Butler ‘tired of losing,’ returns 16 starters with hopes to end winning season drought

By: John Grupp
Friday, August 22, 2025 | 6:01 AM

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Butler is ineligible for the playoffs again this season, but the Golden Tornado still have a lot at stake.

Returning eight starters on each side of the ball, Butler is hoping to build on an encouraging 2024 season and aims to post the program’s first winning season since 1997.

“Everyone is tired of losing,” said junior quarterback/linebacker Nicco Baggetta, one of 66 players in camp. “We want to change that.”

For the second consecutive season, Butler will play an independent 10-game schedule against a hodge-podge mixture of schools from the WPIAL, the City League, and districts 6, 9 and 10.

The Golden Tornado finished 4-6 last season, anchored by one of the program’s best defensive efforts in more than two decades. They posted three shutouts — as many as they had in the previous 15 seasons combined — and allowed only 19.6 points per game. That was down from 35.6 in 2023 and the best average by a Butler defense since 2003 (18.2).

“It’s exciting to see what’s going on,” said coach Eric Christy, in his eighth season at his alma mater. “To see them flying around and having a lot of energy. They are having an edge and setting an identity for this team.”

Butler is playing the same schedule as last season, when the Golden Tornado blanked Brashear, Connellsville and Allderdice, and stayed within one TD of Shaler and University (W.Va.) in narrow losses.

Christy, 44, a sophomore on the most recent Butler team to finish with a winning record, said there is “a buzz and an excitement” around the program.

“We accept the challenge, and we’re excited to go out there,” he said. “… Realistically, looking at the program, any time we’re finishing over .500 is really good for Butler. It’s been a long time to get over that mark. That’s something for this program that would be enormous.”

The Golden Tornado departed WPIAL football in 2020, citing competitive reasons for the long-struggling program, and played four seasons as an “associate member” of neighboring District 10. But a PIAA by-law passed last year ruled no school can compete in another district’s playoffs. So Butler’s season ends Oct. 24 at Central Clarion.

“Every game is a playoff game,” Christy said. “That’s how we approach it. Not to put pressure on us. But just to realize that’s our season. There is going to be nothing after Halloween. We are trying to treat every game like it’s our last.”

Butler returns several skill players, including leading rusher Mark Klemz (698 yards, 6 TDs) and Baggetta, who will start at quarterback after playing mainly fullback and wildcat QB last season. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound Baggetta is one of the top javelin throwers in school history — he was the WPIAL Class 3A runner-up last spring — and among the strongest players on the team.

“He has the arm strength. His weight numbers are off the charts,” Christy said. “He’s running a 4.5 40. He’s flying around. He runs the huddle great. … I think you will see him grow week to week.”

Baggetta, who replaces graduated 1,300-yard passer Alec Teff, said the players used a dedicated offseason to improve their conditioning. They began lifting in December, three or four times a week, with widespread participation.

“I’ve been here for three years, and we are faster than we have been at the beginning of every season, and we are stronger,” Baggetta said. “All around, we’re looking pretty solid. I’ve been looking forward to this season since last season. I am so pumped up.”

Returning starters on defense are nose tackle Lucas Martin, defensive tackle Beau Burchett, safeties Klemz and Tyson Pino, cornerbacks Marcus Vicari and Mason Lacey, all seniors, and junior linebackers Jake Kollinger and Baggetta.

“We just hit hard,” said Baggetta, who is moving from safety to linebacker. “This year, our whole team is downhill. Our whole team wants to hit, and our whole team wants to win. I think that’s going to be a big thing for us.”

Butler

Coach: Eric Christy

2024 record: 4-6

All-time record: 532-485-47

SCHEDULE

Date, Opponent, Time

8.22 at Shaler, 7

8.29 Brashear, 7

9.5 Meadville, 7

9.12 Hollidaysburg, 7

9.19 at Westinghouse, 7

9.26 Connellsville, 7

10.3 University (W.Va.), 7

10.10 at Allderdice, 3:30

10.17 Wheeling Park (W.Va.), 7

10.24 at Central Clarion, 7

STATISTICAL LEADERS

Passing: Alec Teff*

127-258, 1,309 yards, 10 TDs

Rushing: Mark Klemz

134-698 yards, 6 TDs

Receiving: Preston Simko

39-480 yards 2 TDs

*Graduated

FAST FACTS

• Senior Preston Simko, last year’s leading receiver with 39 catches for 480 yards and two touchdowns, has transferred to North Catholic.

• One year after having four road trips of at least an hour-and-a-half, including to a pair of West Virginia schools, Butler this season has no trips longer than about 1 hour, 15 minutes. It will play at Shaler, at Cupples Stadium on Pittsburgh’s South Side (twice) and at Central Clarion.

• Butler increased its assistant staff by four coaches, and returns defensive coordinator Darrell Smith.

• The Golden Tornado’s specialists are experienced with the return of junior kicker AJ Morris and senior punter Alex Fulmer, although Fulmer is currently sidelined in concussion protocol.

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