Getting to the state championship meet is a goal of the best swimmers in the WPIAL, but only a select few will experience instant gratification at this week's WPIAL Championships, scheduled Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.

The number of entries in each event at states remains the same at 32. What has changed is how swimmers punch their ticket to the event.

Only the district champion in the swimming events (11 each for boys and girls) will be guaranteed a spot at the PIAA event. All other Class AAA hopefuls must wait to see if their time falls within the 24-best non-district winning times from across the state.

In Class AA, which includes 10 districts across the state, 22 at-large bids will be earned.

In years past, the top three WPIAL placers in Class AAA knew for sure that they would be moving on. In Class AA, the top four in each event immediately knew their fate.

“I think it could play to our advantage,” said Butler coach Dave Bocci. “In the past, there would be automatic spots (to states) taken up by a district that had slower times in certain events. I'm interested to see how it affects things, some of our kids who may be on the bubble.”

One thing that has not changed is that each district will be represented at PIAAs, albeit with less swimmers in some cases.

“I think that's a good thing,” said Seneca Valley coach Brian Blackwell. “Every district should have a representative. You want to keep swimming (relevant) in all areas of the state.”

Regardless of the new qualifying rules, Butler's Alex Deemer plans on extending his season.

The senior will be competing in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events.

“My goal is to break a new threshold in both events,” he said. “I want to go 1:39 in the 200 and 4:29 in the 500. If I get those times, I will be swimming at states.”

Deemer has earned three individual medals in his three previous trips to the district meet. He placed fourth in the 500 as a sophomore then third in the 500 and fourth in the 200 last year.

His first trip to WPIALs came his freshman year when he helped the Golden Tornado earn a medal by placing eighth in the 200 medley relay in 2016. It was one of just three medals earned by Butler's boys.

The Golden Tornado have a strong core of swimmers this season, including Deemer, and Butler is planning on a much better turnout on the medal stand.

“We've cultivated a better team and a lot of it just comes down to the hard work we have all put in,” said Deemer, a Gannon University recruit. “I've enjoyed making an impact for the program.

“Coach Bocci has been great. He's a guy who, if you work hard for him, he'll work hard for you. He puts so much time in.”

This season has turned out to be a breakout one for Seneca Valley junior Taylor Schoeffel.

She made the WPIAL meet as a freshman and sophomore.

“I improved a lot last season,” she said, “but I still wasn't where I wanted to be.”

Schoeffel's current district ranking of sixth in the 500 freestyle is more indicative of her talent. Her seed time of 5:15.11 is over nine seconds faster than she was last year entering WPIALs.

“We did some different things with our training this season and the coaches helped me with my technique,” said Schoeffel. “In our second meet of the season against Peters Township, I swam a 5:17 and that was 11 seconds better than what I had in the first meet. I knew I could go even faster.”

As high school swimming's longest event, the 500 is not for everyone, but Schoeffel has used it to find her niche.

“I'm not much of a sprinter. I'm better at pacing myself,” she said. “The 500 suits me well.

“I want to get below 5:10 and place in the top five,” added Schoeffel. “Even if I can just medal (top eight), I'd be happy with that.”

Following are the Butler County swimmers who will be competing in the WPIAL Class AAA Swimming Championships, set for Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool.GirlsButler, Seneca Valley, Mars200 medley relay:Butler (Abbie Griffith, Laura Goettler, Rachel Ledford, Savannah Holt); Seneca Valley (Taylor Schoeffel, Edie Sawyer, Julia Listwak, Alyvia Meanor); Mars200 freestyle:Seneca Valley — Abigail Perry, Bella Stefanowicz, Cara Della Toffalo, Emily Tekelenburg200 individual medley:Butler — Laura Goettler; Seneca Valley — Kendall Craig, Edie Sawyer, Carly Brunello, Sarah Stevens; Mars — Megan Smith50 freestyle:Seneca Valley — Alyvia Meanor, Annabel Morrisard; Mars — Caroline Stamper100 butterfly:Butler — Abbie Griffith; Seneca Valley — Ria Dietz, Julia Listwak, Gianna Petrella100 freestyle:Butler — Savannah Holt; Seneca Valley — Kendall Craig, Julia Listwak, Alyvia Meanor, Annabel Morrisard500 freestyle:Seneca Valley — Taylor Schoeffel, Bella Stefanowicz, Abigail Perry200 freestyle relay:Butler (Eve Merhaut, Rachel Ledford, Katie Knights, Ellie Weiss); Seneca Valley (Alyvia Meanor, Annabel Morrisard, Bella Stefanowicz, Kendall Craig); Mars100 backstroke:Butler — Abbie Griffith, Rachel Ledford; Seneca Valley — Sarah Stevens, Taylor Schoeffel, Ria Dietz100 breaststroke:Butler — Laura Goettler, Savannah Holt; Seneca Valley — Edie Sawyer, Carly Brunello, Katie Clark; Mars — Megan Smith, Abby Scott400 freestyle relay:Butler (Savannah Holt, Laura Goettler, Abbie Griffith, Rachel Ledford); Seneca Valley (Kendall Craig, Annabel Morrisard, Julia Listwak, Bella Stefanowicz)BoysButler, Seneca Valley200 medley relay:Butler (Alex Deemer, David Bocci, Sam Deemer, Ben Borvendeg); Seneca Valley (Jonathan Simoes, Daniel Simoes, Max Bredl, Max Skeen)200 freestyle:Butler — Alex Deemer; Seneca Valley — Kevin Donaldson, Zachary Lozowski, Renhan Xu200 individual medley:Butler — David Bocci; Seneca Valley — Daniel Simoes, Jonathan Simoes50 freestyle:Butler — Ben Borvendeg; Seneca Valley — Max Skeen100 butterfly:Butler — Sam Deemer; Seneca Valley — Owen Blazer, Max Bredl100 freestyle:Butler — Ben Borvendeg; Seneca Valley — Max Skeen500 freestyle:Butler — David Bocci, Alex Deemer; Seneca Valley — Kevin Donaldson, Renhan Xu, Matthew Stevens, Zachary Lozowski200 freestyle relay:Butler (Zach Callithen, Michael Milton, Tanner Vietmeier, Simon Diehl); Seneca Valley (Owen Blazer, Daniel Simoes, Max Skeen, Kevin Donaldson)100 backstroke:Butler — Sam Deemer; Seneca Valley — Owen Blazer, Jonathan Simoes, Max Bredl400 freestyle relay:Butler (Sam Deemer, Alex Deemer, Ben Borvendeg, David Bocci); Seneca Valley (Owen Blazer, Daniel Simoes, Max Bredl, Kevin Donaldson)