BUTLER TWP — John "Pump" McLaughlin is gone. His Butler Family YMCA swim program lives on, courtesy of Jeff Armstrong.

Armstrong plays a dual role as coach of the Butler YBarracudas and the Butler High swimming team. Now in his third season at the Y, Armstrong guided that team to an undefeated regular season.

"There's always an adjustment period that goes on,"Armstrong said. "Clearly, Pump ran a great program and did things his way. But I have to be myself and do things my way.

"You have to be respectful of the past, but you have to use your own style to run your own program.

McLaughlin died four years ago after having taught and coached swimming at the YMCAfor 48 years.

Armstrong came to Butler with the idea of running both the YMCA and high school programs.

"Other places I've been, I've done both," he said. "It's a tremendous benefit being able to apply the same philosophy and direction to both jobs."

This isn't the first time Armstrong has replaced a coaching legend. He did so at the Rowan Aquatic Club YMCA in Salisbury, N.C., and again with the Newburgh Sea Creatures in Evansville, Ind.

"That guy went on to become a successful swim coach at the University of Indiana," he said of the latter job. "It helps to follow good coaches because you know the proper ideals are already in place."

The first year Armstrong replaced McLaughlin, he had 83 swimmers in the Butler Yprogram. This year, he has 113, boys and girls age divisions ranging from 8 and under through 15 to 18.

Five different age groups were undefeated this season and the overall perfect season was Armstrong's first with the program.

"I knew we'd be good. I didn't think we'd be undefeated," Armstrong said. "Having the increased numbers certainly helped."

Butler competes in the YMCAdistrict meet March 8 and 9 at Indiana (Pa.) University. The state meet is at Penn State University the following weekend.

YMCANationals are April 1 to 4 in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Two Butler swimmers, 16-year-olds Courtney Shields (100-yard butterfly) and Rachel Tano (50 freestyle) have qualified for nationals.

"Last year was the first time we had a girls relay qualify for nationals in 10 years,"Armstrong said. "Our goal is to qualify all our relays to get down there this year.

"Really, I don't see any limitations to this program."

Alex Fertelmes coaches the 9-10 and 11-12-year-old age groups while Corrine Jones works with the 8-and-under division under Armstrong. Fertelmes coached under McLaughlin four years ago.

"The practice times are different and we're in the high school pool a lot more,"Fertelmes said. "It's nice having that kind of access"

Ten female swimmers on Butler's current roster own record times in the program. Only one male swimmer, Chad Cummings, owns a top mark in a record book still dominated by the late Eric Namesnik.

Fertelmes said Butler has one of its more balanced teams of recent years.

"There are no holes in our lineup," he said. "We're competitive in every event, every age group."

Armstrong spends long days at the Butler pool during swim season. His high school team hits the water twice a week before school starts, then practices Mondays through Fridays after school until 5:30 p.m.

From 5:30 to 8 p.m., his YMCA team hits the pool.

"There are definitely some long days,"the coach admitted. "But when you see the progress were seeing with both teams, it's worthwhile."

<b>Girls</b><b>Camryn Forbes</b>: 25 butterfly (novice) 15.99<b>Morgan Morrison</b>: 100 free (cadet) 1:02.61<b>Jordan McElhaney</b>: 50 back (cadet) 33.00<b>Brianna Keelan</b>: 200 free (prep) 2:06.61<b>Courtney Shields</b>: 50 back (prep) 30.53, 450 free (junior) 25.26, 100 free (junior) 55.00<b>Brittany Vogel</b>: 200 free (junior) 2:01.65, 200 IM(senior) 2:15.20, 200 back (open) 2:14.97<b>Rachel Tano</b>: 200 free (senior) 1:59.86<b>Boys</b><b>Chad Cummings</b>: 25 free (novice) 14.56<b>Relays</b><b>Jordan McElhaney, Morgan Morrison, Nicolette Krause Brianna Keelan</b>: 200 medley (cadet) 2:10.94, 200 free (cadet) 1:54.13, 200 medley (prep) 2:00.30, 200 free (prep) 1:46.31<b>Jeanna Smialek, Jillian Vogus, Courtney Shields, Rachel Tano</b>: 200 free (junior) 1:44.80<b>Brittany Vogel, Clouse, Courtney Shields, Rachel Tano</b>: 200 medley (senior) 1:53.39, 200 free (senior) 1:43.99