Freeport's Alexis Schrecongost swims the backstroke during the girls 200-yard individual medley at the recent WPIAL Class AA Swimming Championships. Schrecongost anhd her teammates will be looking tio medal at this week's state tourney at Bucknell University.

Alexis Schrecongost may be new to the high school swimming scene, but she is about to leave a very defined imprint on the state championship meet.

Freeport's young star will swim in four events — the most any one swimmer can compete in — at the PIAA Class AA event Wednesday and Thursday at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium.

Individually, Schrecongost will appear in the 200-yard individual medley and 100 breaststroke and will swim a leg on the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays.

“I was thinking that maybe I'd get to states in one event, but not all four. I was surprised by that,” said Schrecongost. “It's great that we got the relays through.”

Schrecongost's best event is the breaststroke, in which she placed third at the recent WPIAL meet with a time of one minute, 7.13 seconds.

“She went back and forth with the IM this season and is also a good all-around sprinter,” said Freeport coach Nikki Heasley. “She hasn't gone as fast in the IM as she could go and we're looking forward to a good drop in time in that event.”

The Yellowjackets who will swim with Schrecongost in the relays are Ariana Clark, Madison Moretti and Isabella Parks in the medley and Clark, Moretti and Brooke Welling in the freestyle. The former quartet placed second at WPIALs behind Indiana.

Though she hasn't competed in the state meet before, Schrecongost has gained valuable experience through her club team, the Fox Chapel Killer Whales. One of her teammates in club is Highlands High School junior Rachel Blackburn.

“She's already been to states,” said Schrecongost. “She said it's a big meet with faster swimmers in a great pool. She said it's a fun time. I'd like to make the finals in both of my events, especially the breaststroke.”

Regardless of her performance this week, Schrecongost already has a great springboard into her sophomore season by swimming in four events.

“She is strong-minded and strong-willed and has a great work ethic in the pool,” said Heasley. “I think we'll see good things from her over the next three years.”

Boys

As a senior, Slippery Rock's Heston Suorsa wanted to extend his high school career as far as it could go. He accomplished that, qualifying for the state meet in the 100 backstroke with a fifth-place time of 55.68 at the District 10 meet earlier this month.

The effort broke his own school record in the event, previously a 56.2. Suorsa has now set a new school standard in the backstroke four times.

“My freshman year, I was still trying to figure things out when it came to swimming,” he said. “It was in my sophomore year that the backstroke became a viable option.”

Suorsa competed in the same event at states as a junior.

“I didn't make it to finals (top 16) and the experience went by so quickly,” he said. “But I've gotten experience in big meets through USA Swimming with the Slippery Rock Eels (club team).

“I'm hoping for another best time, maybe under 55 seconds,” added Suorsa. “I've been swimming some practice 50s. If I can keep up the pace I've had with those, a 54 is definitely possible.”

Slippery Rock coach Kirby Burns said it is gratifying to see a dedicated swimmer accomplish his goals. He's hoping for one more solid effort out of Suorsa, who will swim at Grove City College.

“He's very motivated and wants to learn as much as he can,” he said. “The backstroke is naturally his best stroke. I'm excited for him. If he drops one second, he could make it to finals.”

Following are the Butler County swimmers and divers who will be competing at the PIAA Class AA Championships, scheduled Wednesday and Thursday at Bucknell University. Each athlete’s name is preceded by his/her seed and followed by the seed time (score for divers).GirlsKnoch, Freeport,North Catholic, Moniteau200 medley relay: 12-Freeport (Ariana Clark, Alexis Schrecongost, Madison Moretti, Isabella Parks) 1:51.45; 18-North Catholic (Emma Kunzmann, Julia Kocsis, Brittney Carmazzi, Ainsley Bissett) 1:53.49200 individual medley: 18-Alexis Schrecongost (F) 2:13.15; 28-Julia Kocsis (NC) 2:15.461-meter diving: 11-Kristen Jerich (K) 340.2100 butterfly: 8-Brittney Carmazzi (NC) 57.78; 23-Baily Trettel (M) 59.52; 24-Julia Kocsis (NC) 59.81500 freestyle: 31-Ainsley Bissett (NC) 5:22.91100 backstroke: 25-Baily Trettel (M) 59.82; 27-Brittney Carmazzi (NC) 1:00.04; 29-Ariana Clark (F) 1:00.4100 breaststroke: 15-Alexis Schrecongost (F) 1:07.13400 freestyle relay: 24-North Catholic (Brittney Carmazzi, Ainsley Bissett, Emma Kunzmann, Julia Kocsis) 3:44.49; 25-Freeport (Brooke Welling, Ariana Clark, Madison Moretti, Alexis Schrecongost) 3:44.56BoysMars, Knoch,North Catholic, Slippery Rock200 medley relay: 9-Knoch (Zach Wilson, Matt Cummings, Michael Phillips, Braden Zukowski) 1:40.9200 freestyle: 3-Andrew Pierre (M) 1:42.19; 30-Aidan Wolf (M) 1:50.21200 individual medley: 9-Matt Cummings (K) 1:59.86; 11-Braden Zukowski (K) 2:00.151-meter diving: 4-Kyle Maziarz (NC) 510.5500 freestyle: 4-Andrew Pierre (M) 4:40.99; 27-Aidan Wolf (M) 5:02.02200 freestyle relay: 9-Knoch (Zach Wilson, Caden Traggiai, Braden Zukowski, Matt Cummings) 1:30.47100 backstroke: 21-Zach Wilson (K) 55.14; 28-Heston Suorsa (SR) 55.68100 breaststroke: 8-Braden Zukowski (K) 1:00.14; 10-Matt Cummings (K) 1:00.64400 freestyle relay: 25-Mars (Andrew Pierre, Will Allison, Aidan Wolf, Zach Leachman) 3:24.48