BUTLER TWP — Instead of the Sweet 16, call this group the Steady 16 ... or Ready, or simply Always Around.

Butler is entering the 2021 football season with 16 players on its roster who compete in three varsity sports.

“High school athletics seem to be trending back that way,” Golden Tornado coach Eric Christy said of the multi-sport athlete. “I think it's a great thing.

“When college coaches ask about a (high school) player, the first question out of their mouths is 'what other sports does he play?'

“They want to recruit athletes,” Christy added.

Butler football's 16 three-sport athletes include JunJun Andrada, Ethan Babay, Cooper Baxter, Markeis Frazier, David Graef, Charlie and Mickey Kreinbucher, Landon Lacey, Matt McCombs, Ryan McLister, Ben Miller, Jacob Pomykata, Kellen Rakoci, Evan Reinsel, Mac Schnur and Lance Slater.

Besides playing football, wrestling and competing in track and field, Pomykata also plays the tuba in the band.

“We actually have four players on our team who play in the band,” Christy said, smiling.

Don't blame those guys if they're a little preoccupied at halftime.

Lacey competes in four sports for the Golden Tornado. He is a running back-safety in football, a guard in basketball, runs the 100 and 200 meters in track and is a second baseman in baseball.

And he's only a sophomore.

“I've always stayed active through the other seasons,” Lacey said. “One sport helps me get ready for another.

“I'm faster, stronger and can jump higher because I do those other sports. The physical activity you do in one sport helps the next.”

Lacey has been a four-sport athlete since second grade. He said if he misses an offseason workout for one sport because he's involved in-season in another, “I'll just work out at home.

“My goal this football season is to get playing time on the varsity. Being a better athlete may help me that way,” Lacey added.

Charlie Kreinbucher can identify with that.

Already a longtime basketball player and track and field athlete, Kreinbucher didn't begin playing football until his sophomore year. Now he's attained a scholarship to play tight end for the University of Akron.

“Playing all of those sports helped me,” Kreinbucher said. “For one, I'm always in shape. Athletic skills I've used in basketball and track ... jumping, hand-eye coordination, agility ... have all been a part of football.”

Kreinbucher rarely misses an activity for any sport. While football practice runs from 3 to 6 p.m. during the season, basketball open gym goes from 6 to 8 p.m.

He gets his weight lifting for football in during track season.

“Sure, it keeps you busy and I get tired at times, but it's all worth it,” Kreinbucher said. “I'll never get a chance to play all of these sports again.

“I do my homework either late at night or in study hall. I enjoy a busy schedule. It's taught me how to budget time and it's important to know how to do that.”

Christy likes having so many players involved in multiple sports because “I know they're staying in shape, not sitting around during the offseason.

“We coaches work with each other sharing athletes. We all recognize the value of allowing these kids to do multiple things in high school. We encourage participation in all extra-curricular activities.”

Besides being a quarterback, running back and middle linebacker in football, Baxter is a standout wrestler and is the starting shortstop for the baseball team.

He may be fielding collegiate offers in all three sports.

“I've been doing three sports since third grade,” Baxter said. “I've never known any other way.

“I truly believe I still love all three sports because I've always played all three sports. I've never gotten burned out on any one of them.”

Had he settled in one sport back in junior high?

“I'd probably be tired of it and burned out on it by now,” Baxter admitted. “Each sport I play presents a different challenge. It keeps me fresh.

“I love going from season to season across the calendar.”

Kreinbucher agreed.

“You never get bored with things, yet you're involved in athletics 365 days a year,” he said. “The weight room, conditioning, video study, it's all different.”

Baxter said playing multiple sports “keeps me on my toes.”

It also forces him to improve.

“I love what different sports bring,” he said. “They make you become a better athlete in a very natural way.”