Mars senior Francis Folz, left, is congratulated after winning the 50 freestyle by Laurel Highlands Logan Knoyer, who tied for second place Friday during the WPIAL Class AA Swimming Championship meet at Trees Pool.

PITTSBURGH — It was a different event, but a familiar result for Mars' Francis Folz.

The senior had competed in the 100, 200 and 500-yard freestyle events in his first three trips to the WPIAL Class AA Swimming Championships, winning the 100 freestyle title as a junior.

At the University of Pittsburgh's Trees Pool on Friday, he added a 50-yard freestyle crown to his resume.

Folz swam a time of 21.71 seconds in the event, improving on his seed time of 21.91.

“I was hoping to go 21-low, but I can't be disappointed with first place,” said Folz. “I really tried to turn it on after my turn. That's what I like to do, come off that wall and just go as fast as I can. At the end of the race, I could see it was going to be close and I reached as far as I could for the finish.”

That reach just may have been the difference as Laurel Highlands' Logan Knoyer and Hampton's Matt Ramsey tied for second place at 21.87, or .16 seconds behind Folz, who was hoping to impress some specific people in attendance.

“I'm going to be talking to some college coaches after the meet is over,” he said. “I'd like to swim either (Division I or II) and I'll have to see what they think of my performance.

“This title means the world to me,” Folz added. “This season has been tough with a lot of adjustments. I thank God every day for the ability to swim. You can have it one day and the next day, it can be taken away from you.”

Friday also yielded a memorable championship meet for several members of Knoch's boys team.

The quartet of Austin Wittmer, John Wilson, Matt Karenbauer and Derek Ekas broke a pair of school records in the 200 medley relay (1:42.22, fifth place) and 200 freestyle relay (1:32.19, third place).

Wittmer, a senior, swam the backstroke in the medley relay and the first leg of the 200.

“We knew there would be some heavy competition,” he said of both races, “but we came in with a good seed time and thought we had a good chance to make states.”

Wittmer also did well on his own, earning fifth place in the 200 individual medley. That event saw another Knoch standard fall as Wilson placed fourth with a state-qualifying time of 1:59.43.

Mars senior Reed McDonough made states in both the 200 freestyle (fourth place) and 50 freestyle (fifth place).

Class AAA

Seneca Valley's 200 freestyle relay team of Spencer Tretter, Nate Burkett, Jake Lee and Mike Palaski earned a medal by finishing eighth.

Tretter (200 freestyle) and Palaski (50 freestyle) both placed sixth individually.