BUTLER TWP — Emma Weiss may be a newcomer to the high school varsity swimming scene, but she has a solid foundation to build upon.

Butler's freshman won the girls' 500-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly to aid the Golden Tornado's first team win of the season, an 88-59 victory over visiting Mars Monday evening.

Butler's boys were also victorious, defeating the Planets 90-75.

Weiss' time in the butterfly event of one minute, 4.08 seconds met the WPIAL-qualifying standard, though she admits her goal is to “get below a minute,” by the end of the season.

“She's a hard worker and is willing to learn,” said Butler coach Dave Bocci. “That's a good combination to have. I think one of her biggest assets is that she is not familiar with this level of swimming, she doesn't know the competition. So to her, every race is a big race.”

Weiss began swimming competitively for the Butler Barracudas at the Butler YMCA in 2010. She has made the most of her short time with the Golden Tornado (1-2) so far.

“It's a different experience for me, but I'm really enjoying it,” she said. “It's a lot of fun.”

Weiss also contributed to wins Monday in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay events. The former, which also included Kaelyn Emanuel, Morgan Keelan and Jillian McElhaney, made the WPIAL cut with a time of 2:02.14.

Emanuel qualified for the district meet in the backstroke with a winning effort of 1:05.05. She also won the 200 IM.

“She usually doesn't make the cut this early in the season,” Bocci said. “That was good to see.”

Jillian McElhaney was a double-winner for the Golden Tornado, taking the 50 and 100 freestyle.

The lone win for Mars (1-2) before the Tornado swam the final two events as exhibition was Taylor Hockenberry, who scored 279.75 to top the diving field.

The boys' meet saw both teams earn six victories, but Butler earned the team triumph due to stronger depth.

Joey Deemer (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Tukker Uniatowski (200 IM, 100 breaststroke) both won a pair of individual events for Butler (2-1).

Reed McDonough (50 and 100 freestyle) won two events for the Planets (1-2).

The Planets are defending WPIAL and PIAA Class AA champions, but every year brings with it new challenges.

“We are such a small team, on both the girls and boys side,” said first-year Mars coach Hans Bergh. “It's hard to get kids to come out for the team when we don't have our own pool. But everybody is working hard.”

The Planets will also look to defend their title in the 400 freestyle relay later this winter. Monday, the quartet of Joseph Folz, Andrew Ivory, Jimmy Pierre and McDonough turned in a solid first-place time of 3:28.1.

“I think we have a good set of guys there this season,” Bergh said.

Mars senior Francis Folz, the defending WPIAL Class AA champion in the 100 freestyle, was held out of Monday's meet for an undisclosed reason.

Butler returns to action tonight, hosting West Allegheny at 6 p.m.

Girls

Butler 88, Mars 59

200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Kaelyn Emanuel, Morgan Keelan, Emma Weiss, Jillian McElhaney) 2:02.14

200 freestyle: 1-Morgan Keelan (B) 2:11.86

200 individual medley: 1-Kaelyn Emanuel (B) 2:22.83

50 freestyle: 1-Jillian McElhaney (B) 26.35

1-meter diving: 1-Taylor Hockenberry (M) 279.75

100 butterfly: 1-Emma Weiss (B) 1:04.08

100 freestyle: 1-Jillian McElhaney (B) 59.65

500 freestyle: 1-Emma Weiss (B) 6:08.19

200 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Morgan Keelan, Kaelyn Emanuel, Emma Weiss, Jillian McElhaney) 1:51.72

100 backstroke: 1-Kaelyn Emanuel (B) 1:05.05

100 breaststroke: 1-Nicole Parrish (M) 1:23.13

400 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Kellee Miles, Alyssa Lamberto, Vanessa Wissinger, Maddy Como) 5:25.43

Boys

Butler 90, Mars 75

200 medley relay: 1-Mars (Joseph Folz, Jimmy Pierre, Andrew Ivory, Reed McDonough) 1:48.29

200 freestyle: 1-Joey Deemer (B) 1:51.35

200 individual medley: 1-Tukker Uniatowski (B) 2:04.46

50 freestyle: 1-Reed McDonough (M) 22.69

1-meter diving: 1-Lev McCollough (B) 213.35

100 butterfly: 1-Joey Deemer (B) 56.35

100 freestyle: 1-Reed McDonough (M) 50.74

500 freestyle: 1-Jimmy Pierre (M) 5:06.61

200 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Joey Deemer, Trai Kish, Nathan Callithen, Tukker Uniatowski) 1:39.5

100 backstroke: 1-Joseph Folz (M) 1:00.11

100 breaststroke: 1-Tukker Uniatowski (B) 1:02.8

400 freestyle relay: 1-Mars (Joseph Folz, Andrew Ivory, Jimmy Pierre, Reed McDonough) 3:28.1