VANDALIA -- They are the best of friends, and parting is certain to be such sweet sorrow.
 
But the swim "firm" of Brittany & Brittany makes a solid case for challenging another level.
 
Brittany Byrd and Brittany Horvath, well-known names to Miami Valley swimming enthusiasts, will be diving into the college ranks soon after almost simultaneously inking letters of intent.
 
Byrd, a swim standout from Vandalia Butler High School, is destined for NCAA Division I Illinois State University of the swim-strong Missouri Valley Conference.
 
Horvath, a swimmer supreme at Carroll High School and a Huber Heights resident, will pack her swim gear and head for the University of Akron, also a respected D-I program.
 
Both received full swimming scholarships, and both have been tight swimming buddies most of their young lives.
 
More importantly, they are products of the well-regarded and year-round Dayton Raiders Swim Club.
 
Their attributes, aspirations and potential have been defined by their primary instructors, Kevin Weldon and Brent Peaden, veteran Raider swimming mentors.
 
"Both girls selected schools to match their abilities and talents and both have the desire to succeed," said Weldon, the Raiders' head coach for 15 years.
 
"They have also bounced back from injuries and health setbacks (Horvath struggled with mononucleosis), and I'd have to say they have bright (college) futures."
 
Weldon said Horvath "lost some confidence through her struggle with mono, but has regained that confidence and has worked hard to get back in top form.
 
"Byrd hasn't been with our Raiders program as long as Horvath but she has a lot of natural ability."
 
Peaden, the head age-group coach for the Raiders, said, "Brittany (Byrd) quickly rose to become one of the area's best backstrokers after joining the Raiders as an eager 12-under hopeful. After only a year in the program, she was qualifying for the Ohio State championship meets and Ohio All-Star teams.
 
"And, in recent years, she has added the butterfly IM (individual medley) to her arsenal, which I'm certain bolstered her recruiting status for college," Peaden said. "And her personality is another strong attribute to our program.
 
"Another plus for Byrd is her positive attitude. I'm sure Illinois State is looking forward to having her in their freshman class in 2004."
 
Horvath, who also swam for Peaden when he was head coach of the summer Wayne Wahoos Swim Club in Huber Heights, lauded Horvath as a "cornerstone swimmer" for the Wahoos.
 
"It seems like only yesterday when she was tearing up the waters for the Wahoos and, summer after summer, was our highest pointmaker," Peaden said. "She led the Wahoos to two Miami Valley championships.
 
"As a Raider swimmer, Brittany (Horvath) continued to shine on state championship teams. She can do it all, all four strokes, IM and distance. And college coaches love the versatile swimmers. Akron got a real catch in Brittany Horvath."
 
Horvath, a 3.6 grade-point average student at Carroll, will major in psychology.
 
Her career-best clockings, achieved in 2002, were 1:57.33 in the 200 freestyle and 5:10.37 in the 500 free.
 
Horvath said she picked Akron "because I developed a good rapport with head coach Brian Vered, who contacted me last July."
 
Byrd, owner of a 3.8 GPA at Butler, plans to be a marketing major with a minor in business. She met Illinois State coach Steve Paska in October.
 
"I visited the campus and was impressed," she said.
 
Her top times are 1:02.30 in the 100 backstroke and 2:13.3 in the 200 back.
 
An older sister, Angie Byrd, is a junior distance swimmer at Akron, were she's a civil engineering major.
 
 
Contact Mickey Zezzo with story ideas at 236-6032 or e-mail lzezzo@msn.com