There’s no substitute for experience.

Competing in the state championships is not only a great opportunity, but for those fortunate enough to get there as underclassmen, it also brings about a hunger to return again and do better the next time.

Four area swimmers and a diver will have that chance on Wednesday and Thursday when they compete in the PIAA Class 2A meet at Bucknell University.

The five will be joined by a few newcomers, who will be among the top swimmers in the Keystone State.

Leading the contingent of Times News area athletes headed west are Michael and Lydia Strucko of Marian. The brother-sister tandem both won a pair of individual titles at the District 11 meet, and narrowly missed out on state medals a year ago. Michael placed 10th in the 200 free and 13th in the 100 back, while Lydia was ninth in the 100 back and 10th in the 200 IM.

This week, they hope to earn a spot on the podium.

“Their times are great going into it right now,” said Marian head coach Andrea Feathers. “I’m expecting them to medal, which is great. I think they’re excited.

“They’re both seeded really good. I looked at their lane assignments, and they’re all in decent lanes. I’m excited to see what they’re going to do this year. I think it’s going to be a good year, and I think they’re going to come home with something.”

Michael, a junior, has the best seed — fifth in the 100 backstroke — of any of the area swimmers while Lydia, a sophomore, is sixth in the 100 backstroke. Michael is also No. 7 in the 200 freestyle, while Lydia will have some work to do to make the finals in the 200 IM (the top eight from preliminaries make the finals and a guaranteed medal).

“They’ll need to make time in the morning at the prelims and swim top eight,” said Feathers. “I know the 200 IM is the only one, not that I’m worried about it, but (Lydia’s) seeded 10th. But there’s definitely room for her to get top eight ... When Lydia swam her 200 IM at districts, she was already at her state time that she had last year. So with her taper, I’m really looking to see what she’s going to drop some more when we get there.”

Another advantage Lydia will have is the experience factor, having been there as a freshman.

“I think after last year, with Lydia going and her being so young last year ... they’re used to the bigger meets but I think last year when she went that was the first time all year I saw her nervous, but I think this year is different,” said Feathers. “They know what to expect, they know what they need to do.

“It’s not only in the water, but they also know their sleep is also important, as is their nutrition, but I think they’re ready. It’s going to be fun. It’s going to be exciting. There’s a lot of close times for a lot of the kids out there. There’s a lot of kids going that they know this year more than last year with Tamaqua going and Schuylkill Haven ... so it’s also nice to see some of the local kids go along with us too.”

The Blue Raiders will be well-represented in Lewisburg, as Savannah Wilson returns to compete as an individual, but will also be accompanied by her 200 medley relay teammates and diver Vincenzo Valentine.

Wilson just missed getting into the consolation finals a year ago, placing 17th in the 100 breaststroke.

This year, the junior is seeded sixth in the event, and has a good chance at earning a medal.

“Savannah will swim her prelims on Thursday morning, and right now she’s seeded sixth,” said Tamaqua head coach Jen Paisley. “Her goal is really to try and maintain her seed, and get in one of those top eight spots and put herself in contention for a medal when she comes back for her night swim.”

She’ll also have a chance at breaking not only her own school record — which she set twice already — but also having a hand in possibly setting a new standard in the relay race.

“They’re very excited to get out there one last time and see if they can swim faster,” said Paisley. “I know the girls (relay team) are really going after our school record, so hopefully being in the pool with a lot of fast teams, they might be able to achieve that this week ... They are within a second of the medley relay record.”

While the odds are the relay foursome, which consists of Wilson, freshman Katie Behun and juniors Audrey Nattress and Ava Jones, won’t be in medal contention — being seeded 26th — it won’t deter their effort.

“I think they realize that there are really no expectations for them,” said Paisley. “They’re there and they get one extra race this season, and they’re going to try and swim their fastest. We’ve been kind of telling them there’s really no pressure, nobody’s expecting anything, just go out there and swim your hardest and we’ll see how everything ends up. It’s a good opportunity for them to swim fast.”

Also hoping to swim faster will be Northwestern’s Hunter Slaski. The Tiger senior also has experience at Bucknell, competing in two events a year ago — and will be in the same two events this year.

Slaski finished 21st in the 100 butterfly, and 25th in the 200 freestyle in 2004. This year, he seeded eighth — right behind Michael Strucko — in the 200 free and 16th in the 100 fly.

Slaski’s younger brother, sophomore Hayden — who was 15th in diving at states as a freshman — will try to improve on that. He enters as the No. 9 seed. Tamaqua’s Valentine is seeded 22nd.

The Tigers’ Olivia Wozniak will also be competing, qualifying in two events. Wozniak is seeded 10th in the 100 butterfly, and 18th in 200 IM.