She didn't know it at the time, but when Lexi Schrecongost took to swimming when she was 8 years old, she was setting a course for her younger sisters to follow.

A 2022 Freeport graduate now swimming at Edinboro University, Schrecongost won a WPIAL Class 2A title in the 100-yard breaststroke in 2021. Siblings Kira and Kasey are now taking aim at WPIAL gold. In fact, as a freshman in 2022, Kira won a district title in the butterfly.

There to see all the progression and success in the water has been the trio's mother, Sheryl Schrecongost, who is also Freeport's coach.

"I swam in high school at Highlands, but was really into softball and played that in college," Sheryl said. "None of my girls wanted to play softball and I was a little disappointed at the time, but didn't want to push them in any direction. I wanted them to choose their own way.

"Lexi started with swimming and the other two followed. They all liked it. Having them all involved in the same sport was very convenient."

Kira placed second in the butterfly and third in the 200 individual medley last year and she is seeded in those same positions for the WPIAL Championship meet, scheduled Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

The last two years, Kira swam all four of her events, including two relays, in the first day of the meet.

"I was fine with it at the time and honestly, I'm still well-prepared to do it now, but I think I'll be swimming in the 400 freestyle relay on Friday,“ she said..

After getting to the top of the medal stand two years ago, Kira wants to get back.

"I want to be the top dog in both of my individual events," she said.

Like her sisters, Kasey, a freshman, has wasted no time climbing the WPIAL rankings. She is seeded third in the backstroke and fifth in the 100 freestyle.

"I qualified for WPIALs in all eight individual events, but I'm a backstroker and I felt very strong in the 100 free in a recent meet against Indiana," Kasey said.

While she has already competed in big meets in club swimming, Kasey is anxious to hit the water at WPIALs.

"It's a new feeling with new teammates," she said. "I'm excited."

Considering she has already witnessed two daughters succeed at the high school level, Sheryl Schrecongost was anticipating similar results from Kasey.

"I'm not surprised she is doing so well as a freshman," she said. "She is a great athlete, very strong and confident."

Luke Lamb has a lot of swimmers chasing him, but he plans to use that to his advantage.

The junior from North Catholic is ranked first in the WPIAL in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

"That adds pressure, but it will make me push myself," he said. "I've put in a lot of work and gone through the grind, including lifting weights. My coach, Todd Slobodnyak, has really ramped up my training."

As a sophomore last year, Lamb earned four WPIAL medals, including a gold as a member of the Trojans' 200 medley relay team. This week, he hopes to add a top finish in one, if not both of his individual events.

His seed time is 20.98 in the 50 freestyle and 48.85 in the backstroke. He placed second in the latter last year.

"The backstroke has been a natural fit for me, even when I was younger, and I've been able to build off that."

Lamb said he wants to swim in college. Slobodnyak sees that dream coming true, but not before many more winning efforts in high school.

"He's made big leaps the last few years and now people are noticing," he said.

Following are Butler County's Class 2A swimmers who have qualified for the WPIAL Championship meet, scheduled Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

Girls

Freeport, Knoch

North Catholic

200 medley relay: 3-Freeport 1:50.94; 8-Knoch 1:56.64

200 freestyle: 16-Alex Gongas (NC) 2:04.50; 17-Olivia Walewski (K) 2:04.60; 18-Isabelle Barton (F) 2:05.19;

28-Alyssa Urling (NC) 2:08.47

200 individual medley: 3-Kira Schrecongost (F) 2:07.81; 4-Giona Lavorini (K) 2:13.83; 21-Danielle Parke (F) 2:24.02; 30-Hannah Altman (F) 2:28.10; 31-Sydney Dunn (NC) 2:28.18

50 freestyle: 12-MaryAnne Altman (F) 25.65

100 butterfly: 2-Kira Schrecongost (F) 57.70; 14-Caitlyn Brennan (F) 1:03.16; 28-Danielle Parke (F) 1:07.23

100 freestyle: 5-Kasey Schrecongost (F) 54.33; 10-MaryAnne Altman (F) 56.08; 26-Alyssa Urling (NC) 58.04

500 freestyle: 13-Isabelle Barton (F) 5:33.57; 20-Alex Gongas (NC) 5:38.14

200 freestyle relay: 6-Freeport 1:42.68; 16-North Catholic (Gongas, Schessler, Dunn, Urling) 1:49.14; 18-Knoch 1:49.36

100 backstroke: 3-Kasey Schrecongost (F) 59.49; 8-Olivia Walewski (K) 1:02.78; 16-Caitlyn Brennan (F) 1:04.87; 29-Hannah Altman (F) 1:06.79

100 breaststroke: 3-Giona Lavorini (K) 1:05.72; 27-Sydney Dunn (NC) 1:14.51

400 freestyle relay: 5-Freeport 3:47.00; 19-North Catholic (Gongas, Schessler, Dunn, Urling) 4:03.39; 21-Knoch 4:03.89

Boys

Freeport, Knoch,

Mars, North Catholic

200 medley relay: 14-Mars 1:50.37; 16-Knoch 1:50.46; 17-North Catholic (Lamb, West, LaPietra, Szuch) 1:52.14

200 freestyle: 9-Nathaniel Tarbi (F) 1:51.26; 12-Preston Heynes (M) 1:53.06

200 individual medley: 10-Adrian Lavorini (K) 2:04.56; 17-Jacob Ruediger (K) 2:11.43; 27-Connor Liu (M) 2:15.21; 32-Eli Hassler (F) 2:16.31

50 freestyle: 1-Luke Lamb (NC) 20.98, 12-Jonah LaPietra (NC) 22.97

100 freestyle: 14-Preston Heynes (M) 51.03; 17-Nathaniel Tarbi (F) 51.15; 25-Jonah LaPietra (NC) 52.04; 36-Alex Harrison (M) 53.09

500 freestyle: 8-Adrian Lavorini (K) 5:00.03; 24-Jacob Ruediger (K) 5:22.50

200 freestyle relay: 14-Mars 1:36.52; 17-North Catholic (Lamb, West, LaPietra, Szuch) 1:37.83; 20-Knoch 1:39.18

100 backstroke: 1-Luke Lamb (NC) 48.85

100 breaststroke: 19-Sean Muchnok (M) 1:07.12; 24-Peyton Randall (M) 1:09.28

400 freestyle relay: 16-Mars 3:42.73