JEFFERSON TWP — Having nerves before a race and letting them affect your performance are two different things.

Knoch’s Brooke Zukowski should know.

As a freshman last year, Zukowski captured the WPIAL Class AA girls title in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:05.05. She also placed second in the 200 individual medley.

The effort did not come without some tense moments before both races.

“I was very nervous,” Zukowski said. “I get nervous any time I swim. But once the race starts, it’s like any other event. There are blocks and a pool, you’re just swimming in a different place.”

Zukowski will try to battle through the nerves once again Friday and Saturday in the championship meet at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.

She is seeded second in both events with times of 1:08.33 in the breaststroke and 2:13.86 in the 200 IM.

“The season has gone pretty well so far,” she said. “I’m just concentrating on my times and what I need to do.”

Joining Zukowski in the breaststroke event will be teammate Abby Jones, who is seeded fifth at 1:09.68.

Freeport senior Bria Otwell is seeded second in the 500 freestyle and fifth in the 200 freestyle. She won a WPIAL title in the 500 as a freshman in 2012.

“It is all going to depend on where her head is. Outside of high school, she has a big sectional meet coming up,” said Freeport coach Nikki Heasley. “If all goes well, she should make states in both events.”

Zoe Pawlak is ranked fourth in the 50 freestyle.

Note: The top four girls in each event are guaranteed a spot at the state meet.

Boys

When Knoch sophomore John Wilson hits the water in the breaststroke and 200 IM, he’ll be doing so with a couple of teammates.

Senior Austin Wittmer is ranked seventh and fourth, respectively, while junior Noah Gumto is seeded eighth in the IM.

Having teammates with that ability makes things more interesting, according to Wilson.

“They definitely push me,” he said. “It’s always fun to compete in practice with people of your speed.”

Wilson made the state meet last year in both events, a feat he hopes to duplicate. He will enter Trees Pool with a pair of No. 2 seeds. Being ranked that high is fine with him.

“It makes things more exciting,” Wilson said.

Mars senior Francis Folz is the defending champion in the 100 freestyle (47.45). Folz and Mars coach Hans Bergh were unavailable for comment.

Note: The top five boys in each event are guaranteed a spot at the state meet.