It's all about rebounding.

Last season, several Butler County area track teams were able to work themselves back to a place they were familiar with, while others will be trying to do so this season.

The Butler girls track team, who saw its long streak of WPIALteam playoff appearances end two seasons ago, was able to share the title with Seneca Valley and North Allegheny last season.

Now that they're back to the top, Butler would like to stay there.

"I'm very optimistic this season," said Tornado coach Rod Harris. "We're shooting for the same as last year or better. Every year, our goal is to win the WPIAL title. I think this team can get there."

The Raiders lost several key athletes but are still a solid group looking to stay in the chase.

Moniteau was able to capture its first-ever Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference title last year, pulling out a win against runner-up Karns City.

It looks as though those two squads, along with Clarion, will battle again for the top.

"We have a good chance with senior leadership," said Warriors coach Sue Scialabba. "That's not to say we'll repeat, but we're hoping for a successful season."

Then there's Mars and Freeport. The Yellowjackets won the section and were WPIALrunners-up. The Planets' lone loss was to Freeport.

Freeport lost several key contributors to graduation while Mars lost only two, so the Planets could be looking to bounce back after last year's loss.

ButlerCoach: Rod Harris, third year

Last season: 10-3 overall, 6-1 in section (tri-section champions), third in WPIAL Class AAA finals

Top returners: Seniors Kendall Butch (pole vault, jumps), Jessica Tomsey (middle distance); juniors Amy Achesinski (throws), Lea Renwick (sprints), Hannah Rekich (hurdles, sprints), Tess Crispin (middle distance); sophomore Amanda Malecky (middle distance)

Strengths: Middle distance, sprints, jumps

Weaknesses: Inexperience in depth

Coach's comment: "Every year since I've been here, at least on the girls side, the section gets more competitive."

Seneca ValleyCoach: Wayne Roccia, 26th year

Last season: 11-2 overall, 6-1 in section (tri-section champions), WPIAL team playoff qualifier

Top returners: Seniors Kelly McGill (hurdles), Jessica Rinaman (distance), Shannon Stauffer (pole vault), Kim Steadham (sprints), Kelsey Sullivan (middle distance), Ashley Turici (throws), Tasha Walls (hurdles), Lauren Bezier (800), Danielle Diamond (throws), Heather Endler (jumps), Chelsey Pavlick (jumps, hurdles), Katie Wick (jumps); juniors Annie Fiscus (hurdles), Yolien Peeters (distance), DaLynn Mills (sprints, jumps), Bria Nelko (pole vault), Veronica Pecora (800), Ali Triscuit (sprints); sophomores Jennifer Boyd (jumps), Logan Gamelier (sprints), Becca Pecora (middle distance), Emily Wolfarth (distance)

Strengths: Sprints, high jump, running events

Weaknesses: Lack of depth in or experience in jumping events, pole vault, lack of experience in middle distances

Coach's comment: "Our biggest hole is in the 400 and 800. Sure, we have some super kids coming back and we'll definitely be competitive. We're used to be able to count wins, but that doesn't happen much anymore."

KnochCoach: Tom Hoffmann, third year

Last season: 3-7 overall

Top returners: Seniors Kristin Robb (sprints, jumps), Maria Adler (sprints, jumps), Erin Pettit (middle distance); juniors Melissa Balsiger (hurdles), Sarah Cooper (throws), Kayla Bartell (distance, middle distance), Beth Stock (throws); sophomores Carol Cress (throws), Libby Burris (middle distance), Amanda Sharbaugh (middle distance), Jeannie Sullivan (hurdles), Shannon Crimbchin (thrower)

Strengths: Distance, jumps, throws

Weaknesses: Depth in sprints, hurdles

Coach's comment: "We have 30 sophomores, which is our biggest class. I'm happy about that."

MarsCoach: Tim Tyler, 19th year

Last season: 8-1 overall, section runner-up

Top returners: Senior Heather Carpenter (sprints), Julie Utz (sprints), Brittany Zaborowski (sprints, middle distance), Jordan Bossong (throws); juniors Megan Chakan (sprints), Megan Eidenshink (sprints), Lauren Heltman (middle distance), Stephanie Yeo (distance), Amber Aiken (hurdles)

Strengths: Discus, sprints, middle distance, distance, key athlete at each position

Weakness: Compete in Class AAA against larger opponents

Coach's comment: "We have at least one good girl in each event. We have a lot of girls but not a lot of quality depth."

FreeportCoach: Bill Dillen, 13th year

Last season: 13-1 overall, section champion, WPIAL Class AA runner-up

Top returners: Seniors Marissa DeSalvo (throws), Jamie Shockey (throws), Melanie Lutz (middle distance), Dana Turley (hurdles), Kirsten Knappenberger (distance)

Strengths: Throws, distance

Weaknesses: Key losses from last year; experienced depth

Coach's comment: "Right now, we're trying to find our way. We're very young. We have so many young kids. We've got those seniors. We'll look around to see what we've got."

Slippery RockCoach: Mike Kish, 27th year

Last season: 3-5 overall

Top returners: Seniors Abby Basta (hurdles), Janelle Hartzell (middle distance), Casey McCaffrey (middle distance), Jodi Meling (throws), Lauren Tibbins (throws), Sarah Thompson (distance); juniors Brittany Lyons (1,600), Allison Plummer (middle distance); sophomores Sarah Opp (distance), Shanea Raabe (sprints, javelin, pole vault), Alyssa Martinez (sprints)

Strengths: Distance, middle distance, throws, hurdles

Weaknesses: Jumps, pole vault, inexperienced depth

Coach's comment: "We're pretty solid. We have three people back from our 3,200 relay team from states and Abby Basta was eighth in states (in the 100 high hurdles)."

Grove CityCoach: Dave Gatewood, second year

Last season: 2-6 overall

Top returners: Senior Katherine Myer (sprints), juniors Jill Arnold (hurdles), Kate Zinkham (hurdles), Helen Phipps (distance); sophomore Kristy Woods (throws)

Strengths: Throws, hurdles, relays, large group of freshmen

Weaknesses: Jumps, depth in most positions

Coach's comment: "We have nine or 10 freshmen out, which is about one-third of our team. We just want to improve over last year's record and qualify as many as we can for districts and states."

Karns CityCoach: Ed Kepple, 17th year

Last season: 7-1 overall, KSAC runner-up

Top returners: Seniors Melissa Collier (sprints), Laura Kepple (middle distance, distance); juniors Samantha Pyle (jumps), Adrienne Olszak (distance, middle distance), Tausha Bowser (jumps, pole vault), Staphanie Isaaco (middle distance), Sarah Hepler (javelin); sophomores Kylee Rankin (hurdles), Audra Buechele (hurdles), Alyssa Callender (throws), Karyssa Callender (throws), Allyson Kepple (middle distance)

Strengths: Throws, sprints, jumps

Weaknesses: Distance

Coach's comment: "We usually set our goals pretty high to win the league. We've come up short the last couple of years and came in second. That's our motto: not to get beat by seconds."

MoniteauCoach: Sue Scialabba, fourth year

Last season: 9-0 overall; KSAC champions

Top returners: Seniors Haley McFeaters (sprints), Alyssa Deal (distance), Amber Dillaman (jumps, throws), Kristi Costa (jumps); juniors Kendra Hall (throws), Samantha Kristufek (sprints), Amy Gladd (jumps, distance), Amanda Gladd (hurdles)

Strengths: Sprints, middle distance, jumps, throws

Weaknesses: Hurdles, 3,200-meter relay

Coach's comment: Last year, we only had 18 to 20 girls and this year we have 29, so we do have some depth."

UnionCoach: Randy Carmichael, 17th year

Last season: 4-5 overall

Top returners: Seniors Bethany Koch (middle distance, jumps), Molly Scott (sprints, jumps), Allison Toven (sprints, throws), Andrea Mortimer (pole vault, javelin), Nikki Davis (jumps, throws), Alicia Blice (throws); juniors Janele Divins (sprints), Tiffany Corle (sprints, jumps, javelin), Alicia Anthony (pole vault), Meghan Booth (distance), Heather Booth (middle distance), Ashley Montgomery (hurdles), Amber Wyant (hurdles, sprints), Danyelle Painter (throws)

Strengths: Jumps, throws, middle distance

Weaknesses: Distance

Coach's comment: "We have a real nice group of freshmen. Last year we had four or five and I think we'll have better than that this year. ... We don't know how fast that talent will come to the surface."

A-C ValleyCoach: Dave Sherman, Jr.

Last season: 1-7 in the KSAC

Top returners: Seniors Alisa Snyder (middle distance, sprints, throws), Candace Austin (distance, discus, javelin); sophomores Jessica Henry (throws), Markeea Hart (shot put), Kristin Rose (sprints, long jump), Kate Best (jumps, sprints)

Strengths: Throws

Weaknesses: Distance, hurdles, depth at all positions

Coach's comment: We have a pretty enthusiastic group of young athletes and the ones that are back have a good foundation and are looking for good things."