JACKSON TWP — If you compete at the PIAA swimming championships as often as Seneca Valley seniors Rose Snyder and Emily Wolfarth have, your views of the event are bound to change.

Snyder, for instance, wasn't looking forward to her first trip as a freshman.

"I was very timid," said Snyder of her mind-set in 2005. "I didn't want to go."

Now a veteran of the state championships, Snyder embraces the challenges that come with such a big event.

She will be swimming the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle in the Class AAA competition, which runs Wednesday and Thursday at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium in Lewisburg.

Snyder is seeded third in the 200 freestyle after winning the WPIAL title with a time of 1 minute, 52.7 seconds.

She had her best individual finish at the state meet in the event last year, placing seventh.

"I'm really excited about competing against the best in the state," Snyder said. "When I was a freshman, I never thought I'd be saying that."

Wolfarth will be making her third consecutive appearance at states.

She'll compete in the 200 and 500 freestyle events and is seeded eighth and 10th, respectively.

"It was an honor just to make it as a sophomore, but now it's more about what I'm capable of doing there," Wolfarth said.

Freshman Abby Myers might not have experience at states, but her recent WPIAL title and second seed at PIAAs in the butterfly prove she belongs.

Her time at WPIALs was 57.39, seven-tenths of a second slower than her 56.69, set earlier this season.

"I never thought I'd get 56 seconds in my first year," Myers said. "It doesn't really matter where I place at states, just as long as I drop my time."

Myers also will compete in the 100 freestyle.

Wolfarth and Myers will bookend SV's 400 freestyle relay team, which includes Julie Titley and Angela Panza.

SV junior Dan Gutmann will swim the boys 50 freestyle. He's seeded 15th with a time of 21.88.

"I've made bigger strides this year than any other year," Gutmann said. "If I can continue that by improving my seed time, it will put me at a whole different level heading into next year."

Diving

Being calm, cool and collected can help an athlete in any sport, and Butler sophomore diver Heath Calhoun is proof of that.

At the WPIAL Class AAA championships last month, Calhoun placed third with a score of 481.2.

"He was the most consistent of any of the divers, including the top two," said Butler diving coach Ken Bedford.

Calhoun's effort earned him a fourth seed at the PIAA championship meet.

"I was just glad I was able to have fun," said Calhoun. "I was able to stay calm before meets this year, and I think it just comes from experience."

This will be Calhoun's first trip to PIAAs, but Bedford is confident he will have the same demeanor.

"His composure at WPIALs was incredible," Bedford said. "And I expect the same at states."

Diana Rocco is set to put a cap on a truly great high school career.

The Seneca Valley senior placed third at WPIALs (435.45), giving her three straight top three finishes at the District 7 championships.

"It really is unbelievable," said SV diving coach Maria Misenhelter. "Very few kids are able to do that three straight times."

Rocco will be seeded fifth at states.

She picked up diving during her freshman year and has made huge strides since then.

"I've definitely improved a lot," Rocco said. "Back in my freshman year, I didn't even make it to the third round at WPIALs."

In her two previous showings at the PIAA meet, Rocco placed 10th as a sophomore and seventh as a junior last season.

"I'm hoping for top five," Rocco said.

"She works hard year-round and she's diving phenomenally right now," said Misenhelter.

A complete PIAA meet schedule can be found at www.piaa.org.