Meet Butler County’s top swimmers and divers, including swimmers of the year, from 2024-25 season
Kira Schrecongost entered this past high school swim season with a relaxed mindset. Especially at states, no one could’ve blamed Luke Lamb for having anything but.
Freeport’s Schrecongost (girls) and Mars’ Lamb (boys), both seniors, earned the Butler Eagle’s Swimmer of the Year awards after exceptional showings in the pool.
Lamb had his goals in mind from the outset, stacking weight on his shoulders as he aimed to win a second consecutive PIAA crown. The future Navy swimmer tripped up in the 50-yard freestyle at states, unexpectedly finishing eighth (20.72 seconds).
“It was heartbreaking to watch him after that race,” Planets coach Karen Guise said. “He 100% could’ve (said), ‘I’m not going to do it. It’s too much pressure.’ But he didn’t. ... He was ready.”
Lamb rebounded the next day to earn gold in the 100 back (47.78).
Meanwhile, Schrecongost won her third WPIAL Class 2A 100 butterfly title in four years. Then came, as Yellowjackets coach and Kira’s mother, Sheryl Schrecongost, said, the icing on the cake — a gold (54.96) at states.
The future Duquesne swimmer also finished fifth at the PIAA meet in the 200 individual (2:06.87).
The younger Schrecongost is as punctual as they come. Coach Schrecongost said, “She is early for everything, she’s 100% ready, on-time and when it comes to swimming ... she is the first one on the pool deck if not the first one in the water.”
The elder Schrecongost showed a belief in her daughter, and was the first to show conviction in her ability to accomplish what she did.
“I was just like, ‘I knew you could do it,’” Coach Schrecongost said. “I think that sometimes as a coach, or even just a parent, you see things ... that they don’t see. You see the bigger picture. I’m like, ‘I know you have this in you. You just need to have that confidence.’”
The following are the Butler Eagle’s swimming and diving all-stars from 2024-25, listed alphabetically:
This past season, Barton was the only Butler County swimmer to win a pair of individual state titles, in the 50 free para (25.82) and 100 free para (56.98).
Lavorini was a two-time medalist at the WPIAL Class 2A title meet, finishing third in the 200 IM and fifth in the 100 breaststroke (58.99).
Lavorini, maybe the most accomplished swimmer in Knights history, leaves after a stellar senior campaign. She won the WPIAL Class 2A 100 breaststroke crown (1:03.03), then finished second in that event at states (1:03.18).
The Pitt commit also medaled in the 200 IM at WPIALs (2:07.59) and states (2:07.92).
After leaving the WPIAL Class 3A girls diving championship as the district runner-up, Lee was anticipating a fantastic finish at states. An illness threw a bit of a wrench into those plans.
She fought off a fever on the big stage, earning a sixth-place medal at Bucknell University.
Massella was the sixth-fastest 100 fly swimmer (58.90) in PIAA Class 2A this season. She won the District 10 Class 2A title in that event and was also part of the Rockets’ third-place 200 and 400 free relay teams.
Tarbi had a fantastic senior year for the Yellowjackets, medaling in the 100 free (fourth, 49.13) and 200 free (sixth, 1:48.25) at the WPIAL Class 2A championships. In those same events at states, Tarbi placed 15th (49.67) and 13th (1:47.54), respectively.
After multiple injuries as a gymnast, Waters turned to diving. It hasn’t taken her long to become one of the best in the area, as she earned fourth-place Class 3A finishes at both WPIALs and states. Also owns SV program and pool records.
