Mars' Luke Lamb prepares to swim the boys 50-yard freestyle final during the PIAA Class 3A Swimming Championships at Bucknell University. Lamb finished eighth in the event. Jason Malmont/Special to the Eagle.

Luke Lamb came away from his effort in Friday's 50-yard freestyle wanting more, then went out and earned it Saturday at Bucknell University's Kinney Natatorium.

At the PIAA Class 3A Swimming Championships, the Mars senior placed eighth in the 50 free with a time of 20.72 seconds, nearly a third of a second slower than the time that won him a WPIAL Class 3A title last month.

"I wasn't happy with that, did not do well at the start or on the turn," Lamb said. "I was motivated to bounce back Saturday."

Redemption came in the form of two incredible swims in the 100 backstroke. First was his preliminary showing Saturday morning, when he posted a first-place time of 48.34, good for inclusion on the National Federation of High Schools Honor Roll.

But his best-ever time in the event came in the evening, when he capped his high school career with a 47.78, or 1.25 seconds faster than runner-up Danny Lesinski of North Allegheny.

Mars' Luke Lamb looks up at the board after the boys 50-yard freestyle final during the PIAA Class 3A Swimming Championships at Bucknell University. Lamb finished eighth in the event. Jason Malmont/Special to the Eagle.

Lamb's previous best swim in the backstroke came at this year's WPIAL meet, where he won a district title with a 47.86.

"In prelims, I just wanted to see how I felt and was going about 90 to 95%," Lamb said. "I knew I could drop time in the final. I knew if I swam my best time, I'd have a really good shot at winning the title. To get both, it feels great and is very special to me."

Lamb attends North Catholic High School but competed for Mars this season as part of a co-op agreement between the schools. While swimming for the Trojans last year, he won a Class 2A state title in the backstroke with a time of 48.08.

"My first two years of high school, I was still coming up and it wasn't until the middle of my junior year when I realized I was capable of some great things in the pool."

Lamb, who has committed to swim at the U.S. Naval Academy, and Central Catholic's McClellan Clark (500 freestyle) were the only two WPIAL swimmers to claim an individual title in the Class 3A boys meet.

In other Butler County action, Seneca Valley’s Katie Bookwalter finished 10th in the girls 100 breaststroke in 1:04.52.

Mars' Luke Lamb dives into the pool for the boys 50-yard freestyle final during the PIAA Class 3A Swimming Championships at Bucknell University. Lamb finished eighth in the event. Jason Malmont/Special to the Eagle.