BUTLER TWP — The Butler and Mars swimming teams have not met before in varsity action, but the teams are definitely familiar with one another.

Many of the swimmers compete for the Butler YMCA and are guided by Butler coach Jeff Armstrong and Mars first-year coach Heidi Brandon.

As it turned out, the Planets' girls team came away with a hard-fought 95-88 victory while the Tornado boys picked up their first win of the season in a 75-44 victory against the undermanned Planets, who have just five swimmers.

"It's definitely a grudge match. I knew it would be neck and neck," said Brandon on the girls meet.

"I knew we were strong in the breaststroke, fly and IM and our (200) medley relay is one of the top two in Class AAA. That's a tough one to beat," she added.

"We know their team. Half their team swims for the Y," said Armstrong. "I knew it would be close. What was important was we got some fifth places instead of sixths ... but not enough first, third or fourth places."

The Mars girls team (15-2) won seven of the nine individual events and two of the three relays.

Gabri Pierre won the 200 free (2:05.99) and 500 free 5;38.09) while Courtney Shields won the 50 free (25.43) and 100 fly (59.74) to lead the Planets.

Rachel Szymkowiak (200 IM) and Chloe Pierre (100 breaststroke) also captured events and the foursome won the 200 free relay with a time of 1:45.30.

Jeanna Smialek won the 100 free and was the lead leg of the winning 200 medley relay (along with Stephanie Karvalan, Corrina Luschini and Lauren Laughlin), which posted a winning time of 1:55.33.

That relay helped the Planets erase an early 13-0 deficit because the squad does not have a diver. In fact, that started a string of eight consecutive events that the Planets claimed.

"I think I really lucked out in my first year," said Brandon. "The word is getting out about swimming. Kids are hearing the announcements, seeing it in the newspaper."

Butler (3-6) received wins by Brittany Vogel in the 100 backstroke as well as the 400 free relay (along with Jordan McElhaney, Brianna Keelan, Morgan Morrison) while sophomore Brittney Grenet won the diving portion of the meet with a score of 211.25, making her the 12th female diving to reach the 200-point plateau.

"I worked very hard for it and Ken (Bedford, Butler's diving coach) told me to believe in myself and I could do it," said Grenet. "I really get pushed a lot."

On the boys side, The Tornado's Heath Calhoun, another sophomore, became just the sixth diver in school history to reach the 300-point club. He finished the meet with a score of 327.55.

"It's kind of weird," said Calhoun about joining Bedford, Dann Grindel, David Pichler, Nunzio Esposto and John Rhodaberger. "I dove with Johnny and Johnny really helped out and so did Ken's coaching."

The Butler boys (1-8) received a pair of individual wins apiece by Jason Clouse in the 200 free (1:54.08) and 100 free (53.89) and by Hans Bergh in the 200 IM (2:20.49) and 100 fly (1:03.25).

"Jason Clouse hit the WPIAL (qualifying) time in the 200 free," said Armstrong.

Armstrong was pleased with the depth of his team, which helped gain those extra points along the way.

"For the girls, our outside lanes did well. Our No. 3 girls did a good job. They had a lot of good splits on relays. Those girls did well. These are ones that are normally last and all did well. That's a positive."

GirlsMars 95, Butler 88200 medley relay: 1-Mars (Jeanna Smialek, Stephanie Karvalan, Corrina Luschini, Lauren Laughlin) 1:55.33

200 freestyle: 1-Gabri Pierre (M) 2:05.99; 2-McElhaney (B); 3-Robick (M)

200 individual medley: 1-Rachel Szymkowiak (M) 2:15.23; 2-Vogel (B); 3-R. Clouse (B)

50 freestyle: 1-Courtney Shields (M) 25.43; 2-C. Pierre (M); 3-Morrison (B)

1-meter diving: 1-Brittney Grenet (B) 211.25; 2-Crissman (B); 3-Walker (B)

100 butterfly: 1-Courtney Shields (M) 59.74; 2-Keelan (B); 3-Karvalan (M)

100 freestyle: 1-Jeanna Smialek (M) 59.62; 2-Pullekines (B); 3-Kriley (B)

500 freestyle: 1-Gabri Pierre (M) 5:38.09; 2-McElhaney (B); 3-Robick (M)

200 freestyle relay: 1-Mars (Chloe Pierre, Rachel Szymkowiak, Gabri Pierre, Courtney Shields) 1:45.30

100 backstroke: 1-Brittany Vogel (B) 1:04.18; 2-Smelscer (M); 3-Keelan (B)

100 breaststroke: 1-Chloe Pierre (M) 1:10.32; 2-Szymkowiak (M); 3-R. Clouse (B)

400 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Jordan McElhaney, Brianna Keelan, Morgan Morrison, Brittany Vogel) 4:06.26

BoysButler 75. Mars 44200 medley relay: 1-Mars (Jake Brandon, Phil Pacey, Andrew Wilhelm, Shawn Wharrey) 2:03.02

200 freestyle: 1-Jason Clouse (B) 1:54.08; 2-Messler (B)

200 individual medley: 1-Hans Bergh (B) 2:20.49; 2-Shankle (B)

50 freestyle: 1-Phil Pacey (M) 25.66; 2-Calhoun (B); 3-Wharrey (M)

1-meter diving: 1-Heath Calhoun (B) 327.55; 2-Manuel (B)

100 butterfly: 1-Hans Bergh (B) 1:03.25; 2-Messler (B)

100 freestyle: 1-Jason Clouse (B) 53.89; 2-E. Bergh (B); 3-Wilhelm (M)

500 freestyle: 1-Alex Bauer (B) 5:47.82

200 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Jason Clouse, Erik Bergh, Hans Bergh, Alex Bauer) 1:43.85

100 backstroke: (Exhibition) 1-Phil Pacey (M) 1:06.30

100 breaststroke: (Exhibition)

1-Andrew Wilhelm (M) 1:12.58

400 freestyle relay: (Exhibition) 1-Butler (Jason Clouse, Erik Bergh, Alex Bauer, Hans Bergh) 3:50.39