PITTSBURGH — It's not the size of the team in the fight, but the size of the fight in the team.

That rang triumphantly true for the Mars boys swimming team in the second and final day of the WPIAL Championships Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

Mars scored 233 points, far ahead of second place Quaker Valley (170.5), earning for the Planets the first district title in program history.

They accomplished this with a roster of just six swimmers, all of which competed in the WPIAL event. The group included Tom Pierre, Chris Georgiadis, Francis Folz, Reed McDonough, Joseph Folz and Jimmy Pierre.

“This group of boys has worked so hard and worked as a team, side-by-side,” said Mars coach Heidi Brandon.

Earlier this season, the Planets achieved their first section championship with a perfect 6-0 record.

“We were excited when we learned we were section champs,” said assistant coach Erik Bergh. “Before the WPIAL meet, we thought it was going to be a close race to be runner-up. But after the way things turned out Thursday, we knew we had a good shot to win it all and the guys made it happen.”

Entering Friday's final event, the Planets had already wrapped up the team title, but that didn't stop them from closing the meet in style.

McDonough, Tom Pierre, Georgiadis and Francis Folz held off Chartiers Valley to win the 400-yard freestyle relay with a time of 3 minutes, 13.72 seconds. The effort was six-tenths of a second from setting a new WPIAL record. The Planets had used the same foursome to win last year's 400 freestyle relay, breaking Shady Side Academy's string of 13 straight district titles in the event. The difference was the Planets finished in second place in the team standings in 2013.

“This is a big deal,” said McDonough of the team's accomplishment. “We all worked hard this season and it's great to see how it paid off for us.”

Mars was not void of individual titles. Earlier in the day, Francis Folz captured his first WPIAL crown by winning the 100 freestyle in 47.45 seconds, though the victory included some tense moments for the junior.

“My right goggle came off right at the start of the race,” he said. “It was tough after that, but I finished hard. I've been trying to hold fast times in practice and I continue to ask God to bless me.”

Georgiadis won his second personal title in as many days.

After claiming the 200 individual medley on Thursday, it took him just 1:00.24 to finish the 100 breaststroke ahead of the field. It marked the first time the senior competed in the event at WPIALs.

“It's not my best event,” admitted Georgiadis of the breaststroke, “but I knew what the field was going to be like this year and knew I had a chance to do well. I've been waiting all year to swim it here at WPIALs.”

Tom Pierre qualified for states with a fifth-place finish in the 500 freestyle, while Joseph Folz (seventh) and Jimmy Pierre (eighth) both medaled in the event.

Knoch freshman John Wilson also punched his ticket to the PIAA meet, placing fifth in the 100 breaststroke with a finish of 1:01.94.

Class AAA

Seneca Valley's 400 freestyle relay team put a solid down payment on a trip to states with a fourth-place finish. The Raiders' quartet was comprised of Spencer Tretter, Mike Palaski, Mike Rhein and Jacob Fausti.

Only the top three finishers at WPIALs are guaranteed a spot in the state event, but the Raiders should know by the end of the weekend if their effort meets the secondary cut.

Tretter had a strong individual showing in the 500 freestyle, finishing in fifth place.

“I had a much better swim (Friday),” he said after taking over 14 seconds off his seed time in the 500. “I've been working on my stroke, turns, entry into the water, anything that can drop seconds from my time.”

Following are results from the WPIAL Swimming Championships, which concluded Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool. Included are the Butler County swimmers who scored points for their respective teams by placing in the top 16. Those who automatically qualified for the upcoming state meet appear in bold.Class AAAGirls100 freestyle: 1-Katie Ford (Mount Lebanon) 50.63; 6-Ali Kozlina (Seneca Valley) 52.71500 freestyle: 1-Kathryn Painter (Norwin) 4:56.48100 backstroke: 1-Jacquelyn Du (North Allegheny) 54.2100 breaststroke: 1-Katie Fernander (Hampton) 1:03.2; 9-Carley Belsterling (Seneca Valley) 1:07.05400 freestyle relay: 1-North Allegheny 3:26.41Boys100 freestyle: 1-Brian Lovasik (North Hills) 45.36; 9-Jacob Fausti (Seneca Valley) 47.78; 12-Mike Palaski (Seneca Valley) 47.82500 freestyle: 1-Sam Rutan (North Allegheny) 4:30.33; 5-Spencer Tretter (Seneca Valley) 4:38.23; 12-Ryan Deemer (Butler) 4:48.87100 backstroke: 1-Ryan Dudzinski (Upper St. Clair) 48.35100 breaststroke: 1-Casey Melzer (North Allegheny) 56.67; 10-Tukker Uniatowski (Butler) 1:00.99400 freestyle relay: 1-Upper St. Clair 3:03.63; 4-Seneca Valley (Spencer Tretter, Mike Palaski, Mike Rhein, Jacob Fausti) 3:11.82; 13-Butler (Ryan Deemer, Joey Deemer, Tukker Uniatowski, Dante Cicco) 3:22.02Class AAGirls100 freestyle: 1-Emily Zimcosky (Geibel Catholic) 50.75; 6-Zoe Pawlak (Freeport) 54.22; 12-Gracie Pacey (Mars) 56.1500 freestyle: 1-Bailey Bonnett (Highlands) 5:00.24; 2-Bria Otwell (Freeport) 5:02.89; 6-Abby Jones (Knoch) 5:20.16; 11-Jessica Ott (Mars) 5:27.18100 backstroke: 1-Taylor Petrak (Ellwood City) 57.5100 breaststroke:1-Brooke Zukowski (Knoch) 1:05.05400 freestyle relay: 1-South Fayette 3:37.09; 11-Freeport (Bria Otwell, Kenzie Farneth, Becca Dudek, Zoe Pawlak) 3:50.98; 12-Mars (Amanda Alikhani, Jessica Ott, Gracie Pacey, Torrey Shields) 3:55.26Boys100 freestyle:1-Francis Folz (Mars) 47.45500 freestyle: 1-Drew Damich (Chartiers Valley) 4:35.88; 5-Tom Pierre (Mars) 4:52.05; 7-Joseph Folz (Mars) 4:59.67; 8-Jimmy Pierre (Mars) 5:01.4; 11-Nathan Walls (Knoch) 5:06.94; 16-Noah Gumto (Knoch) 5:18.33100 backstroke: 1-Brad Kolesar (West Mifflin) 52.54; 13-Tyler Ben (Freeport) 59.6100 breaststroke:1-Chris Georgiadis (Mars) 1:00.24; 5-John Wilson (Knoch) 1:01.94400 freestyle relay:1-Mars (Reed McDonough, Tom Pierre, Chris Georgiadis, Francis Folz) 3:13.72; 12-Knoch (Nathan Walls, Noah Gumto, Derek Ekas, John Wilson) 3:28.72 - See more at: http://beedit.sx.atl.publicus.com/article/20140301/SPORTS03/703019949&NoCache=1#sthash.T5FRSyKF.dpuf