SLIPPERY ROCK — It started out as just something to do for both Jacob Johnston and Andrew Opalewski.

Since they are sprinters at heart, the Slippery Rock High juniors were most at ease swimming the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

But both wanted to broaden their swimming scope. Johnston tried his hand at the 200 individual medley while Opalewski decided to give the grueling 500 freestyle a whirl.

What happened was unexpected for both swimmers.

Each finished the dual meet season with school records in those events and each qualified in six events for the District 10 Swimming and Diving Championships, which will be held at Penn State-Behrend in Erie Feb. 29 and March 1.

"Most guys are in love with the 50 and 100 free," said Slippery Rock boys and girls swimming and diving coach Kirby Burns. "They have that attitude of, 'Hey, I'm the fastest guy in the pool.'"

But not these two.

Johnston tried the 200 IM almost on a whim. It turns out to be one of his best individual events.

He shattered the school record in the event with a time of 2 minutes, 24.81 seconds. Johnston has become so good at it, he's choosing it as one of the two individual events to compete in at the district meet next weekend.

"I was surprised," Johnston said. "It was just one of those things where Mr. Burns needed me in that spot and I went for it. I guess it worked out."

Johnston has teamed up with Opalewski on the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle relay teams, which also have set school records.

Johnston and Opalewski are highly competitive, with the other teams and each other.

"We challenge each other most of the time," Johnston said.

Johnston has been swimming competitively since he was 9. Opalewski didn't start until the seventh grade

In a short time, he has become one of the best.

That also has put Opalewski in a unique position as a role model for the Rockets' underclassmen.

"A few of the younger kids look up to me," Opalewski said. "A lot of them get bummed because they don't swim as well as they think they should or win races or qualify for districts. I tell them, 'Hey, I didn't make it my first year.' I look on my leadership with a lot of pride."

Opalewski has the school record in the 50 freestyle. It took him quite a few tries, though, to get the mark in the 500 freestyle.

Meet after meet, he came painfully close to the record.

"With him it was about setting the proper pace," Burns said. "Being a sprinter, he was used to going out real fast and by the end of the race, he was tired. We finally got him to pull back a little bit at the beginning."

When Opalewski finally broke the mark, coming in with a time of 5:34.63, he couldn't believe it at first.

Once it sunk in, he was elated.

"It was unbelievable, I'd say," Opalewski said.

Opalewski was determined to make his junior year a special one. To make sure he was in shape, he ran cross county for Slippery Rock in the fall, as well as getting in his usual swimming workouts.

"It helped out a lot," he said. "I planned on doing cross country to improve my endurance."

Even with the school record in the 500 freestyle, Opalewski will focus on the 50 and 100 freestyle at the district meet.

Both Johnston and Opalewski have high expectations for that meet.

Burns said he believes the two could finish in the top five in their events.

As seniors next season, Burns sees even bigger things for them.

"I would anticipate Jake and Andrew going to states next year," Burns said. "They've really made good progress and they are really developing and maturing."