Lower Burrell's Trevor Scheid might be the best male swimmer ever from the area, and it's hard to argue with his four WPIAL Class AA records and one state mark.
But Scheid isn't done with his assault on the record books.
The Shady Side Academy senior will enter the PIAA swimming championships, which will be held Wednesday through Saturday at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, with an excellent shot at yet another state record.
Scheid will try to set a new standard in the Class AA 500-yard freestyle.
The PIAA record of 4:29.57 was set by Hampton's Matt Harrigan in 1997, but that mark is in serious jeopardy after Scheid recorded a faster time (4:29.24) at the WPIAL finals two weeks ago. PIAA records must be set at the state meet.
Last season, Scheid set a PIAA record in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:39.02. It's likely he will break his own mark this week.
There are only two Class AA boys swimmers who hold PIAA records in a pair of individual events.
For the last four years, Scheid has been obsessed with getting better in the pool, and it shows.
"I set my goals high and focused to achieve them," Scheid said. "I started swimming when I was 5, but I'm not going to say I was focused when I was 5. That's when my mom was making me go. But I started to get serious about it when I was 14. That's when it became more emotional, and I thought about it more."
Scheid is the No. 1 seed in both of his individual events. He also is a member of Shady Side's 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams, which are seeded second.
After high school, Scheid will travel across the country to Stanford, where he will attend college and continue his swimming career. Scheid chose the California school over Michigan, Northwestern, Notre Dame and Yale.
For now, he is focused on finishing his high school career with a flourish.
"For WPIALs, I had a little rest, but I wasn't at full, all-out taper," Scheid said. "I had to build (my workout) back up. Then, I'll start to go down to full taper. I'll be fully rested for states."
The strong local contingent headed to states also includes Central Catholic senior and Aspinwall resident Douglas Dietrich II.
A Louisville recruit, Dietrich is seeded first in the Class AAA 100 butterfly and second in the 500-yard freestyle. He is the defending champion in the 100 butterfly.
Another local swimmer to keep an eye on is Highlands freshman Conner Calarie, who is seeded 15th in the Class AA 100 backstroke and 24th in the 500 freestyle.
Calarie would like to finish in the top eight in at least one event and earn a medal, which would be a major accomplishment for a ninth-grader, but he is being practical.
"My goal is to get to the consolation finals and finish in the top 16," Calarie said. "I might have a shot at the top eight."
PIAA boys championships
When: Wednesday through Saturday.
Where: Bucknell University, Lewisburg.
Local Class AA qualifiers
Apollo-Ridge -- Clay Altemose (Jr., 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke).
Highlands -- Conner Calarie (Fr., 500 free, 100 backstroke).
Kittanning -- Thomas Mechling (Sr., 100 breaststroke).
Knoch -- Mathew Mahan (Sr., 100 breaststroke).
Shady Side Academy -- Lower Burrell's Trevor Scheid (Sr., 200 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay).
Valley -- Galen Bakos (Sr., 100 backstroke, 400 free relay), Dave Bonk (Sr., 400 free relay), Robert Livorio (Jr., 200 IM, 400 free relay), and Ryan Schrecengost (Jr., 400 free relay).
Local Class AAA qualifiers
Fox Chapel -- Patrick O'Toole (Jr., 200 IM, 500 free), Brendon Walsh (Fr., 100 backstroke), and Paul Weinstein (Sr., 500 free).
Central Catholic -- Aspinwall's Doug Dietrich II (Sr., 100 butterfly, 500 free, 200 medley relay, 200 free relay).
