JACKSON TWP — Seneca Valley's girls swimming team set the bar pretty high last year.

The Raiders went 13-1 in dual meets, but missed out on a section title because their lone loss came against rival North Allegheny.

Gone from that squad are several graduated swimmers, including state qualifiers Abby Parsons and Kassi Grumski.

“It's going to be a tough task to remain elite,” said veteran Raiders' coach Brian Blackwell. “We also lost Mara Dunning, so that's three strong swimmers that we lost. We have some freshmen in the mix and are looking for them to fill in.”

Blackwell will be counting on a trio of swimmers to lead this year's group — senior Hannah Fernandes and juniors Sophia Gaguzis and Taylor Barry. Last season, Fernandes and Gaguzis reached the PIAA Class AAA championship meet.

Divers Peyton Moore (junior) and Katelyn Caccamo (sophomore) should also provide the Raiders with crucial points. They both competed at the WPIAL meet last February.

“She (Caccamo) also swims for us and could be a part of our 200 freestyle relay.”

Following are preview capsules for Butler County area swimming teams.

(*) Denotes returning state qualifier.

Butler

Coach: Dave Bocci, 5th season

Girls

Last year: 2-9

Top returnees: senior Morgan Keelan (50, 100 freestyle); juniors Emma Weiss (backstroke, butterfly) and Liz Graham; sophomore Rachel Ledford (backstroke, individual medley).

Outlook: “We are more experienced this year and have a strong group of freshmen,” said Bocci. “We are expecting a big improvement on our record from last year. Our goal is to be .500.”

Boys

Last year: 9-3

Top returnees: seniors Joe Deemer (butterfly, 200 freestyle) and Nathan Callithen (backstroke, individual medley); junior Jon Hansotte (diving); sophomores Alex Deemer (freestyle events) and Zach Callithen (freestyle events).

Outlook: “We're looking to have a lot of state qualifiers,” said Bocci. “We are pretty excited.”

C.W. North Catholic

Coach: T.J. Barry, 2nd season

Girls

Last year: 1-11

Top returnees: senior Lena Clerici (50, 100 freestyle) and junior Brooke Carmazzi* (breaststroke, individual medley).

Outlook: “Our record wasn't good last year, but we placed eighth at WPIALs,” said Barry. “We just didn't have enough swimmers for dual meets, but we lost four meets by less than three points.”

Boys

Last year: 0-12

Top returnees: senior Will McGuire (breaststroke, 200 freestyle); junior Jonathan Dunham (50, 100 freestyle).

Outlook: “The freshman class includes a lot of club swimmers,” said Barry. “They will carry the team.”

Freeport

Coach: Nikki Heasley, 6th season

Girls

Top returnees: sophomore Ariana Clark* (butterfly)

Boys

Top returnees: senior Caleb Bowser (butterfly, breaststroke)

Outlook: “When I first took over the program, we had six total swimmers between boys and girls,” said Heasley. “Now we have nine girls and 10 boys. My goal is to keep swimming alive in our district.”

Grove City

Coach: Karen Wendelschaefer, 16th season

Girls

Last year: Region champions

Top returnees: senior Emma Rastatter* (50, 100 freestyle); juniors Addie Reynolds* (butterfly, 500 freestyle), Jenny Baglia* (individual medley, 50 freestyle), Ashley McNabb* (backstroke) and Kelly Somora (breaststroke, individual medley); sophomore Emma Wilson* (50, 100 freestyle).

Outlook: “We have significantly more depth this year,” Wendelschaefer said. “The goal is to get more swimmers to the district and state meets.”

Boys

Last year: District 10 and PIAA Class AA champions

Top returnees: seniors Devin Reynolds* (50, 100 freestyle), Marcus Swartfager* (butterfly, 50 freestyle), Jon Carothers* (freestyle events) and Rockwell Pokrant* (butterfly and 500 freestyle); juniors Ben McKnight* (200, 500 freestyle), Charlie Nesbit* (breaststroke, individual medley), Will Hannon (50, 100 freestyle), Nathan Wise (backstroke and freestyle events) and Will Rastatter* (50, 100 freestyle).

Outlook: “With the depth that we have, the goal is still to win a state title,” Wendelschaefer said.

Knoch

Coach: Dale Ross, 1st season

Girls

Top returnees: seniors Brooke Zukowski* (breaststroke, individual medley), Ceara Berry (50, 100 freestyle) and Rachael Wittmer* (50, 100 freestyle); sophomore Lindsey Fanton* (individual medley).

Outlook: “Brooke is coming back from a knee injury and won't be able to compete until January,” Ross said. “We do have nine freshmen and almost all of them compete for the Butler (YMCA). That makes it nice.”

Boys

Top returnees: seniors John Wilson* (various events), Derek Ekas* (50, 100 freestyle) and Michael Renaud (butterfly, backstroke); junior Matt Karenbauer* (butterfly, backstroke).

Outlook: “We want all of the kids to have goals, no matter what level they are,” Ross said. “It keeps them motivated.”

Mars

Coach: Hans Bergh, 3rd season

Girls

Top returnees: seniors Taylor Hockenberry* (diving, defending WPIAL and PIAA champion) and Kylie Fenton (backstroke, 500 freestyle); sophomore Jenna Halenda (backstroke, 200 freestyle).

Outlook: “The girls are starting out in a tight spot having been moved into (Class AAA) this year, but I feel that we will be better for the struggle,” said Bergh. “Taylor will see competition like never before in varsity and the swimmers are going to have to push themselves to the limit.”

Boys

Top returnees: juniors Andrew Ivory* (butterfly, individual medley) and Austin Gilstrap (breaststroke, individual medley); sophomore Andrew Pierre* (200, 500 freestyle).

Outlook: “The boys lost two valuable swimmers this year with the graduation of Jimmy Pierre and Joseph Folz,” said Bergh. “However, we have two freshmen, Will Allison and Zach Leachman, who are ready to fill the void.”

Seneca Valley

Coach: Brian Blackwell, 6th season

Girls

Last year: 13-1

Top returnees: senior Hannah Fernandes* (50, 100 freestyle); juniors Sophia Gaguzis* (100, 200 freestyle), Taylor Barry (individual medley, 500 freestyle) and Peyton Moore (diving); sophomore Katelyn Caccamo (diving).

Boys

Last year: 10-4

Top returnees: seniors Travis Ball (50, 100 freestyle) and Alexander Laslavic (diving); juniors Jake Lee (50, 100 freestyle) and Connor Quiggle (500 freestyle, individual medley).

Outlook: “Losing Spencer Tretter to graduation was a huge loss. He was a four-time state qualifier,” said Blackwell. “Hopefully, our young kids can step in.”

Slippery Rock

Coach: Brian Belowich, 1st season

Girls

Last year: 12-4

Top returnees: seniors Tabitha Donaldson* (50, 100 freestyle), Mari Reott* (backstroke, breaststroke) and Alyssa Rea (200, 500 freestyle).

Outlook: “We lost six girls to graduation and will be going up against teams that have more girls in more events,” Belowich said. “It's a numbers game, but we can be competitive.”

Boys

Last year: 7-9

Top returnees: junior Ben Shumway (200, 500 freestyle); sophomores Trent Donaldson (butterfly, individual medley) and Heston Suorsa (50 freestyle, backstroke).

Outlook: “We have just five boys and one is out with a concussion,” said Belowich. “We are looking for individual success this year.”