Being a top seed at the WPIAL championship swim meet doesn't always lead to a win.

But Knoch's Rachel Tano and members of the Mars girls 200 medley relay team hope it does in their cases.

Tano, a senior, is the No. 1 seed in the girls Class AA 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1 minute, 9.03 seconds.

The Mars foursome of Jeanna Smialek, Rachel Szymkowiak, Courtney Shields and Gabri Pierre is the team to beat in the medley event at 1:52.91.

Now all the swimmers need to do is finish where they started.

The WPIAL Class AA championships are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

Tano, who also is seeded fourth in the 200 individual medley, had her career-best time in the breaststroke while placing second at last year's WPIAL event with a 1:07.58.

"It's nice to be recognized and seeded high," said Knoch coach Rick Hassler. "But you have to go out there and prove it Thursday and Friday."

Tano has had a strong career, earning a spot at the WPIAL meet all four years, but a district title would make it even more special.

"I would be so excited to go to states as a WPIAL champion," she said. "I think I need to swim a career-best in both the breast and IM to have a chance of winning."

The Mars medley relay squad, which includes three seniors (Smialek, Szymkowiak and Shields) and a junior (Pierre), will get a run for its money from the second and third seeds: Oakland Catholic and Shady Side Academy, respectively.

"Between those three teams, it should be a great race," said Mars coach Heidi Brandon.

"Personally, I don't like being seeded first," said Szymkowiak. "But it does add a bit of confidence. You want to finish where you're seeded or better. It adds an edge to the team."

Szymkowiak and Shields are seeded second and third, respectively, in the 100 butterfly.

"We push each other all the time," said Shields, who is ranked sixth in the 100 freestyle. "It's not too often that teammates are really good in the same event. It's nice to have that."

Szymkowiak also is seeded third in the breaststroke, 0.61 seconds behind Tano.

The Planets girls 400 freestyle squad of Szymkowiak, Corinna Luschini, Pierre and Shields is third (3:46.61).

Mars' 200 freestyle relay team is fourth at 1:45.77. That group includes Lauren Laughlin, Luschini, Stephanie Karavlan and Smialek.

Knoch's Kristy Daubner is seeded fifth in the 50 freestyle with a time of 25.77.

Daubner is a member of the Knights' 200 medley relay team (sixth at 1:59.24) and the 200 freestyle relay team (seventh at 1:47.65).

Both relays also include Nicolette Krause, Jillian Vogus and Tano.

"The 200 medley team is seeded higher and we definitely have a chance there, but we're really excited about our 200 freestyle team," said Hassler.

Freeport's lone individual swimmer on the girls side is Keil Erickson, who will swim both the 200 IM and 100 butterfly.

Freeport sophomore Ryan Sweeny is the highest seeded area boys swimmer in Class AA: 12th in the 200 freestyle and 14th in the 100 freestyle.

Knoch's Josh Tackett is 15th in the 100 backstroke and Mars' Phil Pacey is 22nd in the 200 IM.