BUTLER TWP — Thursday morning, the Seneca Valley boys and girls swimming and diving teams had a hard, early practice.

“WPIALs will be held in the morning,” said Seneca Valley assistant coach Jeff Gavin. “We want their body adjusted to morning swims.”

The practice didn't seem to affect the Raiders Thursday night as Seneca Valley swept Butler with the girls winning 101-83 and the boys coming out with a 109-77 victory.

Owen Blazer won a pair of events for the boys and Katelyn Caccamo placed first in 1-meter diving and also swam a leg of the Raiders' winning 200 freestyle relay.

Seneca Valley also got a big win in the 200 freestyle from Emily Tekelenburg and Taylor Barry made the cut for the WPIAL meet in the 200 IM.

But it was the team aspect of the win that pleased Gavin the most.

Gavin was filling in for head coach Brian Blackwell, who could not attend the meet because he was away on business.

“I told them all season long they make me proud because they're such a team,” Gavin said. “They have a great way of supporting each other. It's been that way all season long. We don't make it about individual performances. Sure, we stress those and when kids go for WPIAL cuts, we're all behind them, but it's having that team to be able to push through as one.”

Both Seneca Valley and Butler must now turn the page.

WPIAL diving begins Friday and the WPIAL championships begin March 2.

“They all know how far away it is and it's constantly on their mind,” Gavin said. “A lot of them are going to WPIALs and these dual meets are just practice racing. Practice getting down stroke counts and know their exact swims.”

Despite the loss, Butler had some strong performances.

Alex Deemer and Joe Deemer had a hand in five wins between them for the Tornado boys and freshman Laura Goettler won two individual events and swam a leg of a winning relay.

Alex Deemer swam the final leg of the 400 freestyle relay win. Butler won that event by .12 of a second.

“He really brought it at the end,” said Butler coach Dave Bocci. “Alex has come a long way this year. He's really matured.”

Goettler has been a consistent winner this season for the Golden Tornado girls in the 200 IM, 100 breaststroke and on the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

“The WPIAL knows she's here. She was always a contender from the beginning,” Bocci said. “We just have to keep going and we'll see.”

A gymnast when she was young, Goettler began swimming when she was 8 and quickly took to the sport.

“It was pretty early, around 9 or 10, when I started swimming competitively,” Goettler said. “It's what I love to do.”

Goettler said the toughest part was learning the different strokes.

“It takes awhile,” Goettler said, smiling. “I'm still learning now, even.”

But the breaststroke is where she feels most comfortable.

She said the seniors have helped her tremendously this season.

“It's been pretty great this year,” Goettler said. “They set a great example.”

GirlsSeneca Valley 109, Butler 77200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Rachel Ledford, Laura Goettler, Emma Weiss, Morgan Keelan) 1:54.02200 freestyle: 1-Emily Tekelenburg (SV) 2:03.89200 individual medley: 1-Goettler (B) 2:08.2850 freestyle: 1-Keelan (B) 26.321-meter diving: 1-Katelyn Caccamo (SV) 226.71100 butterfly: 1-Emma Weiss (B) 1:02.58100 freestyle: 1-Kiera Sherk (SV) 56.72500 freestyle: 1-Ellie Weiss (B) 5:43.19200 freestyle relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Caccamo, Alyvia Meanor, Sophia Gaguzis, Hannah Fernandes) 1:45.06100 backstroke: 1-Ledford (B) 1:04.20100 breaststroke: 1-Goettler (B) 1:07.66400 freestyle relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Sherk, Fernandes, Meanor, Gaguzis) 3:53.82BoysSeneca Valley 101, Butler 83200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Nathan Callithen, Trai Kish, Joe Deemer, Alex Deemer) 1:42.71200 freestyle: 1-Alex Deemer (B) 1:49.40200 individual medley: 1-Owen Blazer (SV) 2:04.2150 freestyle: 1-Joe Deemer (B) 23.301-meter diving: 1-Alex Laslavic (SV) 249.05100 butterfly: 1-Blazer (SV) 53.65100 freestyle: 1-Kish (B) 51.91500 freestyle: 1-Alex Deemer (B) 4:58.20200 freestyle relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Grant Porter, Mark Kunkel, Nik Shuster, Andy Ferguson) 1:37.34100 backstroke: 1-Callithen (B) 56.99100 breaststroke: 1-Christian Sawyer (SV) 1:07.44400 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Joe Deemer, Nathan Callithen, Zachary Callithen, Alex Deemer) 3:27.21