ADAMS TWP — Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium is becoming quite familiar to Maggie Gruber.

Mars' junior is headed to the venue, site of the PIAA Class AA Girls Swimming Championships, for the third successive year.

Her previous two visits have yielded two state titles — she won the 100-yard butterfly in 2010 and 2011.

“My freshman year, I really didn't care where I placed, though it was nice to win,” said Gruber. “Even this year, as long as I improve my times, I'll be happy with that.”

Gruber is ranked first in the state in the butterfly (55.0 seconds) and the backstroke (54.6) after winning a pair of WPIAL titles earlier this month.

That effort came without being tapered. Now the junior is tapered, which means bad news for Gruber's opponents.

“We've been having some pretty laid-back practices,” she said. “I'm feeling good and think I'll go pretty fast.”

“Right now, Maggie is very calm,” said Mars coach Heidi Brandon. “Nothing seems to be getting to her.”

Gruber will also be swimming in the 200 medley relay along with teammates Caroline Pacey, Nicole Parrish and Torrey Shields.

n Some WPIAL swimming fans may not have recognized Bria Otwell's name entering the district championship meet.

Two WPIAL crowns changed that.

Freeport's star freshman won the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle and is seeded third and second, respectively, in the state meet.

In the 500, she is just 2.36 seconds behind the top seed, Scranton Prep's Mia Nonneneberg.

“We're very excited for Bria,” said Freeport coach Lori Dudek. “We think she'll have a great meet.”

Otwell has swam for several different club teams, currently hitting the water for the Fox Chapel Killer Whales.

“Swimming just comes naturally for me,” she said. “It gives me a lot of discipline.

“I'd like to win in both of my events,” she added, “but I'm just happy to be going to states. Freshmen don't usually get to states.”

n For the second straight season, Slippery Rock's Kelsey Reott and Katie Antal will both be swimming in the state meet.

Reott will be competing in the 200 freestyle (1:58.59) and 100 backstroke (59.94) after reaching personal-best times in both events at the District 10 Championships.

The senior is seeded eighth in the backstroke at this week's event.

“I was very happy that I broke two minutes in the 200 free and a minute in the back,” said Reott. “I'm just glad to make states again. I'm ranked higher this year and I want to place higher.”

Antal swam the breaststroke at states last season as a freshman. She will compete in the event this year as well as in the 200 IM.

Her best time in the IM (2:18.36) came at this year's District 10 meet, but she swam a 1:07.96 in the breaststroke, more than a second from matching her best time in that event.

She's looking at the state meet as a chance to redeem herself.

“I wasn't happy with my breaststroke time at districts,” said Antal. “I wanted to go faster and I'm looking to drop time at states.”

n Grove City junior Lauren Decker will be swimming in the 50 freestyle (25.23) and 100 butterfly (1:02.06).

Following are Butler County area female swimmers who have qualified for the PIAA Class AA Championships, to be held Friday and Saturday at Bucknell University. Each swimmer's name is preceded by her seed and followed by her seed time.<B></B>200 medley relay: 11-Mars (Maggie Gruber, Caroline Pacey, Nicole Parrish, Torrey Shields) 1:53.18<B>200 freestyle: </B>18-Kelsey Reott (Slippery Rock) 1:58.59<B>200 individual medley: </B>3-Bria Otwell (Freeport) 2:07.02; 27-Katie Antal (Slippery Rock) 2:18.36<B>50 freestyle: </B>24-Lauren Decker (Grove City) 25.23<B>100 butterfly: </B>1-Maggie Gruber (Mars) 55.0; 29-Lauren Decker (Grove City) 1:02.06<B>500 freestyle: </B>2-Bria Otwell (Freeport) 5:02.69<B>100 backstroke: </B>1-Maggie Gruber (Mars) 54.6; 8-Kelsey Reott (Slippery Rock) 59.94<B>100 breaststroke: </B>10-Katie Antal (SR) 1:07.96