Tamaqua's Joann Butkus and Blue Mountain's Nathanael Marino have been the Schuylkill League's postseason stars the past two years.
Those two stars shined brightly Saturday as the 2014 postseason kicked off with the Schuylkill League Swimming Championships at Pottsville's Ned Hampford Natatorium.
Butkus, a senior, won four events to finish her Schuylkill League career with 12 gold medals. The three-time PIAA qualifier repeated as champion in the 50 freestyle (24.96) and 100 freestyle (54.88), while helping the Blue Raiders' 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams to victory.
Butkus won the 200 freestyle and 50 breaststroke as a freshman, then captured three events in both her sophomore and junior seasons.
"It hasn't hit me yet," Butkus said. "I don't really focus on my entire high school career. I take it year by year, meet by meet.
"I took this meet as my last leagues, and I'm really happy with how I performed. We really didn't rest up for this meet at all. Our main goal is districts, and that's where our sights are set.
"We're going to keep working toward that, and hopefully today was a good indication of what we can see in the future."
Marino, a junior, broke the only record on the day, winning the 50 backstroke in a meet-record time of 26.72 seconds.
A two-time state qualifier, Marino also won the 50 freestyle (22.98) and helped the Eagles to victories in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
By winning the 50 freestyle, Marino reached the 1,000-point plateau for his career.
"It was a good day," Marino said. "I'm grateful for my coaches, because they help me a lot. It's wonderful.
"I didn't come in here thinking I was going to win four events. It's quite a surprise. It's awesome."
Butkus' efforts were part of a big day by Tamaqua girls' swimmers, who won eight of the 15 events and were honored during one of the intermissions for capturing the Schuylkill League dual-meet championship.
Fellow senior Carly Trovinger was also a double-winner, placing first in the 50 breaststroke (34.47) and 100 IM (1:09.90). Freshman Rebecca Kanaskie captured the 200 IM (2:24.84), while Danielle DeCindio won the 50 butterfly (29.36).
No team scores are kept at the Schuylkill League meet.
In both the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relays, Tamaqua trailed after two legs only to rally for the win.
Butkus sparked the 200 medley relay, entering the water for the butterfly portion with the Blue Raiders trailing Mahanoy Area. Her split of 27.30 gave Tamaqua the lead, and DeCindio finished it.
In the 400 freestyle relay, Schuylkill Haven broke out to a big early lead before DeCindio and Kanaskie pulled the Blue Raiders even and Butkus clinched it with a split of 55.77 to win it.
Other girls' winners were Schuylkill Haven's Mary Zimmerman (200 free, 500 free), Blue Mountain's Maddie Bartush (100 fly), Marian's Katherine Kurzinsky (100 back), Halifax' Natalie Frantz (50 back), Mahanoy Area's Noel Bernardyn (100 breast) and the Schuylkill Haven 200 freestyle relay team of Allison Adams, Taylor Felty, Elizabeth Bayliff and Zimmerman.
"In the 400 free relay, I'm the last person to go, so it either comes down to me to bring the relay from behind, or keep it ahead," Butkus said. "It's an all-or-nothing position.
"My teammates give it their all. When I hit the water, I swim for them. I know they give it their all, and whether we're a half-lap ahead or a half-lap behind, I know I have to give everything for them because they did the best for me.
"I love being in that position. I love the little bit of extra pressure. It makes it fun for me."
Marino has excelled in the butterfly and breaststroke the past two years, but Saturday swam the 50 freestyle and 50 backstroke.
His times have Marino debating which events he should swim at districts. His 50 freestyle time would have placed fifth last year at districts.
"He was psyched," Blue Mountain coach Sandy Englert said of Marino. "He's been getting the other boys on the team psyched. He has been focused.
"He's been practicing racing himself during practice, saying 'I got to get better in this, I got to get better in this.' We videotape him, he watches it, sees his flaws, and goes over it again and again. He really watches what he does and fixes it."
Schuylkill Haven senior Nick Semanco also had a big day, winning the 100 freestyle (50.98) and 100 breaststroke (1:07.83) and anchoring the Hurricanes' winning 400 freestyle relay team that also included Kyle McGarry, Ian McGowan and Billy Sieck.
Semanco tore a biceps tendon in his right shoulder midway through last season and didn't compete at the league meet. Saturday's success made up for it, he said.
Other boys' winners included Millersburg's Cole Davis (200 IM, 500 free) and Ian Lloyd (100 fly, 100 back), Marian's Timmy Dando (200 free), Weatherly's Jacob Sirkot (50 breast), Tamaqua's Patrick McMullen (100 IM) and Pottsville's Josh Marx (50 fly).
"It made this even more better, that I could swim this year and actually do well instead of stand on the sideline last year and being the photographer," said Semanco, whose three gold medals came in a four-event span at the end of the league meet.
"I'm a little beat right now, but it was fun. I enjoyed it. It was a great meet and a great day."