BUTLER TWP — At three wins, nine losses, the Butler girls swimming team record is nothing to write home about.

However, seniors Molly Evans, Sarah Clouse and Ellen Crummy have been busy rewriting the Golden Tornado record book.

That trio, along with junior Brittany Vogel, have combined to set team records in eight of the sport's 12 events over the past two years.

"We don't have a lot of depth on our team, and that's why we lose meets,"Butler girls swim coach Jeff Armstrong said. "But we do have quality swimmers in this program."

The only records these girls have failed to topple are the 50-yard freestyle set by Linda Van Buren in 1976, the 100 and 200 freestyle set by Stacy Barkac in 1991 and 1992, respectively, and the diving score of 265.5 set by Jessica Schnur last year.

Evans owns four individual records — the 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and 500 freestyle — breaking all but the latter since January.

The 100 butterfly record had stood since 1986.

"I've broken and re-broken a few of them,"Evans said. "I hope to do it a few more times before I'm done."

Evans, Clouse and Vogel are part of three relay records. Crummy is part of the 400 freestyle relay record.

While the records are impressive, they don't spell success in Armstrong's eyes.

"Our focus is all about getting swimmers to states,"the coach said. "Records look nice on paper, but if you don't get to the state meet, well, it's like the San Diego Chargers going 14-2 and losing in the first round of the playoffs. It doesn't mean very much."

Evans, Clouse and Crummy all grew up as teammates on the Penn Valley summer swim team. Evans started at age 6, the other two at age 8.

Crummy is captain of the Tornado swim squad.

"Setting that (400 freestyle) relay record with Molly and Sarah was exciting since we've been together for so long," Crummy said. "Our goal all year has been to break all three relay records."

When Clouse broke the 100 breaststroke record, she snapped a mark that stood since 1992.

The previous record was held by Stacy Jones, who now coaches Clouse in the event.

"It was a goal of mine to get that record,"Clouse said. "Now I want to re-break it and get to the state meet."

All three of these swimmers hope to compete in college as well. Clouse is looking at either California (Pa.) or Indiana (Pa.). Crummy is undecided.

Evans is considering Michigan State, Johns Hopkins and Carnegie Mellon, among other schools. She carries a grade-point average of 4.3 and is ranked second in her class.

Evans placed fourth in the WPIALmeet in the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley last year. She finished 11th in the 500 freestyle at the state meet a year ago.

Among her goals for the rest of this season are finishing among the top eight at states in the 500 freestyle and breaking the five-minute mark in that event.

"Distance swimming is my strongest event,"Evans said. "I've broken the (500 freestyle) school record four times, I think. I'm sure I'll be a distance swimmer in college."

Armstrong said this senior trio has succeeded through their own motivation.

"Their inner drive is something you can't teach," he said. "All three are talented and they're all willing to make sacrifices to succeed. They also have a mental and maturity advantage.

"Combine all that and this is what you get. And none of these girls has peaked yet."

• <B>200 medley relay: </B>Brittany Vogel, Sarah Clouse, Jessica Vernon, Molly Evans)1:53.40 (2006)• <B>200 individual medley: </B>Molly Evans 2:11.32 (2007)• <B>100 butterfly: </B>Molly Evans 59.30 (2007)• <B>500 freestyle: </B>Molly Evans 5:03.06 (2006)• <B>200 freestyle relay: </B>Samantha Harris, Brittany Vogel, Sarah Clouse, Molly Evans)1:42.81• <B>100 backstroke: </B>Molly Evans 1:00.35 (2007)• <B>100 breaststroke: </B>Sarah Clouse 1:08.93 (2006)• <B>400 freestyle relay: </B>Brittany Vogel, Ellen Crummy, Sarah Clouse, Molly Evans 3:45.09 (2006)