It’s no coincidence that Free State High’s boys swim team’s record-setting day was the same day four Lawrence Aquahawks joined the team.

The Firebirds were doing fine before Alex Brunfeldt, Anthony Portella, Chris Sellon and Chris Wolff arrived, but now they’re downright dangerous.

FSHS set six school records and won a five-team meet Thursday at Free State, beating runner-up Shawnee Mission North by 77 points and third-place Lawrence High by nearly 300.

In fact, the Firebirds won nine of 12 events.

“These four guys did not win the meet by themselves. Everyone contributed,” FSHS coach Annette McDonald said. “But they certainly helped.”

Nearly every FSHS swimmer — if they weren’t breaking a school record — swam a personal-best time, which pleased McDonald immensely.

“Along with the top guys, everyone was swimming top times,” she said. “These kids were all motivated before, but now this is even better.”

Even LHS, far behind in the team standings, came away satisfied. The Lions took the top diving spots and junior David Abreu qualified for state in the 100-meter backstroke.

Free State High's Alex Brunfeldt competes in the 500 meter freestyle at the Firebirds' quadrangular swim meet Thursday at Free State. Brunfeldt helped set four school records during Thursday's meet.

After a three-week break in competition the Lions were fairly sharp but couldn’t compete with FSHS.

“Now it’s setting a lot of personal bests before gearing up for state at the end of the season,” LHS assistant coach Ryan Adams said. “It’s good to see these guys excited about today.”

And just like the Firebird swimmers, the LHS divers dominated. Nick Leet and John Gatti went 1-2, easily besting the field.

Still, the Firebirds stole the show.

Wolff broke his own record in the 50 free, while Portella smashed Brunfeldt’s 100 butterfly mark by more than five seconds. The four teamed up for records in the 200-medley relay and 400-free relay, both of which were set in 1999.

Meanwhile, Brunfeldt merely broke two other records, setting marks in the 200 free and 500 free and earning four firsts and four records.

Lawrence High's John Gatti springs off the board during the Free State quadrangular swim meet at Free State High.

Not bad for the 6-foot-3 junior.

“I’ve always had these lanky arms,” Brunfeldt said. “They work better for those long events.”

Those arms, combined with a smooth stroke, give him a huge natural advantage — and a shot at nearly every school record. After beating Joey Van Saun’s 200-free mark by more than a second, he obliterated Sean Gallagher’s 500-free record by almost 21 seconds.

When he finished, he was one length ahead of second place. No wonder he likes the longer events.

“I think it’d be nice to swim the shorter stuff,” he said. “But I like being able to stride it out.”

That’s not what other teams want to hear, which should bring a smile to McDonald’s face — and increase the motivation for his teammates.