Talk about a rousing finish.
Free State's youthful 400 freestyle relay team won the final event and qualified for state in a five-team swim meet on Thursday afternoon at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.
"That made it really exciting," said Free State coach Annette McDonald.
Sophomores David Adams, Alex Brunfeldt and Chris Wolff teamed with freshman Chris Sellon for a 3:36.49 clocking that eclipsed runner-up Lawrence High by more than three seconds.
"Those guys are great," McDonald said of the four youngsters. "A lot of them had personal bests."
Yes, they swam in individual events as well.
Brunfeldt and Wolff, in fact, each won an individual event.
Brunfeldt captured the 500 freestyle in 4:54.90 in a personal best. It marked the first time Brunfeldt had ever cracked the five-minute barrier. Teammate Adams was second at 5:13.63.
Wolff sped to a 23.56 clocking and won the 50 freestyle by nearly a second over Lawrence High's Jon Legler.
Topeka High, led by brothers Jon and Tyler Schmidt, held off the Firebirds to win the team championship with 578 points. Free State wound up with 556 points. Lawrence High was third with 410 points.
Lawrence High's lone winner was diver John Gatti. Teammate Nick Leet was second.
Other city second places were recorded by the Lions' Anthony Portela in both the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke, and the Firebirds' Wolff in the 100 freestyle.
Wolff, Brunfeldt, Adams and Sellon were the primary points producers for the Firebirds, but McDonald didn't overlook some of the upperclassmen who collected points with lower finishes.
"We're a young team," she said, "but it's those other guys who gave us the points that allowed us to come that close."
Still ahead for the city schools is the Sunflower League later this month at Shawnee Mission West and the State Meet on Feb. 15-16 in Manhattan.
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