Seneca Valley junior Spencer Tretter isamong the numerous area swimmers hoping to medal at the WPIAL Swimming Championships this weekend at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley swimming coach Brian Blackwell refers to Spencer Tretter as a “big meet swimmer.”

With the WPIAL Class AAA championship meet scheduled for Friday and Saturday at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool, that bodes well for the Raiders’ junior.

Tretter will be swimming the 200 and 500 freestyle events. He is seeded eighth in the latter with a time of 4:51.44.

“Where he is seeded is not indicative of where he could end up,” said Blackwell. “Last year, he was seeded 11th or 12th in the 500 and finished fifth. I think he’s got a good shot at getting to states.”

“So far, so good,” Tretter said of his junior campaign. “I’ve been trying to work on my (turns) and starts in practice. We’re ready to go for the weekend.”

To guarantee himself a spot at next month’s state championship meet at Bucknell University, Tretter would have to place in the top three.

Otherwise, his effort would have to fall within the top 16 non-automatic qualifying times from around the state.

But Tretter also would like to swim times that get his name on the record board at Seneca Valley’s natatorium.

“The school records are 4:36.0 (500) and 1:40.9 (200),” he said. “I’d love to break both of those. I’ve been thinking about it since I was a little kid, but it was when I was a freshman that I really started working for it.”

Butler junior Tukker Uniatowski is seeded sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:01.5).

Uniatowski’s teammate, sophomore Joey Deemer, is also looking for a strong showing. He will be competing in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly.

“The butterfly is my best event,” Deemer said. “I’m going to give it my all to make states.”

Deemer admits that his strongest swims this year came earlier in the season, but believes the right mindset could help him as he prepares for his second WPIAL meet.

“The mental aspect is crucial,” he said. “You have to believe that you are going to do well.”

Girls

Butler’s Emma Weiss may be a freshman, but she figures to be a factor in the 100 butterfly, where she is currently seeded in a medal position at sixth (1:00.08).

“Emma is a two-sport athlete and she had a little bit of catching up to do after playing soccer in the fall,” said Butler coach Dave Bocci. “With limited time in the pool, she has done well and worked hard.”