PITTSBURGH — Rachel Tano had her doubts about swimming the 200 individual medley.

Tano's performance Tuesday should ease her mind.

The Knoch junior placed second in the event at the WPIAL Class AA Championships, held at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool, with a time of 2 minutes, 11.72 seconds.

It was just the second time she competed in the event this season.

"I was looking to swim the 200 free," Tano said. "My coaches said that I would be in the 200 IM and I was upset, but I made the most of it.

"The coaches were right."

Tano shaved off nearly 5Z\x seconds from her seed time of 2:17.1.

"I was hoping for a 2:13," she said. "I never thought I'd drop almost six seconds."

Mars' Courtney Shields will be going to states in at least two events after placing fourth in the 100 butterfly (59.62) and helping the Planets' 200 medley relay team start the day off with a strong third-place effort at 1:52.05.

The foursome also included Rachel Szymkowiak, Chloe Pierre and Gabri Pierre.

Sophomore Gabri Pierre was the team's anchor.

"It's exciting," she said. "I'm the youngest on the team, but we've been able to work together for the last two seasons."

The same quartet, in the same order, placed fifth at WPIALs last year.

Gabri Pierre also medaled in the 200 freestyle, placing eighth at 2:03.38.

Szymkowiak could very well end up at the PIAA meet in the butterfly after placing fifth if her time of 59.68 is one of the top 16 nonautomatic finishes across the state.

Likewise, Knoch's 200 freestyle relay team of Jolene Kunkel, Tano, Jillian Vogus and Kristy Daubner, which placed fifth with a time of 1:44.63.

Freeport received a sixth-place finish from senior Gail Erickson in the 200 IM (2:16.15).

The Yellowjackets also produced two seventh-place finishes in the 200 medley relay (Gail Erickson, Andrea McQueen, Keil Erickson and Katy Screen) and the 200 freestyle relay (Keil Erickson, Maddie Petras, Gail Erickson and Andrea McQueen).

"Everybody swam their best times today," said Freeport coach Gregg McQueen. "It was a good meet."

Boys

Knoch's best effort featured the 200 medley relay team of Josh Tackett, Matt Mahan, Doug Vogus and Dylan Beck that medaled with an eighth-place time of 1:47.55.

Freeport's two freshmen, Ryan Sweeny and Josh Carion, placed 16th in the 200 freestyle and 18th in the 200 IM, respectively.

Mars' lone representative, junior Phil Pacey, placed 19th in the 200 IM.

Note: The WPIAL Class AA championships will conclude today at 3 p.m.