Meet the Butler Eagle’s Top 25 high school teams of Butler County between 2000 and 2025, ranked 1-25
A team can’t score if it doesn’t have the ball.
Mars’ 2020 girls soccer team thrived off that statement, allowing only five goals all season on its way to a perfect record and the PIAA Class 3A championship.
The team was so dominant that it has been named Butler County’s top high school sports team of the past 25 years, per vote of the Butler Eagle sports staff.
“Our defense was outstanding that year. It stopped dead everything an opponent would try to do against us,” Mars coach Blair Gerlach said. “But, offensively, we just kept the ball. We scored goals early in almost every game, forcing teams to play us honest rather than just sit back defensively.”
That team was one of many great girls soccer squads the Planets have produced over the past 25 years. Mars’ 2011, 2019 and 2021 teams also finished among the top 15 in the Eagle’s balloting.
Gerlach has tallied four state championships and seven WPIAL titles during his tenure as Mars girls soccer coach.
“We had 12 seniors on that 2020 team, offensively skilled players in Ellie Coffield, Gracie Dunaway and Caroline Wroblewski,” Gerlach said. “We had a good goalkeeper in Courtney Lisman, but we always seemed to possess the ball.
“Every girl on that team was comfortable with the ball at her feet. They liked it. They embraced it. The results showed that.”
Here are the Eagle’s Top 25 county high school teams since 2000:
Coached by Blair Gerlach, the Planets finished 19-0 and outscored their seven playoff opponents by a combined score of 38-0. The team wound up ranked No. 1 nationally in the United Soccer Coaches Poll and defeated Villa Joseph Marie 2-0 in the state final. Top defensive players included Gwen and Ellie Howell, Erin Rodgers and Piper Coffield. Gerlach was named the Eagle’s top coach of the last 25 years, and midfielder Ellie Coffield was named the top female athlete.
Coached by Bob Marcoux. After earning the program’s sixth straight WPIAL crown, the Planets became the first team from Western Pa. to win a state lacrosse title, claiming the 2A crown with a 9-6 victory over Marple Newtown. Mars finished the season with a 23-1 record with other state playoff wins being 18-2 over Cocalico, 16-5 over Susquehannock and 16-8 over Penncrest. Austin Cote, Jonathan Grieco, Wesley Scurci, Enzo Grieco and Quinn Fuller were leaders on the team.
Coached by Larry Deal, the Gremlins went 31-1 that season — losing only a close decision to Oakland Catholic — in winning the program’s lone state championship. During the state playoffs, KC defeated four district champions, including powerhouse Bishop Hoban in the championship game. Center Courtnay Rattigan scored 1,433 points in her career, guard Karissa Kusick 1,351. Other starters were Alicia Anderson, Kerry Gutherie and Ronda Vlassich.
Coached by Diane Geist, the Knights went a perfect 24-0 in winning the WPIAL Class 3A championship and the lone state title in program history. In the state playoffs, Knoch downed Somerset, General McLane and Montour before topping Allentown Central Catholic 3-2 in the state final. Sarah Armahizer and Carly Bozzo were senior leaders on the team.
Coached by Mike Seybert, the Golden Tornado ran the table in winning the state’s indoor and outdoor team championships. Butler was undefeated on the season and earned nine medals in winning the outdoor state crown, led by CJ Singleton’s championship in the 3,200 meters.
Coached by Chris Knauff, the Planets finished off a perfect 21-0 season. Mars defeated Northern York 2-1 in the PIAA 3A championship game after capturing the WPIAL title. Senior leaders on the team included Dane Beller, Tyler Nymberg, Nabil Lahlou, Jake Gareis, Ryan Pasko and Trent Wick.
Coached by Gerlach, the Planets finished 25-0-1 in winning the WPIAL and PIAA Class 2A championship. They outscored eight playoff opponents by a 22-2 count and defeated Villa Joseph Marie 1-0 in the PIAA title game. Mani Brueckner, the Butler Eagle’s Girls Soccer Player of the Year that season with 36 goals and 42 assists, led a lethal attack for the Planets.
Coached by George Bradley, the Knights rode the pitching combo of Cole Shinsky and Alex Stobert to the program’s lone state championship. Knoch allowed 12 total runs in eight playoff games, winning the WPIAL and PIAA 3A titles with a 23-2 record. Shinsky was 10-0 with a 1.29 earned run average. Chris Law and Dom Bucko were other standout players on the team.
Coached by Gerlach, the Planets finished 22-0-1 in winning the WPIAL and PIAA 3A titles. Mars outscored its eight playoff opponents by a 36-2 margin. A physical team, Mars was led by Taylor Hamlett and Caroline Wroblewski offensively. The Planets defeated Villa Joseph Marie 1-0 in the state final.
Coached by Tom Phillips, the Yellowjackets broke through and won the PIAA 2A championship in dominating fashion. Freeport swept three of its four state tourney opponents, getting past Philipsburg-Osceola 3-2 in the semifinals before defeating York Catholic 3-0 in the state final. The Yellowjackets were 23-2 on the season. Ava Soilis, Josie Russo, Sydney Selker, Alaina Whitlinger and Cassidy Dell spurred the effort.
Coached by George Williams, the Raiders finished 17-1-1, claimed the WPIAL Class 4A championship and the program’s first-ever state title with a 2-1 victory in overtime over Neshaminy. Zack LaValle scored the game-winner. He was joined among the team leaders by Adam Davies, Nathan Eastgate and Chase Thomas.
Coached by Heidi Brandon, the Planets won the WPIAL and PIAA 2A team championship despite having only six swimmers on the squad. Chris Georgiadis won the 200 individual medley state title, and the 400 freestyle relay unit of Reed McDonough, Georgiadis, Tommy Pierre and Francis Folz claimed state gold as well. Jimmy Pierre and Joseph Folz also starred for the Planets.
Coached by Eric Semega, the Raiders finished 22-2 in winning the PIAA 4A title after placing third in the WPIAL playoffs. SV defeated Cathedral Prep 13-3, Peters Township 5-2, State College 8-3 and Souderton 9-1 in the state playoffs. The team’s top two pitchers, Cory Mazzoni and Kyle Helisek, combined to go 19-0 that season. Stars at the plate included Ken Walrond, Jim Burry, Gabe Grinder and Tyler Bream.
Coached by Gerlach, the Planets finished the season with a 20-0-1 record, winning the WPIAL and PIAA 3A titles. Mars defeated Radnor 2-1 in double-overtime in the state final. The program graduated seven senior starters from the previous season, but three younger siblings from previous Mars teams — Reese Dunaway, Piper Coffield and Gwen Howell — stepped up to lead another title run.
Coached by Amanda Fetter, the Trojanettes won the WPIAL and PIAA 2A championships while putting together a 20-0 record. North Catholic swept District 3 champion Trinity in the state title game. Setter Sydnei Jones and outside hitter Ally Feczko, both juniors, were standout players on the team.
Coached by Williams, the Raiders secured their second PIAA 4A championship in three seasons. Seneca Valley finished the season with a 21-1-1 record, its only loss coming in the WPIAL title game. The Raiders outscored their four playoff opponents by a 19-3 count, including a 6-0 win over Lower Merion in the state title game. Leaders on the team included Will Bruno, Beaux Lizewski, Max Marcotte and Connor Oros.
Coached by Dana Petruska, the Planets went on a memorable state tournament run after losing in the WPIAL semifinals. Mars won five consecutive PIAA 5A games to win the program’s lone state championship. The Planets defeated Archbishop Wood 36-33 in the title game, getting a key steal and conventional three-point play from Tai Johnson with just 4.2 seconds left. Other starters included Bella Pelaia, Lauren Wasylson, Alek Johnson and Ellie Coffield.
Coached by Dave Hartzell, the Golden Tornado finished 22-1 and won the PIAA 3A championship. Butler’s lone loss came to Shady Side Academy in the WPIAL final, but the Tornado got revenge with a 3-2 win over SSA in the state final. Evan Kowalski and Will Nesbitt both won in singles play in the final while Zac McCafferty and Stefan Kemp did likewise in doubles play.
Coached by Molly Rottmann, the Trojanettes claimed their first state title in 21 years, defeating Lourdes Regional 68-49 in the championship game. North Catholic won five straight state tourney games after dropping the WPIAL Class 1A championship game. Sam Breen, who scored 2,488 points in her career, was North’s standout player.
Coached by Steve Meyers, the Planets finished 24-1, winning their third straight Penguins Cup Class 1A championship and second consecutive state crown. Mars defeated Hampton 5-0 in the Penguins Cup final and knocked off Springfield 5-2 in the state final. Goaltender Tyler Stepke had a 1.52 goals against average, and Elliot Tisdale scored 33 goals and 68 points to lead the team.
Coached by Bill Fay, the Golden Tornado rolled to the section, region and state championships, only a few years into the program’s existence. Butler was undefeated on the lanes and was led by Megan Paul, Brea Suchonic, Kelly Bintrim and Autumn Hepler.
Coached by Matt Clement, the Golden Tornado were led by senior and 2,000-point scorer Ethan Morton and eventual 2,000-point scorer Devin Carney. Butler won the WPIAL 6A title, defeating Mt. Lebanon, and a pair of state tournament games before the season was ended by the COVID-19 pandemic. Mattix Clement was a 1,000-point scorer for Butler, which won despite losing standout two-way player Luke Patten to a preseason injury.
Coached by Nance Conlon, the Knights won the WPIAL and PIAA 2A team championships behind a deep lineup. Laura Greb, a four-time WPIAL singles champion, and Brooke Bauer were the team’s co-captains. Brooke and Ally Bauer won the WPIAL doubles crown.
Coached by Meyers, the Planets won the Penguins Cup Class 1A title and the program’s first-ever state championship. Goaltender Stepke stopped 36 of 37 shots in a 4-1 win over Bayard Rustin in the state final, avenging Mars’ loss to that team the year before. Robbie Sigurdsson scored two goals in the final. Tisdale led the team with 23 goals and 55 points as Mars posted a 24-2 record.
Coached by Conlon, the Knights made another run to WPIAL and PIAA gold. They defeated Sewickley Academy in both the district final and the state championship. Ally Bauer, Lindsey Greb and Emily Greb led the way.
Note: Only North Catholic teams since 2014, when the high school moved into Butler County, were considered for this list.
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