They came to the Seneca Valley girls swimming team in the shadows of former stars like Stacie Safritt, Mandie Huffman and Kylie Gamelier.

But now they are the stars.

Seniors Kelly Connolly and Elyse Dobrick and juniors Rose Snyder and Emily Wolfarth follow up strong showings at the WPIAL championships with appearances at the PIAA Class AAA meet, to be held Friday and Saturday at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg.

"It's just as talented a group as we've ever had," said Raiders coach Tom Fletcher. "We could very well have all four of them swimming (in the finals) at states. That's what we're hoping for."

Snyder will swim the 200-yard freestyle, 100 freestyle and a leg on both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

It will be the junior's third trip to states and the second year she has competed in an individual event there.

"My freshman year, I just missed making the state meet in the 100 free and I was glad I didn't make it," Snyder said. "I was scared to swim an individual event out there. But I've got more experience now, and, obviously, I'm not scared anymore."

Wolfarth enters the PIAA event seeded 10th in the 200 freestyle and 18th in the 500 freestyle.

Seeded fourth in the 100 breaststroke, Connolly is the highest seeded Butler County swimmer. Dobrick is ranked ninth in the 100 butterfly.

The Raiders' three relay teams will be looking for strong finishes.

They include: the 200 medley (Marissa Behning, Connolly, Dobrick and Hollie Miller); the 200 freestyle (Wolfarth, Snyder, Dobrick and Connolly) and the 400 freestyle (Wolfarth, Connolly, Dobrick and Snyder).

"Our freestyle relays are equally strong," said Fletcher. "It's a bit of a down year for the state in the 200 free relay. And if we have an exceptional swim, we could have a shot at a state title."

The Raiders are seeded 11th in the 200 freestyle relay at one minute, 39.03 seconds. That's 1.71 seconds off of top-seeded North Penn (1:37.32).

Butler senior Molly Evans will finish her high school career in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle.

She's seeded 11th and 13th, respectively.

"This will be my third trip to states," said Evans. "The first time I was a little nervous, but I have a little bit more experience and knowledge now and I'm more prepared."

Evans hopes to finish the 200 IM in under 2:10 and make the finals in the 500 freestyle.

Butler's Brittany Vogel will be swimming the 200 individual medley as well, seeded 30th.

The junior reached the state championship meet by swimming a personal-best time of 2:15.46 at the WPIAL meet.

Diving

Seneca Valley's Diana Rocco is seeded sixth in the girls diving event.

Her score of 396.95 was good for third place at WPIALs.

"I thought she did well at WPIALs, but it wasn't the best I've seen her do," said Rocco's coach Maria Misenhelter. "The West is pretty strong and I hope Diana can take third at states."

Butler's John Rhodaberger is the lone boys swimmer or diver to make the Class AAA state championships.

He's seeded 14th after a score of 391.95 placed him third at the WPIAL meet.

"I never put any expectations on him," said Butler diving coach Ken Bedford. "As long as he goes out and does his best, I'll be happy."

Friday's events include the 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 50 freestyle, 100 butterfly, the 200 freestyle relay and girls diving.

All other events will be held on Saturday.

Following are Butler County swimmers and divers who will compete at the PIAA Class AAA championships Friday and Saturday. Their names are preceded by their seeding and followed by their seed time or score.<B>200 medley relay: </B>8-Seneca Valley (Marissa Behning, Kelly Connolly, Elyse Dobrick, Hollie Miller) 1:50.73<B>200 freestyle: </B>5-Rose Snyder (SV) 1:53.20; 10-Emily Wolfarth (SV) 1:55.08<B>200 individual medley: </B>11-Molly Evans (B) 2:10.35; 30-Brittany Vogel (B) 2:15.46<B>1-meter diving: </B>6-Diana Rocco (SV) 396.95<B>100 butterfly: </B>9-Elyse Dobrick (SV) 58.55<B>100 freestyle: </B>9-Rose Snyder (SV) 52.68<B>500 freestyle: </B>13-Molly Evans (B) 5:09.86; 18-Emily Wolfarth (SV) 5:12.22<B>200 freestyle relay: </B>11-Seneca Valley (Emily Wolfarth, Rose Snyder, Elyse Dobrick, Kelly Connolly) 1:39.03<B>100 breaststroke: </B>4-Kelly Connolly (SV) 1:06.32<B>400 freestyle relay: </B>9-Seneca Valley (Emily Wolfarth, Kelly Connolly, Elyse Dobrick, Rose Snyder) 3:37.07<B>Boys1-meter diving: </B>14-John Rhodaberger (B) 391.95