JACKSON TWP — Haihan Xu is a veteran of postseason swimming. He’s preparing for his fourth and final WPIAL championship meet and is quite familiar with the feel of practices this time of the year.

“It’s definitely a different environment,” the senior said. “Practices in December and January are more subdued, but now everyone’s more charged and energized.”

Xu is the defending champion in the 200-yard individual medley and breaststroke and will be swimming both events as the top seed at the district championship meet, scheduled Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.

“I remember swimming at WPIALs my freshman year,” he said. “There wasn’t as much pressure to perform and my mind-set was basically to have fun and do my best.

“Being ranked No. 1 is a double-edged sword. There’s an expectation that comes with it, but it also gives me confidence because it shows what I’ve been able to do this year.”

Xu’s best time in the IM this season is one minute, 52.42 seconds and his district-best effort in the breaststroke is 56.06. He owns SV’s school record in the latter, going 55.12 to win the WPIAL crown as a junior.

SV coach Brian Blackwell said of Xu: “He’s a pretty quiet kid, but is an extreme competitor and works very hard.”

Xu aims to qualify for the state meet for the fourth time, but would love to show up there again after being crowned a district champ.

“I haven’t been focusing on any one thing in practice,” he said. “I’m just trying to get things in general nailed down.

“I’m not setting a goal of a certain time in either event. I’ve found that when I do that, I lose focus on the event itself. If I swim up to my potential, the times will take care of themselves.”

While Blackwell has yet to finalize his lineup for the boys 200 medley relay, Xu could very well find himself in the mix. The Raiders are seeded first in the event at 1:35.57.

Also seeded in a medal position are SV’s Gavin Blazer (third in butterfly) and Connor Seeley (fourth in backstroke). The Raiders are ranked third in the 200 freestyle relay and fifth in the 400 freestyle relay.

Girls — Seneca Valley’s Alissa Wilson turned in a solid freshman campaign last year, helping the Raiders place fifth at districts in the 200 medley relay and just missing out on a medal by finishing ninth in the 200 IM. She is seeded fifth in the event this time at 2:10.72, over 2½ seconds faster than her finals time in 2022.

Butler’s Abigail Vance is ranked eighth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:24.27.

Following are Butler County’s Class 3A swimmers who have qualified for the WPIAL Championships, scheduled Thursday and Friday at the University of Pittsburgh’s Trees Pool.

Girls

Seneca Valley, Butler, Mars

200 medley relay: 7-Seneca Valley 1:53.33; 13-Mars 1:56.74

200 freestyle: 11-Abigail Vance (B) 1:59.09; 20-Morgan Baker (SV) 2:01.53; 28-Bryn Wilson (M) 2:03.54; 31-Sasha Myers (SV) 2:04.03

200 individual medley: 5-Alissa Wilson (SV) 2:10.72; 10-Addison Vance (B) 2:13.66; 15-Madisen Newton (SV) 2:16.72; 17-Riley Connelly (M) 2:17.01

50 freestyle: 9-Lena Rothrock (SV) 25.21; 10-Claire Riehl (SV) 25.22; 14-Reagan Connelly (M) 25.48; 15-Audrey Wolfe (SV) 25.52

100 butterfly: 12-Bella Kling (SV) 1:00.27; 15-Sonya Dietz (SV) 1:00.78; 18-Elle Alexander (SV) 1:01.43; 20-Addison Vance (B) 1:01.72

100 freestyle: 11-Claire Riehl (SV) 55.23; 14-Reagan Connelly (M) 55.39; 15-Morgan Baker (SV) 55.44; 18-Emma Pflugh (B) 55.53

500 freestyle: 8-Abigail Vance (B) 5:24.27

200 freestyle relay: 7-Seneca Valley 1:42.44; 9-Mars 1:43.48; 10-Butler 1:43.78

100 backstroke: 14-Lena Rothrock (SV) 1:01.04; 17-Bella Kling (SV) 1:01.71; 18-Riley Connelly (M) 1:01.77; 20-Madisen Newton (SV) 1:02.06

100 breaststroke: 13-Alissa Wilson (SV) 1:09.45; 20-Sonya Dietz (SV) 1:12.01

400 freestyle relay: 8-Seneca Valley 3:45.05; 9-Butler 3:47.41

Boys

Seneca Valley, Butler

200 medley relay: 1-Seneca Valley 1:35.57; 16-Butler 1:44.19

200 freestyle: 11-Connor Seeley (SV) 1:47.69; 27-Dylan Seeley (SV) 1:52.05

200 individual medley: 1-Haihan Xu (SV) 1:52.42; 14-Logan Hockenberry (SV) 2:01.77

50 freestyle: 22-Keaton Matteson (B) 22.94; 27-Frankie Walton (SV) 23.03

100 butterfly: 3-Gavin Blazer (SV) 52.73

100 freestyle: 15-Frankie Walton (SV) 49.23

500 freestyle: 21-Dylan Seeley (SV) 5:06.48

200 freestyle relay: 3-Seneca Valley 1:28.70; 14-Butler 1:32.53

100 backstroke: 4-Connor Seeley (SV) 52.52

100 breaststroke: 1-Haihan Xu (SV) 56.06; 9-Logan Hockenberry (SV) 1:00.13; 32-Ben Grossman (B) 1:04.26

400 freestyle relay: 5-Seneca Valley 3:16.63