Laura Goettler has a chance to do something very rare when she hits the water this week at the WPIAL Class 3A Swimming Championships, set for Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

With a victory in the girls 200-yard individual medley, Butler's senior will become a four-time champ in the event.

She won the IM last year with a district record of one minute, 58.68 seconds and is currently ranked first in the district with a time of 2:05.08.

“I'm motivated to swim better,” she said. “I'd love to set another record. My goal is to lead the whole way through the race, but I know if I'm not ahead by the breaststroke (third stroke), that's my best stroke and I can make up time. After that, it's just a matter of bringing it home with a strong freestyle.”

Butler coach Dave Bocci knows that beside her physical talent, Goettler possesses an intangible that can't be measured.

“She's the most gifted athlete I've ever been around,” he said, “but she is also a tremendous competitor. That makes my job easy as her coach.”

Goettler also won a WPIAL title in the breaststroke her sophomore year and a state crown last year. She is seeded third in that event entering this week's race.

“I feel like I have a good shot at winning both of my events,” said Goettler. “I'm not seeded as high in the breaststroke, but that doesn't matter to me.”

Joining Goettler in the IM's fastest heat will be two other county residents — Seneca Valley's Kendall Craig and Mars' Megan Smith, who are seeded second and sixth, respectively.

Craig placed fifth in last year's event. She has a seed time of 2:06.39, which is now the pool record at SV, but has completed the IM in as fast as 2:05.1 in club swimming.

“She's done a lot of work with her backstroke and breaststroke and that's made her a better swimmer,” said SV coach Brian Blackwell of Craig. “She's got a good shot at getting to states (top five are guaranteed).”

“I made WPIALs my first two years,” Craig, a junior said. “My freshman year, I was just excited to be there. It feels a lot different being ranked so high.

“I've spent the last year working hard, fixing my technique and have continued to improve. I just want to give it my all and see where it takes me.”

Craig's teammate, Edie Sawyer, is ranked fourth in the breaststroke. The duo will team with Ria Dietz and Julia Listwak in the 200 medley relay, where the Raiders are seeded sixth.

Boys

Eight school records — Between individual events and relays, that is what Owen Blazer has been part of at Seneca Valley.

So far.

The senior has two more meets to put the finishing touches on a decorated high school career.

Blazer, a Miami University commit, is ranked first in the WPIAL in two events, the butterfly and backstroke.

He will be making a fourth and final trip to Trees Pool and has never failed to medal (top eight) in either event, finishing as high as second in the backstroke and third in the butterfly.

“I don't think I'll ever be done trying to accomplish things,” Blazer said. “Winning a WPIAL championship has always been a goal for me, but if I get (personal) best times in my events and don't win this week, I'll still be happy.”

Two of Blazer's school standards are in the butterfly (49.6) and backstroke (49.38).

The Raiders are seeded second, behind rival North Allegheny, in all three relays.

“Our first goal is to make it out to the state meet,” said Blazer, “but if NA makes a mistake, we're going to be right there.”

Blackwell appreciates what Blazer has offered the program, from a result standpoint and from the example he has set.

“He's very selfless,” Blackwell said. “He works with the coaches and his teammates and has bought into the vision of what we're trying to build here. We're very fortunate to have him come through the program.”

“Helping to build the culture, that's a bigger accomplishment than anything I've done individually,” said Blazer.

Two other SV swimmers — Daniel Simoes and Haihan Xu — are seeded within the top five. Simoes is third in the butterfly and fourth in the 200 IM. Xu enters the breaststroke ranked fifth.

Butler's big three has the Golden Tornado poised to duplicate, if not improve on, its third-place effort in last year's team standings.

David Bocci (butterfly, 500 freestyle), Sam Deemer (backstroke, 200 IM) and Ben Borvendeg (50/100 freestyle) are each seeded within the top eight in their individual events.

“They are all capable of finishing in the top three in everything they do,” said Tornado coach Dave Bocci. “Seneca Valley had some divers do very well and we did not, so there's some points to make up, but our relays have a chance to do well, too.”