The toughest step is the current step.

Only 13 Butler County wrestlers are in action this weekend, looking to finish among the top three in their respective weight classes at various tournaments and to advance to the PIAA championships next weekend in Hershey.

No one knows more than Butler coach Scott Stoner how difficult it is to reach the state meet. It's been four years since the Golden Tornado have sent a wrestler to Hershey.

"I don't even know what the Giant Center (in Hershey) looks like," Stoner said. "I've never been there."

The new arena has been standing for only three years. Butler's last wrestler to compete in the PIAA tourney was T.J. McCance as a sophomore. He's a sophomore at Clarion University now.

"They dropped the fourth-place qualifier from the WPIAL meet three years ago and that really makes it tough," Stoner said. "With 58 Triple-A schools, there's bound to be at least three top-of-the-line wrestlers in every weight class."

Even Butler's lone section champion - 119-pound freshman Ian McLaughlin - faces a tough road. He is ranked fifth in his weight class in WPIAL Class AAA.

"And that doesn't figure in a kid from Indiana who's 32-2," Stoner said. "You have to respect a record like that. But if Ian has a good day, I'm confident he can beat any of those kids.

"He's been to national tournaments during the summer and he's faced top competition in a large atmosphere. I'm not concerned about how he'll handle this weekend."

The WPIAL meet, which involves Butler and Seneca Valley qualifiers, begins at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Canon McMillan High School. The quarterfinal round is at 6 p.m. Friday, with semifinals and finals slated for Saturday.

Stoner is concerned about freshmen Rob Runyan and Decker Hubbs, however, who have not experienced the WPIAL meet. Neither have juniors Josh Coburn and Ryan Eck.

"This can weigh on a kid mentally, especially the third-place section qualifiers who either have to wrestle a pig-tail or a top-ranked opponent right away," Stoner said.

Seneca Valley has two such wrestlers in Pat Coyne and Lee Layton. The Raiders also have a pair of section champions in Mike Rossetti and Mike Bianco.

Workout partners and best friends, Rossetti and Bianco are a combined 50-6 at 189 and 215 pounds, respectively, this season.

Rossetti was 9-13 last year and Bianco didn't wrestle.

"Having each other to work with in the room every day has helped both refine their technique," Seneca Valley coach Lee Mullett said. "That's made all the difference.

"Mike (Rossetti) has been more aggressive this year. He's gone after his opponents."

Bianco has lost just two matches at 215 pounds. He was a 145-pound sophomore the last time he competed in high school.

"To do what he's done, jumping so many weights after not competing at all last year, is amazing," Mullett said.

"All four of our guys have won more than 20 matches. They can do what they want to do this weekend. They're all capable. It's all in the mind-set."

Slippery Rock wrestlers Jeff Becker at 145 pounds and Trevor Gallo at 171 know all about that. They will join 130-pound teammate Jeff Kline at the Northwest Class AA Regional Friday and Saturday at Sharon High School.

Becker is unbeaten this season after placing third in the state meet at 135 pounds a year ago. He is 123-12 in his prep career and is bidding to become a four-time state qualifier. He placed fifth at the PIAA meet as a sophomore.

Gallo is 23-1 this season, losing only to Brian Stearns of General McLane, who is ranked among the top three at 171 pounds in Class AAA, and is 101-23 in his career. Gallo placed sixth in the state meet last season.

"Wrestlers can only peak so many times during a season and these guys know how to peak at the right times," Slippery Rock coach Fred Powell said. "Both are right on track. They're like two trains running side by side, bound for the same destination."

That destination may be the state finals. Both are seniors. Becker is headed to Old Dominion University, making that decision before the season, while Gallo is receiving Division I offers.

"Trevor is a bit of a late bloomer," Powell said. "He wasn't on anyone's chart until last year. I told him to take his time, focus on finishing out the season, then make a decision."

While Becker and Gallo qualified for regionals as District 10 champions, Kline slipped in as a third-place qualifier.

"He had to win four matches in a row to get here," Powell said. "Jeff doesn't have the quickness or overall strength of the other two, but I don't see anybody trying any harder.

"He has the potential to get through to states."

Mars' lone regional qualifier is 119-pound Adam Smetana, who has put together his second successive 30-win campaign.

Smetana qualified for the Class AA Southwest Regional in Johnstown by placing fifth at the WPIAL meet. He is 34-4 this season and has won 66 matches over the past two seasons.

Here are the Butler County wrestlers competing in regional meets this weekend:<B>WPIAL Class AAAat Canon-McMillanThursday through SaturdayButler</B>Wrestler Weight W-LRob Runyan 103 22-11Decker Hubbs 112 21-8Ian McLaughlin 119 31-5Josh Coburn 152 24-10Ryan Eck 189 20-12<B>Seneca Valley</B>Wrestler Weight W-LPat Coyne 125 23-10Lee Layton 135 25-6Mike Rossetti 189 26-4Mike Bianco 215 24-2<B>Class AA Southwest Regionalat JohnstownFriday and SaturdayMars</B>Wrestler Weight W-LAdam Smetana 119 34-4<B>AA Northwest Regionalat SharonFriday and SaturdaySlippery Rock</B>Wrestler Weight W-LJeff Kline 130 22-6Jeff Becker 145 22-0Trevor Gallo 171 23-1