Graduation certainly took its share from the Butler boys and girls swimming teams.

Gone from the boys team are Josh Barthlow, who was the WPIAL champ in 100 backstroke and the PIAA champ in 100 butterfly, and Bobby Barkus. Divers Travis Shingleton, Matt Schnur and Zack Kennedy also graduated.

Butler's girls saw a lot of leadership leave in Maureen Hearn, Brianna Musko, Abby Krivak, Megan Marra and Stephanie Rhodaberger as well.

But the 2004-05 campaign also will bring new opportunities for new faces, and that's the way Golden Tornado coach Amber Schmeider is approaching this season.

Following are preview capsules for the seven Butler County high school swimming programs:

Butler

Coach:

Amber Schmeider, fourth year

2003-04 record:

2-9 (boys), 8-3 (girls)

Outlook:

Senior Eric Clouse and junior Matt Galante return to lead the boys team. Both were members of the Golden Tornado quartet that made it to the state championships in the 200 medley a season ago.

Galante also swam the 100 freestyle at the state meet after finishing third at WPIALs, and Clouse will man the 100 butterfly.

"(Clouse and Galante) both have that state meet experience and will be looked upon to lead the younger boys," said Schmeider.

Schmeider also has high hopes for seniors Shane Gilliland (50 and 100 freestyle) and Brad Duke (200 freestyle, 100 backstroke).

"We have 12 boys out this season, and that's the most since I've been here," said Schmeider. "We lost a lot of close meets last year simply because we had no depth. We're hoping this year will be different with the numbers that we have."

Besides the losses to graduation, senior Katie Blum (50 and 100 freestyle) is unable to swim for the girls team this year because of medical reasons.

Schmeider now has 14 girls to work with.

"I have two sophomore captains this season, Molly Evans (200 IM, 100 backstroke) and Sarah Clouse (100 breaststroke, 100 butterfly and 200 IM).

"We're a very young team, but the girls are very diverse," added Schmeider. "Most of them can swim just about any event."

Freeport

Coach:

Gregg McQueen, first year

2003-04 record:

The Yellowjackets did not field a full boys or girls team last season.

Outlook:

What's next for senior Brendan McGregor, who won a WPIAL Class AA title in both the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke as a junior.

"He's accomplished so much at the high school level already," said Freeport coach Gregg McQueen. "And it wouldn't surprise me if he goes out and does it all again."

The only other male swimmer is Joel Erickson, who counts the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly as his specialties.

"Being that there's just two of them, they'll try every event at some point during the year," said McQueen.

Lauren Palko, who returns to the girls squad after making it to the state meet in the 50 freestyle last year, will be flanked by several promising swimmers.

Senior Kristen Bombalski (butterfly), freshmen Gail Erickson (backstroke) and Andrea McQueen (breaststroke), and Palko (freestyle) look to make some noise in the 200 medley relay, though the quartet will swim the two freestyle relays as well.

Andrea McQueen and Palko are currently training with the USA Swimming Team at Pine-Richland.

Andrea McQueen also will tackle the individual breaststroke, as well as the 50 and 100 freestyle events.

Junior Lindsay Jordan will be the Yellowjackets' top distance swimmer in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

Grove City

Coach:

Karen Wendelschaefer, fourth year

2003-04 record:

11-0 (boys), 9-2 (girls)

Outlook:

The Eagles had by far the most successful boys and girls teams of any area high school last year, as they combined for a 20-2 record.

Senior Chris Trinch will lead the boys after qualifying for the District 10 meet in all eight individual events. He is at his best when swimming the 50 and 200 freestyles.

"Chris is extremely dedicated and hard-working," said Eagles' coach Karen Wendelschaefer. "He's a phenomenal leader."

Another senior, Garrett Caldwell will be the distance swimmer in the 200 and 500 freestyles.

Junior Sonja Jones, who finished in the top five at the District 10 girls meet in both the 100 and 200 freestyles last year, will have her sights set a bit higher this season.

"I think she has a very good shot at states in both of those events," said Wendelschaefer.

The rest of the girls field is young but talented.

That group includes sophomores Courtney Weber (butterfly, IM), Kellie Clemens (backstroke, 50 free), Julie Ventura (200 and 500 freestyle) and Samantha Wimer (butterfly).

"We're definitely looking to have more kids standing on the podium at districts this year," said Wendelschaefer."

Knoch

Coach:

Tim O'Toole, fourth year

2003-04 record:

1-9 (boys), 4-6 (girls)

Outlook:

The Knights' boys program has won just two meets in the last three years, but coach Tim O'Toole is excited about this year's squad.

A big reason for that optimism is senior Joe Wagner, who qualified for the WPIAL Class AA championships last year in both the 100 butterfly and 100 freestyle.

"We're hoping to get him to states in the (butterfly) this year," said O'Toole. "His career best is 58.9 seconds, which he set last year."

Senior Brad Troutman also made it to the district meet last February in the 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle.

Rounding out Knoch's returning letter winners are Steven Edwards (100 breaststroke, 200 IM) and Mike McCoy (50 and 100 freestyles).

Freshman Doug Vogus (200 IM, 500 freestyle) has opened some eyes in the Knights' practices.

"He had never swam the 500 before in his life and took a kid down to the wire in an exhibition at Butler last week," said O'Toole. "His best swimming is definitely ahead of him."

For Knoch's girls, Caitie Coco looks to improve on her WPIAL finals appearance in diving last season. The senior already has attracted some interest from several Division I schools.

Leading the swimmers will be senior Casey Kopac (100 backstroke, 100 freestyle), juniors Nicole Vogus (200 IM, 100 butterfly), Beth Legin (500 freestyle, 200 IM) and Shannon Walsh (200 IM).

Mars

Coach:

Gail Quigley, first year

2003-04 record:

7-8 (boys), 5-10 (girls)

Outlook:

Gail Quigley steps up from an assistant position with the Planets last year to lead both teams in 2004-05.

"The boys team has 12 members this season, and that's a big improvement from the six we had last year," she said.

Senior Dan Pierre qualified for the WPIAL Class AA meet in both the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke and looks to duplicate that feat.

Dan and Dave Pierre, Phil Karavlan and Jeff Gavin will combine to form solid 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams.

On the girls side, Amber Saville-Andree eyes the WPIAL meet in the butterfly and backstroke.

Claire Pacey (IM, breaststroke) and Jessica Nowicki (50 and 100 freestyle) hope to make strides as sophomores.

Seneca Valley

Coach:

Tom Donati, eighth year

2003-04 record:

3-7 (boys), 7-4 (girls)

Outlook:

You can't blame Raiders coach Tom Donati for having a positive attitude about his girls team.

The quartet of Stacie Safritt, Kylie Gamelier, Mandie Huffman and Kelly Connolly won the WPIAL Class AAA title in the 200 medley relay last year.

All four girls return.

Safritt also will swim the 50, 100 and 200 freestyles and the 100 backstroke.

She joins Gamelier and Huffman as the seniors who will steer the Raiders' ship.

"It's good to have those veteran girls back to lead a group of freshmen that has a lot of potential," said Donati.

"Last year at this time we were a sleeper," he added. "But now when you ask other people who is the team to beat, they'll mention us in the same breath with the Bethel Parks and North Alleghenys."

Senior Drew Snyder returns to spearhead the Seneca boys effort after he placed fourth in the 50 freestyle at the WPIAL Class AAA meet a season ago.

"We need him to become more of a leader this year," said Donati of Snyder, who also will swim the 100 and 200 freestyle events.

Juniors Matt Lippert (500 freestyle) and Ben Gutman (50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke) also will be looked upon to have solid performances.

Slippery Rock

Coach:

Kirby Burns, second year

2003-04 record:

4-5 (boys), 0-8-1 (girls)

Outlook:

The Slippery Rock girls will look to improve on a winless campaign, and Junior Lauren Tibbens will lead the way, with her focus being on the 200 IM and 100 backstroke.

"Lauren is our strongest swimmer," said Rockets' coach Kirby Burns. "She can swim just about everything. Last year, she was a fraction of a second from going to districts in the 100 backstroke."

Fellow junior Janine Maranche is also looking to spark the Rockets in the 50 and 100 freestyle.

Junior Rachel Opp (freestyle events) and sophomore Vicky Kisorek (100 butterfly) are two other key contributors.

The small number of available swimmers is the main obstacle for the boys as only five swimmers will sport Slippery Rock red this winter.

The group does have three seniors in Jared Mack (50, 100 freestyle), Matt Gilliam (200 IM, 500 freestyle) and Kevin Finch (50 and 100 freestyle).

Junior Robert Whitt will swim the 100 breaststroke.