No swimmer heads to the PIAA swimming championships without some goal in mind.

Jeff Gavin certainly has his.

The Mars junior will be making his second straight appearance at states, swimming the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events at the Class AA meet, which runs Friday and Saturday at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg.

Gavin placed 24th in the 200 event and 20th in the 500 last year.

"I'm hoping to make the finals in the 200," said Gavin, which would give him a finish no worse than eighth. "And in the 500, I'd like to get to the consolation finals (top 16)."

Gavin, seeded sixth in the 200 free and 11th in the 500 at states, is in his fourth year of competitive swimming.

"When I started, I was swimming the 50 freestyle," he said. "But then the coach on my club team moved me to the longer distance events."

It proved to be a wise decision.

Gavin finished fifth in both the 200 and 500 freestyle last year at WPIALs and followed that up with a fourth place and fifth place this season with times of 1:46.42 and 4:52.33, respectively.

"Getting back to states is really rewarding," said Gavin. "I've had a lot of competition, but also a lot of help from my coaches."

Also swimming in the boys meet will be Freeport's Joel Erickson. The senior placed 10th in the 100 butterfly (56.36) at WPIALs and is seeded 29th in the state meet.

The girls meet features Freeport sophomore Andrea McQueen, who is seeded fifth in the 100 freestyle (53.35) and eighth in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.43).

"You obviously want to get (personal records) in the events you swim at states," said McQueen. "But I'm also going for a medal (top 8). That would make it that much better."

McQueen is also on the Yellowjackets' 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams, seeded 20th and 12th, respectively.

Her teammates in those races include Gail Erickson, Lori Beth Palko and Katy Screen.

Freeport's entire girls team includes just two other girls – Maurielle Blake and Brittany Korbeck – who did well enough this year to serve as alternates on the relay teams.

"You have to be committed in this sport," said Freeport coach Gregg McQueen. "And all the girls are good, quality swimmers."

Palko will also be competing in two individual events, the 50 freestyle (seeded 17th) and the 100 freestyle (24th).

Mars will be represented by two freshmen – Courtney Shields in the 50 freestyle and Rachel Szymkowiak in the butterfly and breaststroke events.

Knoch senior Beth Legin will close out her career by swimming the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

Slippery Rock junior Bethany Johnston will compete in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle.

Note: A complete schedule of events for the Class AA state championships, which run Friday and Saturday, can be found at www.piaa.org.