You can't fault Kirby Burns for having high expectations for his Slippery Rock High girls swimming team this winter.

The Rockets return 10 District 10 Class 2A qualifiers and all four state meet qualifiers from last year's team that won a region title with a perfect 12-0 record.

"We are dealing with a couple of injuries at the start of the season, but if we get healthy, we should be very tough to beat in our region," Burns said. "We have 10 very solid swimmers and should do well."

The Rockets' swimmers looking to reach the state meet again are seniors Grace Olshanski and Natalie Double and sophomores Mollie Massella and Ann-Katherine Burns.

Olshanski is the defending district champion in the 50-yard freestyle. She earned the crown with a school-record time of 24.52 seconds.

"I want to keep progressing as much as I can," said Olshanski. "The 50 is such a fast event, you have to combine strength and everything in your technique has to be perfect to improve on a school-record time.

"There's a good dynamic on the team. We have good combinations in the relays and I'm very hopeful the team can remain successful."

Following is information on Butler County’s high school swimming and diving teams.

Swimmers and divers listed are returning district qualifiers. (*) denotes a returning state qualifier.

Butler

Coach: Troy Kroll

Girls — seniors Ally Smith (relays) and Annabelle Turner (relays); junior Emma Pflugh (relays); sophomore Abigail Vance (200 freestyle)

"We have a strong core of hard-working people," Kroll said. "They're tough and I don't throw that word around lightly."

Boys — None

"We don't have any seniors, but collectively, the boys are taking on leadership roles," said Kroll. "It's going to evolve.

"So far, juniors Ben Grossman, Keaton Matteson, Noah Collins and sophomore Jackson Morgus have stood out."

Freeport

Coach: Nikki Heasley

Girls — senior Danielle Parke (breaststroke); junior Caitlyn Brennan* (butterfly/backstroke); sophomores Kira Schrecongost* (butterfly/IM), Mary Anne Altman (50 free/IM) and Isabelle Barton* (200/500 freestyle)

"We have 12 girls and obviously, teams with 20-some girls are going to be tough for us to beat," said Heasley. "But we recently swam against Kiski Area and we beat them by two points."

Boys — senior Tyler Moretti (butterfly/100 freestyle); sophomore Nate Tarbi (100/200 freestyle)

"Tyler and Nate went back and forth last year with breaking the school's 100 freestyle record," said Heasley. "Nate's coming back from an injury, but should be ready to go before long."

Knoch

Coach: Dominique Patrick

Girls — sophomore Giona Lavorini* (breaststroke/IM)

"Our medley relay should be strong with Giona, Maria Wilson, Lindsey Mack and Allison Smith," said Patrick.

Boys — None

"We have three boys this season: senior Colton Velesig (50 free) and freshmen Adrian Lavorini (500 free/IM) and Aiden Smith (breaststroke/backstroke)," said Patrick.

Mars

Coach: Todd Slobodnyak

Girls — senior Riley Connelly (backstroke/50 free), juniors Bryn Wilson (200 free) and Emily Mueller (diving); sophomores Reagan Connelly (50/500 free) and Sarah Maloney (relays)

"We have 10 girls, which is our smallest team in a while," said Slobodnyak. "But it's good to have some younger girls, we just need to work on our depth."

Boys — sophomore Sean Muchnok* (breaststroke)

"We lost four swimmers who made the state meet last year," said Slobodnyak. "We have just five boys on the roster, but we're excited to have Sean for three more years."

North Catholic

Coach: Joella Baker

Girls — seniors Maggie Foley* (diving) and Maddie Manczka (backstroke)

"We have some strong swimmers who swam over the summer," said Baker. "They will do a lot better this year."

Boys — seniors John Lamb* (breaststroke/50 free/IM), Matt Littleton* (butterfly/IM), Jackson Kress* (backstroke/IM) and Owen Schessler* (200/500 free); sophomore Luke Lamb* (backstroke/IM)

"We should have some strong boys relay teams again," Baker said. "As long as we stay healthy, it will be fun to watch."

Seneca Valley

Coach: Brian Blackwell

Girls — senior Erin Castagnero (diving); juniors Bella Kling (butterfly/100 freestyle), Claire Riehl* (50/100 free), Chloe Petersen (diving); sophomores Sonya Dietz (butterfly), Madison Newton (butterfly/backstroke), Lena Rothrock* (50 free) and Alissa Wilson* (breaststroke/IM)

"We have a lot of well-rounded swimmers and we can do a lot with them," Blackwell said. "We'll have to see who steps up."

Boys — Seniors Gavin Blazer* (butterfly/freestyle), Connor Seeley* (backstroke/200 free), Haihan Xu* (breaststroke/IM), Logan Hockenberry (breaststroke/IM), Frankie Walton (50/100 freestyle) and Jeremiah Laslavic* (diving); junior Isaiah Clerkley* (diving); sophomore Dylan Seeley (200/500 free)

"Our boys won WPIAL and PIAA team titles last year," said Blackwell. "We won't be as deep of a team, but will still be good."

Slippery Rock

Coach: Kirby Burns

Girls — seniors Grace Olshanski* (50/100 free), Natalie Double* (backstroke/200 free), Maggie Massella (backstroke/butterfly), Sarah McCandless (backstroke/200 freestyle); junior Kaitlyn Parson (breaststroke/IM); sophomores Mollie Massella* (butterfly/IM), Ann-Katherine Burns* (breaststroke/50 free), Elise Cagle (backstroke/IM), Maddy Gauselmann (butterfly/500 free) and Tessa Szymanski (butterfly/IM)

Boys — senior Connor Wallace (50/100 free); junior Kevin Bowser (butterfly/backstroke); sophomore Cody Hartle (500 free/IM)

"We're hoping to get Connor to the state meet," said Burns.