Absolute domination in two events — that has been the story of Maggie Gruber's season.

The Mars sophomore swimmer is ranked first in the state in the 100-yard butterfly (55.56 seconds) and 100 backstroke (56.62).

She will be putting her No. 1 ranking on the line at the WPIAL Class AA Girls Swimming Championships, to be held Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

She placed second at the WPIAL meet in both events as a freshman before winning a state title in the butterfly.

No other girl has come close to her times this season.

The second seed in the butterfly, West Allegheny's Kellie Gervas, is nearly 5Z\x seconds behind Gruber.

In the backstroke, Gruber is almost 5 seconds in front of West Allegheny's Ashley Niznik.

“She's a great kid and she works so hard,” said Mars coach Heidi Brandon. “She knows the pace she has to keep and she swims her race.”

Gruber said entering every event with the same mindset is the key.

“I'm just going out there to do the best I can,” she said. “That's the way I approach every meet.”

Gruber also will swim in the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays, both of which are seeded sixth.

Joining her in both races will be Amanda Alikhani, Jocelyn Lemay and Caroline Pacey.

• Knoch senior Kristy Daubner is no stranger to the WPIAL meet. This is her fourth and final trip.

“Kristy is a seasoned veteran,” said Knoch coach Rick Hassler. “She's been there before and knows what it takes.”

“It doesn't feel like three years since I was going as a freshman,” she said.

Daubner is seeded 12th in the 50 freestyle and 10th in the 100 freestyle.

“I used to be better in the 50, but now my best event is the 100,” said Daubner. “My goal is to make states in both events.”

• Freeport's Jamie Boyle will swim the 100 backstroke. ... Butler County residents Anne Marie Bilott and Hillary Cummings both will be swimming for Shady Side Academy in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

Jack Muehlheuser of Mars is seeded third in the 100 backstroke. He placed second in the event in 2010.“He's been sick pretty much all season,” said Brandon. “It's been one thing after another for him, but he usually shows up for WPIALs.”The Planets also will send freshman Christopher Georgiadis into the pool. He is seeded fourth in the 200 IM and fifth in the 500 freestyle.“I'm not surprised he is seeded so high as a freshman,” said Brandon. “He just needs to be focused. If he is, he should do well.”• The Knoch's 200 freestyle relay team of Josh Tackett, Nathan Walls, Matt Wilson and Van McCarren is seeded ninth.“We've got a chance to make the state meet,” Hassler said. “But all four swimmers have to be hitting on all cylinders.”• Freeport's Josh Carion will swim the 50 freestyle.<B>Note:</B> The top four finishers in each event, including relays, will qualify for the state. ... A preview of WPIAL Class AAA (Butler, Seneca Valley) will appear in Wednesday's Eagle.