LEWISBURG — Two-tenth's of a second.

That's all that stood between Butler sophomore Laura Goettler and a state title Thursday night at the PIAA Class AAA Swimming Championships at Bucknell University.

Goettler placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke, breaking her own school record with a time of 1 minute, 1.80 seconds. Avon Grove senior Olivia Paoletti beat her out with a 1:01.65.

“A very close race,” Butler swim coach Dave Bocci said. “That girl beat her by a reach. That was it.

“It's tough to lose one that tight, but I know Laura is happy with what she did out here.”

While happy with her performance overall, Goettler acknowledged the disappintment in not winning.

“It's frustrating coming that close,” she said. “I knew where she (Paoletti) was the whole time. I knew how close it was gonna be.

“But I did hit my goal of getting into the 1:01's. Without her pushing me, that probably doesn't happen, so I can't be too disappointed.”

Goettler placed third in the 200 individual medley Wednesday night, Paoletti winning that event as well.

“Laura placed ninth in the IM, 14th in the breast stroke here last year,” Bocci said. “To place third and second in those events this year is quite a jump.

“She knows what it takes to be a high school state champion now. She knows what this is all about.”

Goettler came out of the preliminary round with the fastest time in the 100 breast at 1:02.00, “but we knew (Paoletti) had gotten into the 1:01's before,” Bocci said.

“Laura knew she had to swim faster in the finals and she did. She did everything she could control. I'm very proud of her.”

Goettler plans to set still faster goals next season.

“Maybe get out of the 1:01's ... definitely come back here and win both events,” she said.

“With her (Paoletti) being a senior, she won't be here next year. Maybe that will give me more of an opportunity. We'll see.

“Coming this close to winning and knowing the time I need to get to ... It's a great motivator, for sure,” Goettler added.

Edie Sawyer of Seneca Valley reached the PIAA meet in the 100 breast, but did not qualify for the finals.

Seneca Valley's Katelyn Caccamo reached the semifinals in 1-meter diving, but her season ended there. Butler's Paige Williams did not get out of the preliminary round.

On the boys side, Seneca Valley sophomore Owen Blazer placed seventh in the 100-yard backstroke, swimming the event in 50.60 seconds. Brendan Burns of Conestoga won the event in 46.93.

“My goals this year were to qualify for junior nationals in the 100 back in club swimming, finish among the top three at WPIAL's and reach the finals at states,” Blazer said. “I was able to do all of those things.”

Blazer placed second in the 100 back at the WPIAL meet. He placed at the state meet after finishing 20th here last year.

“That experience last year definitely helped me,” Blazer said. “I was pretty wide-eyed last year, just taking everything in.

“This year, I knew what to expect.”

Blazer was the lone sophomore in the top eight. Burns is a junior and the second through fourth-place finishers were seniors.

“My goal next year is to grab gold at the WPIAL and place in the top three at the state meet,” he said. “With these seniors not coming back, I feel like there's room for me to move up.”

Butler's Alex Deemer finished 16th in the 500 freestyle with a 4:42.42. David Bocci barely missed the top 16, finishing 18th.

The Golden Tornado's Sam Deemer was 25th in the 100 backstroke.

The Class AA portion of the PIAA Championships takes place Friday and Saturday at Bucknell.