PITTSBURGH — Owen Blazer did not bring home a gold medal from the WPIAL Swimming Championships, but you wouldn't have guessed it from the look of satisfaction he exuded at the end of Class AAA action on Friday.

The Seneca Valley junior was part of five school records during the two-day meet, the last coming as a member of the Raiders' 400-yard freestyle relay team.

Blazer and teammates Max Bredl, Daniel Simoes and Kevin Donaldson swam a third-place time of three minutes, 10.08 seconds.

Freshman Donaldson swam the anchor leg of the relay and capped the record-breaking effort.

“We knew in early January that it was going to be us four swimming the relay here at WPIALs,” Blazer said. “We're more of a 100-based team than a 50-based team.”

Blazer had swam the first leg of the relay in 46.42, breaking SV's 100 freestyle record in the process.

His day began with a time of 49.38 in the 100 backstroke, breaking another school record, his own, while placing second behind Upper St. Clair's Jack Fitzpatrick.

Most notably, the time in the backstroke earned for Blazer All-American status in the event.

“It's his first All-American swim and my first as a head coach,” said SV's Brian Blackwell. “It was a great performance.”

“Last year, I got All-American consideration in the backstroke, but ended up getting bumped out,” said Blazer. “It's nice to know that I definitely have it now.”

Blazer had already broken the school butterfly record (49.88) on Thursday and joined with Max Skeen, Daniel Simoes and Donaldson to topple the school standard in the 200 freestyle relay (1:27.17).

“Other than winning a gold medal, I couldn't have asked for more,” said Blazer. “I learned a lot here this year. There are things with my swims that are easily correctable.”

Butler placed third in the boys team standings with 157 points.

“That's our best finish here in at least 30 years,” said Butler coach Dave Bocci. “Alex (Deemer) and David (Bocci) placing third and fourth in the 500 freestyle, that put us over the top.”

Deemer and Bocci also swam on the Golden Tornado's 400 freestyle relay, which broke the school record with a finish of 3:10.55. The foursome also included Ben Borvendeg and Sam Deemer.

Girls

Butler's Laura Goettler came into Friday's 100 breaststroke as the defending district champion.

Her time of 1:01.51 not only broke the school record, it also made her an All-American in the event.

But she had some company in that respect.

Fox Chapel's Zoe Skirboll, who was beaten by Goettler for Thursday's 200 IM crown, bettered Goettler's time by .55 seconds and the latter settled for second place.

“When you're on top and you don't win, it's going to be disappointing,” said Coach Bocci. “Laura, she's quiet, but she's also very competitive. She wants to win.

“We'll see what two weeks brings,” he added of the upcoming state meet. “She's still in the bid for a state title.”

Butler sophomore Abbie Griffith made her first appearance at the district meet this week and laid a solid foundation for the next two years.

After placing fifth in the butterfly on Thursday, Griffith took fifth in the backstroke with a school-record time of 57.41.

“She was just outside of qualifying (for WPIALs) last year,” Coach Bocci said. “This was a great learning experience for her.”

Class AA

Andrew Pierre came within 50 yards of defending his WPIAL 500 freestyle title from last year. On the final lap, he was passed by Deer Lakes junior Adam Morrison, who won the championship in 4:40.05.

Pierre's second-place time was 4:40.99, a school record.

In Thursday's 200 freestyle event, Pierre was first and Morrison second.

“I had a lead (in the 500) with 50 yards to go, but I knew it wasn't safe,” Pierre said. “I practice with Adam every day for club and he's a great distance swimmer, but he's also one of my best friends.

“I don't feel like I did anything wrong,” he added. “I swam well, he swam better.”

Knoch, with just seven swimmers competing at WPIALs, finished fourth. Over two days, the Knights earned seven medals, with the highest finish being Braden Zukowski's third place in Friday's breaststroke.

“We've all been working hard and just wanted to have the best season we could,” said Zukowski. “Taking fourth is pretty impressive, especially since we have a rather small team.”

Senior Matt Cummings, who will swim at Lafayette College, also played a major role in the Knights' showing. Like Zukowski, he collected four medals between individual swims and relays.

“I just swam club before this season, but I heard some of the guys talking about how much fun it is competing at WPIALs, so I joined the team,” said Cummings, who competes on Knoch's 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams, which both placed fourth here. “We've been thinking about the relay teams getting to states and they should both go.”

Following are results from the WPIAL Swimming Championships, which concluded Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool. The top eight in each event earned a medal. The winner of each event automatically earned a spot at the state meet.Class AAAGirlsButler, Seneca Valley, Mars100 freestyle:1-Olivia Livingston (Gateway) 49.97500 freestyle: 1-Molly Smyers (North Allegheny) 4:58.72, 6-Taylor Schoeffel (SV) 5:09.6100 backstroke: 1-Tori Buerger (North Allegheny) 54.31, 5-Abbie Griffith (B) 57.41100 breaststroke: 1-Zoe Skirboll (Fox Chapel) 1:00.96, 2-Laura Goettler (B) 1:01.51400 freestyle relay: 1-North Allegheny 3:29.1BoysButler, Seneca Valley100 freestyle: 1-Kimani Gregory (Penn Hills) 44.51500 freestyle: 1-Richard Mihm (North Allegheny) 4:29.29, 3-Alex Deemer (B) 4:37.46, 4-David Bocci (B) 4:40.28100 backstroke: 1-Jack Fitzpatrick (Upper St. Clair) 48.2, 2-Owen Blazer (SV) 49.38, 5-Sam Deemer (B) 51.51100 breaststroke: 1-Josh Matheny (Upper St. Clair) 54.7400 freestyle relay: 1-North Allegheny 3:05.37, 3-Seneca Valley (Owen Blazer, Max Bredl, Daniel Simoes, Kevin Donaldson) 3:10.08, 4-Butler (Ben Borvendeg, David Bocci, Sam Deemer, Alex Deemer) 3:10.55Class AAGirlsKnoch, Freeport, North Catholic100 freestyle: 1-Karen Siddoway (Northgate) 50.88500 freestyle: 1-Kaelyn McClain (Elizabeth Forward) 5:10.01, 5-Ainsley Bissett (NC) 5:22.91100 backstroke: 1-Isabel Huang (Quaker Valley) 58.13, 6-Brittney Carmazzi (NC) 1:00.04, 7-Ariana Clark (F) 1:00.4100 breaststroke: 1-Heather Gardner (Mt. Pleasant) 1:03.92, 3-Alexis Schrecongost (F) 1:07.13400 freestyle relay: 1-Northgate 3:35.89, 5-North Catholic (Brittney Carmazzi, Ainsley Bissett, Emma Kunzmann, Julia Kocsis) 3:44.49, 6-Freeport (Brooke Welling, Ariana Clark, Madison Moretti, Alexis Schrecongost) 3:44.56BoysKnoch, Mars, Freeport, North Catholic100 freestyle: 1-Ian Shahan (Belle Vernon) 45.48500 freestyle: 1-Adam Morrison (Deer Lakes) 4:40.05, 2-Andrew Pierre (M) 4:40.99100 backstroke: 1-John Dorobish (Geibel Catholic) 52.77, 6-Zach Wilson (K) 55.14100 breaststroke: 1-Robert Spekis (Belle Vernon) 56.99, 3-Braden Zukowski (K) 1:00.14, 4-Matt Cummings (K) 1:00.64400 freestyle relay: 1-Indiana 3:15.29, 6-Mars (Andrew Pierre, Will Allison, Aidan Wolf, Zach Leachman) 3:24.48