In claiming 12th WPIAL team track and field title, Butler boys’ ‘firepower’ comes through with clutch performances
WEST MIFFLIN — Winning a WPIAL team track championship is not easy.
It certainly didn’t figure to be for Butler’s boys Tuesday, but the Golden Tornado combined eight overall first-place finishes with valuable supporting efforts to win the 12th district crown in program history.
Butler topped Seneca Valley (76-74), Norwin (79-71) and Hempfield (98-52) at West Mifflin High School.
“It feels great to win,” said Tornado distance ace Brendan Eicher, who was here last year when Norwin was crowned champion. “We have so many athletes who have done well, and we’re a much deeper team than last year.”
Late in the meet, Butler’s Max Walker cleared 5 feet, 11 inches to give the Tornado third place in the event against Seneca Valley.
That one point proved vital because in the final event, the pole vault, Butler earned first and third place against SV thanks to the efforts of Jason Wick and David Tomko, respectively, and the Tornado avoided a tiebreaker with the Raiders, defeating them by two points.
SV placed third in the meet, losing to Norwin (83-67) and defeating Hempfield (85-65).
Butler coach Mike Seybert believed his team’s chances of winning took a big hit when the 4x100-meter relay team, ranked first in the WPIAL, was unable to finish due to Logan Ekas injuring his hamstring during the race.
“There’s no points for second and third place in a relay,” he said. “It’s either five for winning or nothing. So that was a 10-point swing against us with all three teams.”
But Butler had enough elsewhere, including Kevin Shriver’s first places in the 100 and 200 dash.
The 4x800 relay team of Logan Rogers, Landon Slear, Ethan Thomas and Alex Motonis defeated the other three teams with a 7:50.9, the fifth-fastest time in school history.
“(Thomas) later ran in the 1,600, and just didn’t seem to have his usual energy,” Seybert said. “He said he didn’t feel right.”
Prior to the final individual track event, the 3,200 run, he spoke with Thomas.
“I said: ‘If you have anything left inside of you, your team needs it right now.’”
Thomas then went out and placed second overall behind teammate Eicher.
“Something just unleashed in Ethan on that last lap. It was incredible,” Seybert said.
Also picking up overall wins for Butler were Eicher (1,600), Carter Ekas (400), Slear (800) and the 4x400 relay team of Mateo Saspe, Isaac Miller, Slear and Carter Ekas.
“We have so much firepower,” Shriver said. “I had no doubt we would win today.”
Seneca Valley’s prowess in field events helped keep the Raiders in the running. They received overall wins from Eddie Strong (triple jump), Conner Gartner (discus) and Andrew Mejia (javelin).
“I’m excited about our effort today,” SV coach Ray Peaco said. “We laid it all out there.
“We knew coming into the season that we’d be very strong in the field. We were a little light on the track, but some younger kids stepped up and this is a good experience for them.”
North Allegheny is the only program in the WPIAL to have more district titles (14) than Butler’s 12.
“I sleep well during the indoor season, before states. This is the only meet I lose sleep over,” Seybert said. “I was up every hour last night, but I’ll sleep like a baby tonight.”
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The Butler boys track and field team celebrates as they receive the championship trophy after winning the WPIAL Class 3A Team Track and Field Championship on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at West Mifflin High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler coach Mike Seybert celebrates with Ethan Thomas after Thomas took second place in the boys 3200-meter race with a time of 9:37.87 during the WPIAL 3A team track and field championships on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at West Mifflin High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Jason Wick placed second in the boys pole vault with a height of 14-01 during the WPIAL 3A team track and field championships on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at West Mifflin High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Landon Slear hands the baton off to anchor Carter Ekas in the 4x400 meter race during the WPIAL 3A team track and field championships on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at West Mifflin High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler’s Mateo Saspe, left, celebrates with Carter Ekas as Butler took first place in the boys 4x400 race during the WPIAL 3A team track and field championships on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at West Mifflin High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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Butler boys track and field smiles after winning the WPIAL Class 3A team championship Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at West Mifflin High School. Submitted photo
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Butler and Seneca Valley boys participated in the WPIAL 3A team track and field championships on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at West Mifflin High School. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
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