BUTLER TWP — When this summer is over, their Butler YMCA swim careers follow suit.

So Camryn Forbes, Taylor Petrak, Brooke Zukowski and Mallory Marzolf decided to stick together as teammates for one final season before going their separate ways.

That foursome combined to win the 200-yard medley relay at last year's YMCA Long Course Nationals, swimming the event in 1 minute, 57.36 seconds. They placed second in the 200 free relay.

“All four of them had to agree to do that,” Butler YMCA swim coach Alex Fertelmes said of the relay staying intact. “They will be there to defend their championships.

“There are no guarantees, of course. The competition out there is so close, so tight. But they just missed winning that free relay, too.”

The YMCA Long Course Championships run July 31 through Aug. 4 at the Greensboro Aquatics Center in Greensboro, N.C. Also competing from the Butler Y will be Devin Javen, Ian Schirra, Andrew Pierre and Abbie Griffith.

This fall, Forbes is headed to Indiana University of the Big Ten, Petrak to Ohio State, Zukowski to the University of New Mexico and Marzolf to Chatham University.

“We could have gone off to college earlier and gotten our careers started that way,” Forbes admitted. “But we are such a tight group here. This is our final time together as a team and we wanted to make the most of it.”

Individually, Forbes has won the 100 backstroke event three straight times at nationals, breaking her own record the past two years.

She'd love to do that one more time.

“We all want to go out strong. We've been working hard for it,” Forbes said.

Zukowski suffered torn knee ligaments last August and is only now approaching 100 percent.

While Forbes will study chemistry at Indiana, Zukowski will study physical therapy at New Mexico.

“I was looking for something different and I'm excited about what I can do out there,” Zukowski said. “But this swim team is like my family. We're all super close and we were so excited with what we did last year.

“Before we all take off, we wanted to see if we could do it again.”

While Marzolf isn't headed to a Division I swim program, she's grateful for the opportunity to swim on the same team as people who are at that level.

Marzolf plans to study interior architecture at Chatham.

“This YMCA team has impacted my life,” she said. “We're all so competitive and we push each other every day.

“Camryn, Taylor, Brooke ... I know they've made me better. I wouldn't be where I am without them. Being part of that relay has been a fantastic experience.”

Schirra has been part of the Butler Y swim team since age 8. He will study computer science and swim at Mount St. Mary's University. He specializes in the breast stroke.

“The ability of swimmers in this program and how we all work together — that's where the (consistent) success comes from,” Schirra said.

Schirra was seeded 97th at the short course nationals in the spring and finished 49th. He is looking for similar success at Long Course Nationals and in college.

“Just keep jumping numbers like that,” he said. “Mount St. Mary's only started a swim program a couple of years ago. I'm hoping to step in and make an impact.”

Petrak has attended three previous YMCA national meets. Javen is headed to Denison University while Pierre — only entering his junior year at Mars High School — is competing in his third YMCA national meet.

Griffith is the youngest member of the team. She is entering her freshman year at Butler, but did compete at nationals last year.

“The older swimmers on the team have been very helpful to me,” Griffith said. “It hasn't been (intimidating) swimming with them at all.”

Already qualified for Long Course Nationals in the 200 and 50 butterfly, Griffith is trying to get there in another event. The Y team is competing at a Junior Olympic tourney at the University of Pittsburgh this weekend.

“I'm one second away from the (qualifying) time,” she said.

Griffith is hopeful of making the WPIAL and state meets with Butler in her first season and wants to become a Division I swimmer like so many of her Y teammates.

“They've shown me what it takes to get there,” she said.

“These kids practice year round,” Fertelmes said. “That type of dedication has paid off for them.”