BUTLER TWP — No state tournament bid last year.

No seniors this year.

“We lost our only senior from last year (Jordyn Graham) and I was wondering if we'd even be as good as last season,” junior Lauren Bash admitted.

The Butler High School girls bowling team has gone farther than last season — which was the first time in the program's 10-year history it failed to qualify for the state tournament.

This year's squad finished 10-0 in the regular season, qualified six girls for the Western Regional singles tournament and placed first overall in the Western Regional team event, 105 pins better than runner-up Greensburg Salem.

The Golden Tornado has done all this without a senior in the lineup. Reegan Malis (177 average), Rachael Blose (175) and Bash (162) are juniors, Harley Kriess (163), Madison Weiland (158) and Katlyn Wolfe are sophomores, Natalie Coughenour (155) a freshman.

“We as coaches can't help but giggle about that situation,” Butler coach Bob Cupp said. “These girls keep getting better. They never stop working.

“And they're all back next year.”

The team state tourney was to take place Saturday at North Versailles Bowl. The state singles tourney — with Butler's Chris Huff (boys) and Blose participating — wa set for Friday at the same house.

The novel coronavirus outbreak forced cancelation of both events.

“I feel like we (would have had) an advantage in this (state) tournament because we know the house and we know it's a tough shot,” Cupp said. “But we've been through it.”

Bash pointed out the Tornado girls have been through it twice.

“Since we all qualified for the singles regional there, we knew those lanes going into the team event,” Bash said. “A lot of the other teams didn't qualify many girls for singles, so they were bowling on those lanes for the first time.

“I feel like that really helped us out.”

Bash had a 122 average her freshman year and jumped it up 40 pins as a sophomore. She maintained that average this season.

Blose had a 136 average last year and lost half the season to a concussion she suffered in September.

“Her head got hit by a car door and the concussion wasn't diagnosed right away,” her mother, Carrie Blose, said. “She went through migraine headaches ... She had to bowl with ear plugs to block out the noise. It was tough on her.”

Blose wound up being home-schooled the latter part of the school year.

“Academics and concussions just don't mix,” she said, smiling.”I was ineligible for the postseason last year as a result.

“I really wanted to go to post this year. That was my motivation.”

Blose worked with (assistant coach) Jim Hepler over the summer and her average improved to 175 this year. It's been even better in postseason.

“I've been around 180,” she said.

She averaged between 188 and 195 last week, including a team-leading 597 series at the regional that featured games of 201, 183 and 213.

Bash had a 525 series, Malis a 523, Kriess a 186 game.

“Up and down the lineup, we were solid,” Cupp said. “Our girls rotated frames in the Baker games and were very consistent. It was fun to watch.”

Bash called Blose's improvement this year as “inspiring to the team. She gave us a big boost.

“Next year, we should do even better. We'll have a freshman — Kelsee McConnell — on the team next year who is right with us average-wise right now.”

Blose just enjoys the team aspect of the sport.

“Everybody that Saturday was pretty solid,” she said. “If one of us had a problem, another one of us would pick her up.

“That's what I like about our team.”