Mars boys track coach Joe Cioc hopes this is the year the Planets can break Freeport's stranglehold on the section.

"Freeport is the team to beat," said Cioc. "They're due for a down year. None of the kids on our team has ever beaten Freeport."

The Yellowjackets prevailed to win the section, but the Planets return a large contingent of athletes, led by a large and talented junior class.

Freeport lost Shane Sarver, Ian Kaminski, Carl Bowser and Kiel Conjack, among others, so the Planets are hoping they can slip in and take the title away from Freeport.

Also, Karns City edged Moniteau by one point in what proved to be the difference in the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference title.

The Gremlins won their fourth straight KSAC crown and increased their regular-season dual meet winning streak to 53.

"We really don't expect to see any dramatic drop-off," said Karns City coach Don Black. "The guys want to just step up and take their turn."

ButlerCoach: Rick Schontz, fifth year

Last season: 8-2 overall, 6-1 in the section for second place; qualified for WPIAL playoffs

Top returners: Seniors Nolan Brink (throws), Joe Harmon (throws), Harold Dunn (throws), Marcus Hough (throws), Brian McCandless (jumps), Adam Bell (jumps), Matt Celestin (jumps), Matt Feder (pole vault); juniors Doug Moran (sprints), Fred Pinto (sprints), Ian Haley (distance), Cory Haley (distance), Rob Miller (distance), Steve Monnie (distance), Mike Dinger (distance), Andy Strutt (pole vault)

Strengths: Throws, distance, sprints, jumps, large number of competitors

Weaknesses: Key losses to graduation, hurdles

Coach's comment: "I'm cautiously optimistic. We have a lot of kids out, over 100, and a lot of really good athletes. If things go well, I just want us to get better and better."

Seneca ValleyCoach: Wayne Roccia, 30th year

Last season: 7-3 overall

Top returners: Seniors Josh Andree (throws), Ian Carrow (middle distance), Lee Layton (hurdles), Dan Stanley (middle distance), Ben Mitro (jumps), Ben Lees (javelin), Phil Mignanelli (throws); juniors Chris Eden (sprints), Cy Fleming (distance), Oliver Flynn (distance), Mitch McGrew (jumps), Ben Ranollo (distance), Dan Dickey (hurdles), J.D. Mazzocco (distance), Tim Miles (throws), Nick Mitro (jumps); sophomores Bill Burns (sprints), Frank Campisino (sprints), Chris Cipro (distance), Kevan Kelleher (middle distance)

Strengths: Jumps, distance, tradition of winning

Weaknesses: Lack of experienced depth in most events

Coach's comment: "I think we're going to be competitive. Our boys lost only a couple of big point-getters. For the most part, we're pretty solid."

KnochCoach: Wess Brahler, third season

Last season: 4-6 overall, 3-4 in the section

Top returners: Seniors Artie Black (distance), Kyle Reeping (distance), Chris Recio (distance), Joel Berger (sprints), Josh Lark (throws), Bobby Barnes (hurdles), Kevin Flaherty (middle distance), Trevor Sepich (pole vault); juniors Ben Hutterer (distance), Luke Tabacchi (hurdles), Andy Starr (jumps, hurdles), Curtis Howard (sprints); sophomore Zac Gross (throws)

Strengths: Depth in each event, large core of letterwinners, throws, distance, middle distance

Weaknesses: Jumps, strong competition in section

Coach's comment: "We have 21 returning letterwinners, and that shows we have depth and experience in all our events. ... We have a chance to go after the team playoffs."

MarsCoach: Joe Cioc, 15th year

Last season: 7-2 overall, tied for second in section, qualified for WPIAL team playoffs

Top returners: Seniors Logan Giger (pole vault, hurdles), Ryan Stephan (sprints), Alex Kokkinakis (pole vault); juniors Cody Kier (distance), Derek Workman (middle distance), Josh Thompson (thrower), Steve Jackson (sprints, middle distance), Luke Martin (middle distance, jumps), Ian Mundy (jumps), Dan Lynch (jumps, middle distance); sophomore Justin Piocquidio (sprints, jumps), Bill Bair

Strengths: Return many key point-getters; depth at all positions, relays

Weaknesses: Depth is inexperienced

Coach's comment: "We have seven freshmen and 15 sophomores, and this is probably the biggest junior class in my 15 years. Those seniors, though, are the key. This should be our year. We should win more than just making the playoffs."

FreeportCoach: Bill Dillen, 13th year

Last season: 12-2 overall, section champions, lost in finals of WPIAL team playoffs

Top returners: Senior Brendan Reilly (distance); juniors Brian Zimmerman (javelin), Brady Sherrieb (jumps), Kevin Turner (hurdles)

Strengths: Distance, jumps

Weaknesses: Experienced depth at most positions

Coach's comment: "We're very young. We still have to see what we've got."

Summit AcademyCoach: Rich Monti, first year

Last season: 3-7 overall

Top performers: Senior Jerome Butler (sprints); junior Lamar Evans (sprints, jumps), Jon Payne (throws), Carl Smith (throws); sophomore Jackie Jones (jumps)

Strengths: Sprints, sprint relays

Weaknesses: Middle distance, distance

Coach's comment: "We're looking to be competitive. We're inexperienced, but these kids are willing to learn."

Slippery RockCoach: Mike Kish, 27th year

Last season: 1-7 overall

Top returners: Juniors Dan Dillman (shot put), Doug Orloski (throws), Paul McConnell (hurdles, pole vault), Chase Conti (distance); sophomores Dan Hartzell (distance), Nathan King (distance), Andrew Novak (400, pole vault)

Strengths: Throws, distance

Weaknesses: Sprints, jumps

Coach's comment: "The one positive is we have more guys (35) than we've had before. Like the girls' team, we have a lot of good young athletes."

Grove CityCoach: Dave Gatewood, second year

Last season: 3-5 overall

Top returners: Seniors Tim Gruber (throws); juniors Zack Hoagland (distance), Adam Stillwagon (distance, middle distance); sophomore Greg Rieber (shot put)

Strengths: Field events, distance

Weaknesses: Depth at most positions

Coach's comment: "We have a strong group of freshmen coming up. They should improve our sprints, guys like Dwayne Martin and Justin Spencer, and Caleb Kolb in the pole vault."

Karns CityCoach: Don Black, 19th year

Last season: 12-0 overall, KSAC champions for fourth consecutive season

Top returners: Seniors Mark Ferguson (hurdles, relays), Steve Black (pole vault, relays), Andrew Harmon (distance), Evan Crawford (distance), Dale Grimm (distance), Jeremy Bowser (javelin), Kory Kusick (shot put); juniors Justin Smith (distance), Travis Hendell (distance), Tim Bertotti (hurdles); sophomore Chris Harmon (distance)

Strengths: Distance, hurdles, sprints, relays. pole vault

Weaknesses: Jumps, inexperience in depth

Coach's comment: "We have a nice group of ninth and 10th graders we're counting on in the jumping events. We look to fill some holes there. We can put at least one veteran in every event."

MoniteauCoach: Mark Kosick, 23rd year

Last season: 8-1 in the KSAC for second place

Top returners: Seniors David Rumbaugh (sprints), Zack Thompson (sprints), Chris Switzer (middle distance, pole vault), Matt Schandelmeier (throws, sprints), Ryan Protzman (throws), Clay Campbell (throws), Ben Blank (distance); juniors Andy Weichey (sprints), Matt O'Malley (distance), Aaron Smith (distance); sophomore Eric Hillard (distance)

Strengths: Distance, throws, relays

Weaknesses: Hurdles, jumps

Coach's comment: "They're working pretty hard and have a good attitude. If we can get over a couple of injuries, we'll be all right."

UnionCoach: Denny Stewart, 32nd year

Last season: 5-5 overall

Top returners: Seniors Mike Brothers (jumps), Toby Best (sprints, javelin), Kyle Hilliard (javelin); juniors Brett Moore (distance, high jump), Josh Holden (sprints), Nate Boltz (hurdles, sprints), Brogan Gearhart (sprints), John Watson (hurdles); sophomore Ryan Bowser (sprints)

Strengths: Throws, distance, jumps

Weaknesses: Shot put, discus, depth

Coach's comment: "What we try to do is get as many to qualify for districts as we can. I tell the kids that what happens in the meet, happens in the meet. I don't put pressure on the guys."

A-C ValleyCoach: Luke LaVan, third year

Last season: 0-8 in the KSAC

Top returners: Seniors Ted Marron (jumps) and Joel McKinney (hurdles); juniors Rob Linamen (sprints), Alec Wagner (throws); sophomore Mike Himes (hurdles, jumps)

Strengths: Jumps, throws, sprints

Weaknesses: Distance, depth in all events

Coach's comment: "We're really hoping for some kids who were a couple of points away from lettering. ... We have some potential there."