GROVE CITY — The Grove City boys swimming program doesn’t rebuild, it reloads.

And it starts at the top.

Last year, Austin Wilson led the Eagles’ strong showing at the PIAA Class AA Championships, winning a state title in the 100-yard backstroke and helping Grove City earn gold in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

Wilson graduated last spring, but Eagles’ coach Karen Wendelschaefer didn’t have to look far for a leader in waiting.

“Rockwell (Pokrant) has been swimming for a long time,” she said. “When this season started, I knew that was going to be his role. He did phenomenally well at the District (10) meet.”

Pokrant’s effort there earlier this month included wins in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 butterfly. A senior, he also swam a leg in the team’s victory in the 200 freestyle relay as the Eagles posted a district-record time of 1 minute, 25.64 seconds.

“There isn’t much time in between the IM and fly and we were a little worried about it,” Wendelschaefer said of Pokrant’s individual events at districts. “But his times were fast and going up against Cathedral Prep, we needed him.”

The Eagles ended up placing second as a team to the Ramblers, but Grove City still managed six titles, including the three that Pokrant was involved in.

“I’d prefer to have more time in between my events, but that’s where the team needed me,” said Pokrant. “I swam them both and it wasn’t that big of a deal. It’s all about the team.”

Pokrant is now preparing for his final scholastic meet, the PIAA Class AA Championships, scheduled Thursday and Friday at Bucknell University in Lewisburg.

Pokrant’s time of 50.84 in the butterfly at districts broke the school record. He’s hoping to go even faster this week. He placed seventh in the event at states last year and is ranked fourth entering the meet.

“It’s probably going to take under 50 (seconds) to get first place,” he said. “I’d love to win, but I am going to enjoy myself either way.”

Along with his two individual events, he will team with Marcus Swartfager, Devin Reynolds and Will Rastatter in the Eagles’ top-seeded 200 freestyle relay in what the quartet hopes is a swim to remember.

“The state record is a (1:24.97),” Pokrant said of the Eagles being just .67 seconds shy of the standard. “Each of us knows that and that’s what we’re shooting for.”

Swartfager, Reynolds, Pokrant and Ben McKnight will swim in the 400 freestyle relay where they are seeded second, just .14 seconds behind Cathedral Prep.

Girls

Grove City’s lone district champion on the girls’ side was sophomore Emma Wilson, who won the 50 freestyle in 23.99 seconds. That time has her ranked second in the state behind only WPIAL champion Taylor Petrak of Ellwood City.

“She’s definitely grown as a swimmer this year,” Wendelschaefer said. “Her 50 time is solid and we’re looking for her to improve on that performance at states.”

For some swimmers, the stage of the state meet can get in the way of them appreciating the opportunity to compete at such a high-profile event.

Don’t count Mari Reott among them.

Slippery Rock’s senior will be making her third appearance at Bucknell and she plans to soak up every minute.

“Bucknell can be a bit of an intimidating place and I think it affected me a little two years ago when I went as a sophomore,” said Reott, who will swim the butterfly and backstroke events. She was District 10 runner-up in the latter with a time of 59.39.

“Now it’s more about excitement than nervousness,” she added. “I love going there to compete. It’s such an honor.”

“This has definitely been Mari’s best year,” said Slippery Rock coach Brian Belowich. “She’s competed at a high level and she could break school records in both events at states.”

Class AAA

Butler’s Laura Goettler has had to modify her late-season goals.

That’s what happens when you break a WPIAL record as a freshman.

Goettler’s eye-popping time of 2:01.78 in the 200 IM March 2 has her thinking big entering the PIAA Class AAA Championships Saturday and Sunday.

She is ranked third in the state in the event.

“There wasn’t much pressure on me to swim as fast as I did at WPIALs,” Goettler said, “but I feel more pressure now going to states. My goals have changed.”

“We’ve talked about competing and winning,” said Butler coach Dave Bocci. “When you’re seeded third, if you’re not thinking about winning, you might as well stay home.”

Goettler set a program record in the 100 breaststroke at districts (1:03.7). She is seeded sixth at the PIAA meet in that event.