PITTSBURGH — Thursday was all about moving on for several area Class AA swimmers.

Though no WPIAL title was won by Butler County competitors at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool, four individuals and a relay team placed within the top four and will compete at next month's PIAA championship meet.

Mars' Courtney Shields (third in the 100-yard butterfly) and Rachel Szymkowiak (fourth in the same event) and Knoch's Rachel Tano (fourth in 200 individual medley) and Kristy Daubner (fourth in 50 freestyle) all made the cut.

Shields and Szymkowiak also helped the Planets' girls 200 medley relay squad place third.

That quartet also included Jeanna Smialek and Gabri Pierre and the team finished in one minute, 51.41 seconds.

The squad entered the meet with a WPIAL-best seed time of 1:52.91. Oakland Catholic won the event with a 1:49.89.

"We took a second and a half off our best time," said Shields, who swam the butterfly leg. "You can't ask for anything more than that. We're happy with it."

Shields finished the individual butterfly in 58.13 and Szymkowiak was right behind her at 58.55.

"My previous best was 58.8, so I'm happy with my time," said Szymkowiak. "As long as I got to states, that was the main thing."

Tano was seeded fourth in the 200 IM and that's where she ended up, though she shaved off more than two seconds from her seed time and finished at 2:12.67.

Daubner took care of three things Thursday morning.

Her time of 24.83 in the 50 freestyle earned her a WPIAL medal, a place at states and it broke her own school record of 25.77 in the event, though the final accomplishment took a back seat to moving on.

"I was just focused on trying to make states," said the sophomore. "I came here seeded fifth and I finished fourth and I'm satisfied with that."

Both Tano and Daubner may be swimming even more at the state meet after they helped the Knights' 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays place fifth, just short of a guaranteed spot at PIAAs.

Nicolette Krause and Jillian Vogus also played a part in the 200 medley team finishing in 1:55.44 and the 200 freestyle in 1:43.47.

If the times end up being one of the 16 best non-automatic entries across the state, the quartet will team up again at the PIAA meet.

The relay teams will find out where they stand early next week.

"Absolutely, all the girls swam great," said Knoch coach Rick Hassler after the 200 medley had finished. "We just don't know what teams out east have."

In the Class AA boys' meet, Knoch managed a pair of 15th-place finishes in the 200 medley relay (1:49.13) and 200 freestyle relay (1:37.53).

In the first, the Knights featured Josh Tackett, Aaron Goldman, Cole Blaugher and Van McCarren.

In the 200 free, Mitch Andrews replaced Goldman.

Freeport sophomore Ryan Sweeny finished 15th in the 200 freestyle (1:54.96).

The WPIAL Class AA championships will continue today from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Following are results from the WPIAL Class AA swimming championships, held Thursday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool. Mars, Knoch and Freeport swimmers who automatically qualified for next month's PIAA meet by placing in the top four appear in bold.

Girls200 medley relay: 1-Oakland Catholic 1:49.89,

3-Mars (Jeanna Smialek, Rachel Szymkowiak, Courtney Shields, Gabri Pierre) 1:51.41, 5-Knoch (Nicolette Krause, Rachel Tano, Jillian Vogus, Kristy Daubner) 1:55.44

200 freestyle: 1-Lindsay Vrooman (Ambridge) 1:49.38, 12-Gabri Pierre (Mars) 2:04.22, 19-Jillian Vogus (Knoch) 2:07.93

200 individual medley: 1-Aileen Smith (Oakland Catholic) 2:06.42,

4-Rachel Tano (Knoch) 2:12.67, 16-Corinna Luschini (Mars) 2:21.89, 19-Nicolette Krause (Knoch) 2:26.3, 21-Keil Erickson (Freeport) 2:26.51

50 freestyle: 1-Katlin Coghe (Oakland Catholic) 24.56,

4-Kristy Daubner (Knoch) 24.83

100 butterfly: 1-Andrea Marko (Greensburg Central Catholic) 56.42,

3-Courtney Shields (Mars) 58.13, 4-Rachel Szymkowiak (Mars) 58.55, 19-Jeanna Smialek (Mars) 1:04.66, 20-Jillian Vogus (Knoch) 1:04.67, 25-Keil Erickson (Freeport) 1:06.05

200 freestyle relay: 1-Shady Side Academy 1:37.69, 5-Knoch (Nicolette Krause, Jillian Vogus, Kristy Daubner, Rachel Tano) 1:43.47, 17-Mars (Lauren Laughlin, Stephanie Karavlan, Corinna Luschini, Jeanna Smialek) 1:50.77, 22-Freeport (Keil Erickson, Jamie Boyle, Maddie Petras, Katy Screen) 1:52.3

Boys200 medley relay: 1-Shady Side Academy 1:38.3, 15-Knoch (Josh Tackett, Aaron Goldman, Cole Blaugher, Van McCarren) 1:49.13, 24-Mars (Kurt Muehlheuser, Phil Pacey, Shawn Wharrey, Luke Wharrey) 1:55.77

200 freestyle: 1-Conner Calarie (Highlands) 1:44.03, 15-Ryan Sweeny (Freeport) 1:54.96, 21-Van McCarren (Knoch) 1:57.52

200 individual medley: 1-David Paulk (Shady Side Academy) 1:57.4, 20-Josh Carion (Freeport) 2:15.58, 23-Phil Pacey (Mars) 2:17.16

50 freestyle: 1-Mark Stepanian (Blackhawk) 20.79, 36-Josh Carion (Freeport) 24.91

100 butterfly: 1-Matt Millikin (Carlynton) 51.76, 28-Cole Blaugher (Knoch) 1:01.2, 31-Mike Majtakso (Freeport) 1:02.45

200 freestyle relay: 1-Indiana 1:28.82, 15-Knoch (Mitch Andrews, Cole Blaugher, Van McCarren, Josh Tackett) 1:37.53