ADAMS TWP — Hans Bergh was an assistant coach on last year’s Mars boys swimming team that won a section, WPIAL and state title.

Now in his first season as the Planets’ head coach, he knows four key members from that squad have returned.

Seniors Francis Folz (freestyle) and Reed McDonough (freestyle, backstroke) and juniors Jimmy Pierre (multiple events) and Joseph Folz (middle-distance freestyle) are back to help Mars retain its elite status.

“The boys feel some pressure to live up to last year, but it’s not overwhelming,” said Bergh, a 2008 Butler High graduate who officially took over for Heidi Brandon in August. “These guys are all goal-driven.”

Two stars from last year’s team, Chris Georgiadis and Tommy Pierre, graduated in the spring. But Bergh has high hopes for his freshman class, which includes Austin Gilstrat and Andrew Ivory. Bergh believes they can help the Planets immediately, saying, “We look for our relays to remain very strong.”

Following are preview capsules for the Butler County-area swimming and diving teams.

Girls

Butler

Coach: Dave Bocci, third season

Last Season: Butler finished under .500.

Returning Letter-winners: seniors Kaelyn Emanuel (100 freestyle, backstroke) and Maddy Como (diving); juniors Jillian McElhaney (50 freestyle, butterfly), Claire Weiland (diving), Julianna DiPippa (diving) and Emily Keep (diving); sophomore Morgan Keelan (breaststroke, 200 IM).

Bocci says: “We hope to get back to .500, move up in the final standings at WPIALs and send some girls to states.”

Freeport

Coach: Nikki Heasley, first season

Last Season: The Yellowjackets were 5-7.

Returning Letter-winners: seniors Bria Otwell (multiple) and Riley Farneth (freestyle, butterfly); juniors Zoe Pawlak (50 and 100 freestyle), Maggie Ehalt (breaststroke, 200 IM); sophomores Lizzie Korbeck (backstroke, butterfly) and Mykenzie Farneth (freestyle).

Heasley says: “These kids seem to have become a little family. It’s a total team atmosphere.”

Grove City

Coach: Karen Wendelschaefer, 15th season

Last Season: GC finished 7-6 overall.

Returning Letter-winners: senior Renee Decker (sprint freestyle); juniors Kimmi Wendelschaefer (distance freestyle, breaststroke) and Erin Schmidt (butterfly, 200 IM); sophomore Emma Rastatter (sprint freestyle).

Wendelschaefer says: “We want to have a winning season. I think Renee Decker has a good shot of getting back to states in the sprint events.”

Knoch

Coach: Rick Hassler, seventh season

Last Season: The Knights were 8-6.

Returning Letter-winners: junior Abby Jones (multiple); sophomore Brooke Zukowski (multiple).

Hassler says: “We have a lot of young girls this season. Our goals will come in time.”

Mars

Coach: Hans Bergh, first season

Last Season: Not available.

Returning Letter-winners: senior Torrey Shields (sprint freestyle, diving); juniors Liz Smialek (200 freestyle, 200 IM) and Rachel Feathers (backstroke, 200 IM); sophomores Taylor Hockenberry (diving) and Isabel Wroblewski (diving).

Bergh says: “Torrey (Shields) will also be diving this year, along with her swimming events. She approached me and I’m fine with it. Whether she’s diving or swimming, she’ll still be benefitting the team.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: Brian Blackwell, fourth season

Last Season: SV was 7-4-1.

Returning Letter-winners: seniors Holly Sauer (freestyle, butterfly) and Brooke Walters (diving); juniors Kassi Grumski (freestyle, backstroke), Sadie Lee (freestyle) and Abigail Parsons (backstroke, butterfly — swam for Slippery Rock High School last year); sophomores Hannah Fernandes (sprint freestyle) and Alex Smithco (diving).

Blackwell says: “I think the girls are stronger than last year. Some freshmen have filled the gaps and our diving is stronger.”

Slippery Rock

Coach: Cindy Johnston, sixth season

Last Season: The Rockets tied for the region title.

Returning Letter-winners: junior Kayla Broad (sprint freestyle); sophomores Marie Reott (backstroke, butterfly) and Tabitha Donaldson (sprint freestyle).

Johnston says: “We have a lot of new swimmers this year.”

Boys

Butler

Coach: Dave Bocci, third season

Last Season: The Golden Tornado were over .500.

Returning Letter-winners: senior Taylor Frankenstein (50 freestyle, backstroke); juniors Lev McCollough (diving) and Tukker Uniatowski (breaststroke, 200 IM); sophomores Joey Deemer (200 freestyle, butterfly), Nathan Callithen (backstroke, 200 IM), Alex Wigton (50 freestyle, breaststroke) and Max Merhaut (500 freestyle, 200 IM).

Bocci says: “We have a young team. Hopefully, we can continue to climb the standings at WPIALs.”

Freeport

Coach: Nikki Heasley, first season

Last Season: Freeport went 5-7.

Returning Letter-winners: juniors Tyler Ben (backstroke, butterfly), Owen Parks (freestyle), Noah Bowser (breaststroke, 200 IM) and Tyler Lucas (breaststroke); sophomores Caleb Bowser (freestyle, breaststroke), Ricky Henry (freestyle, backstroke) and Malique Nadzam (freestyle).

Heasley says: “We were very close to getting the relays to WPIALs last year. We’re working to get the right combination.”

Grove City

Coach: Karen Wendelschaefer, 15th season

Last Season: The Eagles went undefeated in dual meets, won their region and placed second in District 10 Class AA.

Returning Letter-winners: senior Aleks White (sprint freestyle); juniors Austin Wilson (sprint freestyle), Thomas Somora (breaststroke, 200 IM), Matt Owrey (breaststroke, 200 IM) and Mitch Kengor (distance freestyle); sophomores Devin Reynolds (sprint freestyle), Rockwell Pokrant (butterfly, 200 IM), Paul Monfore (distance freestyle); John Carothers (backstroke, butterfly) and Garrett Shaw (breaststroke, 200 IM).

Wendelschaefer says: “We’ve never won a district title and that’s one of our goals this season.”

Knoch

Coach: Rick Hassler, seventh season

Last Season: The Knights went 8-6.

Returning Letter-winners: seniors Chadd Cummings (multiple) and Austin Wittmer (multiple); junior Ben Lowery (diving); sophomore John Wilson (multiple).

Hassler says: “Our boys team should be pretty strong.”

Mars

Coach: Hans Bergh, first season

Last Season: The Planets won their section as well as the WPIAL and PIAA Class AA titles.

Returning Letter-winners: seniors Francis Folz (freestyle), Reed McDonough (freestyle, backstroke); juniors Jimmy Pierre (multiple) and Joseph Folz (distance freestyle).

Bergh says: “We look for our relays to remain very strong.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: Brian Blackwell, fourth season

Last Season: SV was 7-5.

Returning Letter-winners: seniors Mike Palaski (sprint freestyle) and Spencer Myers (sprint freestyle); juniors Spencer Tretter (middle-distance freestyle) and Nate Burkett (backstroke, 200 IM).

Blackwell says: “We also have a few freshmen, including Connor Quiggle and Jake Lee. They should help us out.”

Slippery Rock

Coach: Cindy Johnston, sixth season

Last Season: The Rockets were below .500.

Returning Letter-winners: seniors Matt Johnston (sprint freestyle), Austin France (freestyle, breaststroke) and Dan Masterson (distance freestyle).

Johnston says: “We have some kids new to the program this season.”