Junior Kelly Connolly has more medals from the WPIAL championships than most swimmers graduate with.

But the Seneca Valley standout isn't about to stop now.

In her first two seasons, Connolly swam on all six of the Raiders' relay teams at the district meet — a total that yielded four gold medals, as well as a second- and a third-place finish. Individually, she placed fifth in the 100 freestyle her freshman year and third in that event last season.

Connolly will swim the 50 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, as well as a leg on the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, at the Class AAA championships Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

"I've coached a lot of talented swimmers, but I'd say she is one of the most talented," SV coach Tom Donati said. "Anybody that knows anything about swimming can tell that she has a feel for the water."

Even though this will be Connolly's third trip to WPIALs in as many years, she admits she is unable to shake the butterflies in her stomach.

"I was really nervous last year, and I'll still get nervous this time," she said. "It's such a big meet."

Another junior looking to continue a strong showing at Trees Pool is Butler's Molly Evans, who is seeded third in both the 200 individual medley (2 minutes, 12 seconds) and the 500 freestyle (5:15.88). The former set a new school record this season.

Last year, Evans placed sixth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 500 freestyle.

"I'm more experienced in both events and, hopefully, I can improve my standing," said Evans. "A lot of swimmers in the (500 freestyle) start out real fast and end up tiring out. You do have to pace yourself, but after you swim it for a while, the 500 becomes a sprint event in a way."

Sarah Clouse, also a Butler junior, enters the WPIAL meet ranked No. 5 in the 100 breaststroke with a school-record time of 1:08.93.

"With the top three finishers going on to the state meet, I think that's definitely a possibility for (Clouse)," said Butler coach Jeff Armstrong.

On the boys side, SV junior Scott Bowser settled for second place in the 100 breaststroke last year behind Mt. Lebanon's Dan Eckel.

Bowser is currently seeded first in the event at 1:01.07.

"The breaststroke is all about hand speed," said Donati. "And Scott's got the fastest hands in all of the WPIAL, if not the whole state."

Butler senior Matt Galante, who will be making his fourth and final appearance at the district meet, is scheduled to swim the 100 and 200 freestyle events and a leg on the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

He is the last link to the Butler teams that featured WPIAL and PIAA champion Josh Barthlow, Bobby Barkus and Eric Clouse, among others.

"We've got a totally different team," Galante said. "I'm the only one left from that group. It's like a whole new generation now.

"The 100 free used to be my strongest event," said Galante, who finished third in that event as a sophomore. "But I've been real competitive in the 200 lately."

Galante enters WPIALs seeded No. 8 in the 200 freestyle (1:51.68).

Other swimmers ranked in the top 10 in their respective events include Butler's Patrick O'Toole (fifth in 500 freestyle), Brittany Vogel (10th in 200 IM), Ellen Crummy (10th in 100 backstroke), Seneca Valley's Chris Baker (sixth in 200 IM), Ben Gutmann (sixth in 100 breaststroke), Rose Snyder (third in 200 freestyle, eighth in 100 freestyle), Emily Wolfarth (sixth in 500 freestyle, eighth in 200 freestyle) and Elyse Dobrick (fourth in 100 butterfly).

Notes:

The Class AAA championships will take place from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Thursday and Friday. … Thursday events include the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle, 200 IM, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle relay. … All other events will take place Friday.