeds Tyler Chappell (28-2) at 106 pounds, Dylan Chappell (29-2) at 132 and Alejandro Herrera-Rondon (30-0) at 152. Dylan Chappell and Herrera-Rondon are defending WPIAL champions.

“You obviously feel good about having top seeds, but there is some added pressure there because you're expected to win,” SV coach Kevin Wildrick said. “But with this (eight-wrestler) set-up, everyone's in a good spot.

“Alejandro has been strong all year. State-placer caliber kids he used to beat by a couple of points, he's beating now by major decision at times. He keeps getting better.”

The Raiders' other WPIAL qualifiers are Connor Smith (27-4) at 113, Liam Volk-Klos (23-11) at 189 and Sennaca Harvey (21-10) at 285.

Butler's Cooper Baxter (19-2) is seeded third at 189 after beginning the season 0-2. One of his two losses is to Hampton's Justin Hart, the top seed at that weight class.

“Cooper defeated Volk-Klos at the sub-section and section tournament,” Stoner said. “They will likely wrestle again at this tournament and may see each other in the regional and state meets. It's crazy.”

The Tornado's other WPIAL qualifiers are Nick Schaukowitsch (18-3) at 126, Nate McMaster (16-5) at 152 and Jake Pomykata (16-4) at 285.

McMaster needs six wins to reach 100 for his career.

“We lost a good 13 matches this year because of the shortened schedule or he'd be there now,” Stoner said. “Even if he doesn't get it, Nate is a guy we pulled out of gym class in junior high. He's got a lot to be proud of.

“Nick Schaukowitsch is the same way. We pulled him out of gym class and now he's in the WPIAL Tournament, going up against a multi-time state placer.”

Schaukowitsch wrestles Carter Dibert (27-0) of Franklin Regional in the first round.

“A David and Goliath type match ... but hey, you take your shot,” Stoner said.

The 285-pound division features athletic standouts William McChesney (19-3) of Greensburg Salem and Isaiah Vance (27-1) of Hempfield.

“Heavyweight wrestlers are the big swingers,” Stoner said. “They swing for the fence, but sometimes they strike out.

“I'll say this ... no one works harder than Jake Pomykata. He's got some moves he may be able to have work for him.”

Mars' Keith Brubach (16-2) is competing at the 172-pound weight class.

A lot of quality wrestlers fell short of the WPIAL tournament under this year's format.

“I'm not a fan,” Wildrick said of this year's format. “I understand they did what they had to do under the circumstances this year, but some third-place kids didn't get out of the section because their weight class was particularly strong.

“Those kids may be able to beat some of the guys in the WPIAL field, but won't get the chance now.”