BUTLER TWP — Having served as an assistant coach at Seneca Valley the previous two seasons, Butler coach Jeff Armstrong was hoping his swimmers could put on a good showing Thursday.

They did, but he knows there's still some work to be done.

Behind a strong performance by Emily Wolfarth and a pool record by Kelly Connolly, the Seneca Valley girls team posted a 101-83 victory while the Raiders boys team won 104-80.

"Our team came in here and stepped it up," said Seneca Valley coach Tom Donati. "This week, they knew there was a lot at stake.

"I'll give my kids credit. I thought it would have been a little closer. I thought we could have taken a step backwards, but the kids have worked hard," Donati added.

"We wanted to see what we how we'd do against an established program that's been around," said Armstrong. "It was a respectable score. If a few things would have gone the other way, it would have been closer."

The big event of the evening was the girls 100 breaststroke, in which Connolly broke the pool record with a time of 1 minute, 8.12 seconds. The Raiders' Kristen Bezier set the previous record of 1:08.99 in 2002.

Butler's Sarah Clouse placed second but broke the school record with a time of 1:08.93, besting the standard set by Stacee Jones (1:09.08 in 1993).

"We knew swimming with Kelly, it would be a good race," said Armstrong. "It would be good for Sarah to see she can compete at that level. Those two will be going again at WPIALs."

Wolfarth had a strong meet, winning the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:00.29 and the 500 freestyle at 5:20.44. She also was a member of the winning 200 freestyle relay (1:46.08).

"Emily dropped 12 seconds in the 500 free, five seconds in the 200 free and four in the 200 relay," said Donati."

The only other double individual winner was Butler's Molly Evans, who captured the 200 individual medley (2:12.39) and the 100 freestyle (54.71).

In the boys meet, Chris Baker keyed the Raiders' triumph with wins in the 200 freestyle (1:51.63) and the 100 backstroke (58.35) and with the victorious 200 freestyle relay (1:35.54).

"You'll be reading a lot about him in three weeks at the WPIALs," said Donati.

Patrick O'Toole had a strong meet for the Tornado, winning the 200 IM (2:06.78) as well as the 500 freestyle (5:01.77).

"This was a total team effort," said Armstrong on his team's solid performance. "We were a little sluggish in the first half, but in the second half, we got stronger.

"We've had a good number of kids with lifetime bests this year. Not everyone, I wish we had 100 percent, but it's a high percentage. It gives us momentum into the future and we can build a solid future."

Notes: The Raiders improved to 7-3 (girls) and 6-4 (boys). … Butler's Clif McKee recorded a 59.99 in the 200 back to meet the WPIAL cut.

GirlsSeneca Valley 101, Butler 83

200 medley relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Marissa Behning, Kelly Connolly, Elyse Dobrick, Rose Snyder) 1:54.84

200 freestyle: 1-Emily Wolfarth (SV) 2:00.29; 2-Dobrick (SV); 3-Vogel (B)

200 individual medley: 1-Molly Evans (B) 2:12.39; 2-Connolly (SV); 3-Vernon (B)

50 freestyle: 1-Rose Snyder (SV) 26.39; 2-Bezier (SV); 3-Long (SV)

1-meter diving: 1-Diane Rocco (SV) 228.25; 2-Schnur (B); 3-Polite (SV)

100 butterfly: 1-Elyse Dobrick (SV) 1:00.13; 2-Clouse (B); 3-Newell (B)

100 freestyle: 1-Molly Evans (B) 54.71; 2-Bezier (SV); 3-Snyder (SV)

500 freestyle: 1-Emily Wolfarth (SV) 5:20.44; 2-Vogel (B); 3-Long (SV)

200 freestyle relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Lauren Bezier, Kelly Connolly, Emily Wolfarth, Rose Snyder) 1:46.08

100 backstroke: 1-Ellen Crummy (B) 1:04.18; 2-Behning (SV); 3-Vernon (B)

100 breaststroke: 1-Kelly Connolly (SV) 1:08.12*; 2-Sarah Clouse (B) 1:08.93#; 3-Crummy (B)

400 freestyle relay (exhibition): 1-Butler (Brittany Vogel, Sarah Clouse, Ellen Crummy, Molly Evans)

BoysSeneca Valley 104, Butler 80200 medley relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Ben Gutmann, Scott Bowser, Bobby Beahm, Ian English) 1:49.05

200 freestyle: 1-Chris Baker (SV) 1:51.63; 2-Galante (B); 3-Lippert (SV)

200 individual medley: 1-Patrick O'Toole (B) 2:06.78; 2-Bowser (SV); 3-Wolfe (SV)

50 freestyle: 1-Ian English (SV) 24.80; 2-Beahm (SV); 3-Uhlman (B)

1-meter diving: 1-John Rhodaberger (B) 207.70; 2-Kaiser (B); 3-Leroy (SV)

100 butterfly: 1-Michael Coulter (B) 1:00.61; 2-Uhlman (B); 3-Beahm (SV)

100 freestyle: 1-Matt Galante (B) 51.82; 2-Bowser (SV); 3-Heddle (SV)

500 freestyle: 1-Patrick O'Toole (B) 5:01.77; 2-Lippert (SV); 3-Miller (SV)

200 freestyle relay: 1-Seneca Valley (Chris Baker, Ben Gutmann, Dan Guttman, Scott Bowser) 1:35.54

100 backstroke: 1-Chris Baker (SV) 58.35; 2-McKee (B); 3-Hartzel (SV)

100 breaststroke: 1-Ben Gutmann (SV) 1:04.30; 2-Wolfe (SV); 3-D. Gutmann (SV)

400 freestyle relay (exhibition): Butler (Patrick O'Toole, Michael Coulter, Clif McKee, Matt Galante)*-Butler pool record#-Butler school record