The disappointment was evident on Brendan McGregor's face after he received two second-place medals earlier this month at the WPIAL Class AA swimming championships.

The Freeport senior finished runner-up in both the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke after winning gold in the events as a junior.

"It wasn't an easy thing to do," McGregor said of putting this year's performances behind him. "But I kept telling myself that there was something else to work for."

McGregor will cap his high school swimming career by competing in the state championships, Wednesday and Thursday at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg.

The right mindset is crucial for swimmers competing at such a high level and McGregor reached that point last Saturday.

"I competed in the YMCA district championships at IUP," he said. "I finished first in the 500 freestyle, and, standing at the top of that podium again, it finally prepared me mentally for states."

Last season, McGregor finished fifth in the 100 backstroke and eighth in the 200 freestyle at the state meet.

In the girls meet, Freeport freshman Andrea McQueen will swim the 100 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke after finishing second and fourth, respectively at the WPIAL meet.

Junior Lauren Palko, who finished 10th in the 50 freestyle at the state meet last season with a time of 24.97 seconds, heads back following a third place finish (24.92) at the district championships.

Palko, McQueen, Kristen Bombalski and Gail Erickson will team up to swim the 200 medley relay.

"This was our first season with a full team … and what a ride it's been," said Freeport girls coach Gregg McQueen. "It's been a successful year already and anything the girls do at states will be icing on the cake."

Along with WPIAL diving champ Eric Crowley, the Planets' other individual competitor at the state meet will be sophomore Jeff Gavin in the 200 and 500 freestyle events.Gavin finished fifth in both events at the WPIAL meet and heads to states after a swimmer from St. Joseph High School was scratched.Gavin and teammates Dave Pierre, Phil Armstrong and Dan Pierre will swim the 200 freestyle relay after a fourth-place time of 1:34.81 at WPIALs."There wasn't much doubt that our 200 free relay team would make the state meet," said Planets coach Gail Quigley. "We're excited for the boys. Swimming at states is a privilege and they've earned it."

Senior Joe Wagner will take a fourth-place finish in the 100 butterfly (55.14) from the WPIAL meet to Lewisburg."He dropped 2½ seconds off of his time and he's looked tremendous over the last two weeks," said Knoch coach Tim O'Toole. "I think he could do even better at the state meet."Wagner is currently ranked 14th in the state.Also representing the Knights will be Caitie Coco, who finished fifth in the WPIAL diving competition with a final score of 308.85.

Tucker Gregg finished second at the District 10 meet in the 100 butterfly (57.63) to qualify for the state championships.He also will swim a leg of the 200 medley relay with Cameron Peterson, Chris Trinch and Garrett Caldwell.The quartet was seeded fifth heading into the district meet, but a time of 1:46.66 earned them a second-place finish."For most kids, the goal is just to get to the state meet, so there's actually more pressure for the kids at districts than there is at states," said Grove City coach Karen Wendelschaefer.Wednesday's events include the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle relay.All other events will be held Thursday.