Dave Schraven wasn't around when the Mt. Lebanon boys' swimming team won eight WPIAL championships in a 14-year span from 1958-71.

Still, the first-year Blue Devils coach believes his current group might top those teams as the best in the school's storied history.

"It's not a stretch to say that," he said. "It really is a great team, and a good group of kids."

At the same time, Schraven said, Mt. Lebanon, which last won a WPIAL title in 2005, will in all likelihood be competing for second place behind three-time defending Class AAA champion North Allegheny when the WPIAL championships begin today at Pitt's Trees Pool.

"NA is looking to win, and we're looking to get second place," Schraven said. "That's the reality of the situation.

"Most years, our boys would win the WPIAL meet. This happens to be the year where there is a stronger competitor. NA is better than us. They have more depth. I don't think I'm being pessimistic, just realistic."

For that reason, Schraven is placing a greater emphasis on the PIAA meet, where he is hoping for a top-five team finish.

"The WPIALs are not the end game," he said. "State is the big meet."

Schraven said five of his swimmers should perform well enough at the WPIAL championships to advance to the PIAA meet in one-or-more events.

That group includes junior Sho Sugimoto, who will compete individually in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle; sophomore John Nappi (200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle); senior Mike Rosen (100-yard butterfly, 100-yard freestyle); his twin, senior Zach Rosen (50-yard and 100-yard freestyle); and junior Sam Wilshire (100-yard backstroke, 200-yard individual medley).

Sugimoto had arguably the best overall performance at last season's WPIAL championships, when Mt. Lebanon came in second behind North Allegheny.

Sugimoto won two titles, in the 100-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle relay, and had two second-place finishes, in the 100-yard backstroke and 200-yard freestyle relay.

This season, Sugimoto has the top reported time in the 50-yard freestyle (21.92) and the second-best time in the 100-yard freestyle (47.73).

"Sho probably has the best chance of winning a race [by a Mt. Lebanon swimmer at the WPIAL meet]," Schraven said. "Sho is a strong sprinter, and his events are suited to his strengths."

Schraven said Sugimoto and Nappi are his top swimmers heading into the WPIALs.

Last year, as a freshman, Nappi finished fifth in the 500-yard freestyle.

"John has a really bright future," Schraven said. "He's a versatile swimmer and a strong distance swimmer. For the events he swims, the competitors usually are older. He's really excelled in those races."

This season, Nappi has the second-best reported time in the 500-yard freestyle (4:45.27) and is fourth in the 200-yard freestyle (1:45.60).

Schraven said Nappi will have a difficult time winning a WPIAL title because of strong contenders in both of his individual events, including Upper St. Clair's Kyle Dudzinski in the 200-yard freestyle and North Allegheny's Jon Buerger in the 500-yard freestyle.

Nonetheless, Schraven predicts a strong WPIAL meet for Nappi.

"He has a chance to set school records in his events," Schraven said. "John is really fast and, as a sophomore, he can break those marks."

Twins Mike and Zach Rosen, and Wilshire also were part of last season's 400-yard freestyle relay, which won the WPIAL title.

This season, Zach Rosen owns the fourth-best reported times in the 50-yard freestyle (22.31) and 100-yard freestyle (48.83), and Wilshire is second in the 100-yard backstroke (53.42)

Mt. Lebanon's other WPIAL participants include Zack Fabi (100-yard butterfly), Dan Graf (100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard individual medley), Tom Graf (100-yard breaststroke) and Theo Hubbard (200-yard individual medley, 500-yard freestyle).

Other participants include Bobby McFarland (100-yard butterfly, 100-yard backstroke), James Rosen, the twins' younger brother, (100-yard freestyle, 200-yard freestyle) and Ben Wisniewski (100-yard butterfly).