JACKSON TWP - It was a great start for Seneca Valley, even though the Raiders had planned it for next week.

The girls 200-yard medley relay team opened its meet with Butler Thursday by setting a Seneca Valley pool record with a time of 1 minute, 50.30 seconds

The quick start helped to send the team to a 98-86 victory over the Tornado while the Raiders boys team won 92-65.

The quartet of Stacie Safritt, Mandie Huffman, Kylie Gamelier and Kelly Connolly broke the pool mark of 1:50.5, which was set by Bethel Park in 1999.

The foursome also owns the school record of 1:48.63, which they set last year in winning the WPIAL championship.

"Our plan was to go for it on Senior Night (next Thursday against North Allegheny)," said Raiders coach Tom Donati. "It would be exciting, it's a big night, and we have three seniors on that relay."

But Safritt convinced Donati they should give it a go Thursday.

"She said, 'We'll make it. Let's do it,'" said Donati. "That medley was a real shocker. To do that this early is amazing."

Safritt didn't confine her new record to one event. She also broke Amanda Smith's pool record in the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.56.

Gamelier (100 backstroke), Huffman (100 breaststroke) and Connolly (200 IM) also won individual events, as did Diana Rocco in the 1-meter diving.

Butler received winning performances from Brittany Vogel (200 freestyle), Sam Harris (50 freestyle), Sarah Clouse (100 butterfly) and Molly Evans (500 freestyle). Evans also swam a season-best 2:18.33 in the 200 IM for second place.

Butler also saw personal bests from Jess Saeler, Brittney Kingsley, Jana Skiles and Taylor Dimmick as well as a 3:57.66 in the 400 freestyle relay.

"We've been consistently getting that," said Butler coach Amber Schmeider. "That's our goal. We look for that at the end of the year.

"Going into the season, with the new format (to qualify for states), we thought we'd send one out there, but in our last three meets, we have the potential to get five or six out there," Schmeider added.

In the boys meet, Seneca Valley's Zac Miller was the lone double individual winner in the 200 freestyle (2:00.73) and 500 freestyle (5:32.32).

Other winners for the Raiders included Ben Gutmann (200 IM), Jared Andree (diving), Drew Snyder (100 freestyle) and Liam Stuart (100 breaststroke).

The Tornado boys were led by Matt Galante (50 freestyle), Eric Clouse (100 butterfly) and Clif McKee (100 backstroke). Senior Brad Duke trimmed 4½ seconds off his 100-backstroke time, Dan Bellis had a season-best in the 500 freestyle and Hans Bergh set a PR in the 200 IM as well.

The Raiders will be eyeing a section title should they knock off North Allegheny next week.

"I never thought we'd be swimming this fast right now," said Donati. "We'll still work out five mornings a week, do some lifting, have some fun and improve. We just want to stay healthy and do the things we can."

Notes:

The Raiders girls' team (11-2, 4-0) will host North Allegheny for the section title next Thursday. The boys team improved to 9-4, 3-1). Butler (girls: 4-7, 1-4; boys: 2-9, 0-5) will take part in a last-chance meet to qualify for the WPIAL meet at North Allegheny Feb. 19.

Girls

Seneca Valley 98, Butler 86

200 medley relay:

1-Seneca Valley (Stacie Safritt, Mandie Huffman, Kylie Gamelier, Kelly Connolly) 1:50.30, pool record

200 freestyle:

1-Brittany Vogel (B) 2:05.72; 2-Kylie Gamelier (SV) 2:05.82; 3-Emily Wolfarth (SV) 2:06.18

200 individual medley:

1-Kelly Connolly (SV) 2:17.36; 2-Molly Evans (B) 2:18.33; 3-Lauren Bezier (SV) 2:21.88

50 freestyle:

1-Sam Harris (B) 27.44; 2-Jess Vernon (B) 28.32; 3-Ellen Pullekines (B) 28.36

1-meter diving:

1-Diana Rocco (SV) 197.45; 2-Liz Rhodaberger 197.35; 3-Jess Schnur (B) 196.80

100 butterfly:

1-Sarah Clouse (B) 1:04.25; 2-Rose Snyder (SV) 1:05.10; 3-Jess Vernon (B) 1:05.29

100 freestyle:

1-Stacie Safritt (SV) 52.56 (pool record); 2-Lauren Bezier (SV) 57.50; 3-Taylor Dimmick (B) 1:00.72

500 freestyle:

1-Molly Evans (B) 5:25.70; 2-Brittany Vogel (B) 5:34.47; 3-Elyse Dobrick (SV) 5:36.96

200 freestyle relay:

1-Seneca Valley (Kelly Connolly, Stacie Safritt, Kylie Gamelier, Lauren Bezier) 1:45.77

100 backstroke:

1-Kylie Gamelier (SV) 1:06.28; 2-Ellen Crummy (B); 1:06.66; Sam Harris 1:06.94

100 breaststroke:

1-Mandie Huffman (SV) 1:10.27; 2-Sarah Clouse (B) 1:12.30; 3-Michelle DeGrothy (SV) 1:17.85

400 freestyle relay:

1-Butler (Brittany Vogel, Jess Vernon, Ellen Crummy, Molly Evans) 3:57.66

Boys

Seneca Valley 92, Butler 65

200 medley relay:

1-Seneca Valley (Ben Gutmann, Scott Bowser, Pat Shore, Drew Snyder 1:46.86

200 freestyle:

1-Zac Miller (SV) 2:00.73; 2-Matt Lippert (SV) 2:05.40; 3-Kyle Brauer (SV) 2:10.45

200 individual medley:

1-Ben Gutmann (SV) 2:13.49; 2-Brandon Wolfe (SV) 2:24.04; 3-Hans Bergh (B) 2:26.44

50 freestyle:

1-Matt Galante (B) 23.77; 2-Scott Bowser (SV) 24.54; 3-Eric Wenzelburger (SV) 25.23

1-meter diving:

Jared Andree (SV) 180.95; 2-Jade Werth (B) 176.45; 3-John Rhodaberger (B) 166.25

100 butterfly:

1-Eric Clouse (B) 58.44; 2-Pat Shore (SV) 59.82; 3-Bobby Beahm (SV) 1:07.37

100 freestyle:

1-Drew Snyder (SV) 48.45; 2-Matt Galante (B) 51.44; 3-Eric Wenzelburger (SV) 56,12

500 freestyle:

1-Zac Miller (SV) 5:32.32; 2-Matt Lippert (SV) 5:47.42; 3-Kyle Brauer (SV) 5:47.73

200 freestyle relay:

1-Seneca Valley (Bobby Beahm, Scott Bowser, Eric Wenzelburger, Drew Snyder) 1:37.22

*100 backstroke:

1-Clif McKee (B) 1:04.92; 2-Eric Clouse (B) 1:05.11; Brad Duke (B) 1:14.20

100 breaststroke:

1-Liam Stuart (SV); 2-Brandon Wolfe (SV), Michael Farinelli (SV)

*400 freestyle relay:

Butler (Brad Duke, Eric Clouse, Hans Bergh, Matt Galante) 3:43.95

*-exhibition