VALENCIA — Mars sophomore swimmer Tommy Pierre is a little busy this week.

Pierre qualified in three events in Friday and Saturday’s PIAA meet at Bucknell University. He is also one of 25 state qualifiers from the Allegheny Valley YMCA swim team headed to Penn State University for the Y state championships next weekend.

Pierre, 15, won his first YMCA district title in the 500-yard freestyle. Allegheny Valley’s only other district champion is 12-year-old Collin Hurley of Springdale in the 50-yard breaststroke.

“This is my 10th year with the YMCA team, but the first time I approached it with a different attitude,” Pierre said. “I focused a lot more on it.”

Jaclyn Pierre, 26 — Tommy’s sister — is in her third year as head coach of the Allegheny Valley team based in Natrona Heights. Kathy Pierre — their mother — has been a coach in the program for a number of years.

“Tommy just seemed more motivated this year,” Mrs. Pierre said. “He worked harder and that hard work paid off.”

Since Mars High School does not have a pool, Pierre gets practice in at 5:30 a.m. on weekdays at Pine-Richland High School. He also joins the YMCA team for practice each night from 6 to 8 p.m.

He is competing in the 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay and 500 freestyle in the PIAA meet. The Planets’ 200 medley relay quartet is seeded fourth.

“I’d love to see us win a state title there,” Pierre said. “Down the road, I’d like to get back to the PIAA meet, set some records with the Y team, maybe swim in college.

“We only have five boys on our high school team and we placed fourth in the team standings at the WPIALs. I’d love to see how we could do if we get more kids.”

Numbers with the Allegheny Valley YMCA team haven’t been a problem.

When Jaclyn Pierre took over the team three years ago, it had 50 swimmers. That number increased to 70 last year and ballooned to 105 this season.

The 2011 team had only 12 state qualifiers. That figure more than doubled this year.

“And we’re talking about a Western Pa. district meet with more than 40 teams and 300-plus athletes ... we did very, very well,” Coach Pierre said. “This is the best we’ve done in at least 10 years.”

The Allegheny Valley team is comprised of swimmers from Mars, Knoch, Freeport, Highlands, Lower Burrell and Springdale. Mars, Knoch and Freeport combine for 22 swimmers on the team — 13 qualifying for the state meet — despite none of those three high schools having a pool.

“We’ve always had a lot of younger kids in the program, but a lot of the older kids are staying with it now,” Coach Pierre said. “We try different things with the team to keep it fun.”

Tommy said the numbers have increased through word of mouth.

“A good performance at the district meet will help expand interest, too,” he said. “But friends see friends enjoying this sport and they want to give it a try with them.”

Finding pool time is one thing. Finding quality pool time is another.

“Tommy’s probably our fastest swimmer, but we can never get him an open lane in the pool to work on his speed because there’s so many kids,” his mother said. “I know he hasn’t maximized his potential because of those circumstances.

“There’s not much we can do about it. He’s certainly made the most out of the pool time he’s gotten.”

Allegheny Valley YMCA Local State QualifiersFrom Mars — Hannah Webb, David Webb, Jacob Webb, Tommy Pierre (1st in 500 free, 4:56.22; 4th in 200 free), Jimmy Pierre, Andrew Pierre

From Knoch — Madison Whalen (8th in 100 butterfly), Lexington Whalen

From Freeport — Noah Bowser, Caleb Bowser (10th in 50 breast), Zach Persijn, Isabella Parks (12th in 50 free), Malique Nadzam (11th in 50 free)