As Nathan Smith perched himself on the starting block for Saturday morning's 50 freestyle race, he looked to his left and saw both a high school rival and future teammate in Seth Wenner.
Smith and Wenner have spent their recently completed high school careers as standout sprinters in the Mid-Penn, District 3 and around the state.
For one more meet - Saturday's Mid-Cap Championships at Hershey Rec Center Pool - they went head-to-head in their specialty event. And while it didn't carry the same intensity of a high school meet, it still provided for a competitive finish.
Smith, competing for the Latshmere Lightning, clocked a 21.54 to win the boys 15-and-over 50 freestyle, holding off Northern York Aquatic Club's Wenner, who finished in 21.83.
In just a few weeks, both swimmers will be cheering on one another as members of the University of Pittsburgh men's swim program. Smith, Wenner and NYAC's Shane Hallett (Boiling Springs) give the Panthers three recruits from the Mid-Penn.
"This is kind of like wrapping up my whole swimming [high school] life here," said Wenner, who starred for Cumberland Valley High School in the 50 free and 100 free.
"I didn't do as many competitive meets, not because I wasn't up for it, but I wanted to enjoy this and be with friends and looking around, this meet is where it all started for me."
Wenner and Smith have been swimming against one another in summer age group, club and high school meets, so both swimmers are well aware of one another's sprinting abilities.
"The swim itself felt alright," said Smith, a former PIAA Class AA champ in the 100 freestyle for Susquehanna Twp. High School.
"It wasn't like it was a bad swim or anything, but the main goal was to come out here and have some fun."
Smith, who also won the 15&O 100 free, said he'll spend the remainder of his summer training with Latshmere coach Kurt Sprowls on weights, dryland and technique.
"I just want to make sure I'm in the best possible shape before I head to college."
Wenner echoed those plans.
"The main thing I want to do is get back in the pool and start with a clean slate after this meet and rebuild my technique," he said.
"My coach wants me in peak physical condition when I get there."
MORE FROM MID-CAPS:
Annville-Cleona's Katie Wingert turns in a focused and determined effort
Photo gallery of the Mid-Cap Swimming Championships from PennLive's Dan Gleiter
Complete results from the 2013 Mid-Cap Swimming Championships
List of meet and pool records broken at Mid-Cap Swimming Championships