Manhattan ? Free State High freshman Ashley Robinson won the head-to-head Ashley matchup in the 500-yard freestyle, but that didn’t matter.

Both she and sophomore Ashley Jackson took home titles at the state swimming and diving meet Saturday at Kansas State University Natatorium.

“This was an awesome day,” FSHS coach Jama Crady said. “I didn’t know if we would get to this point yesterday, but they both came in with their game faces on and ready to go.”

Robinson and Jackson both had first- and second-place finishes, taking all-state honors and pacing the Firebirds to eighth overall, with 97 points. Lawrence High was 13th, and Olathe East won the overall title, beating Blue Valley North, 285-259.

The Ashleys were as good as anyone in the pool.

Jackson started the show by edging Shawnee Mission Northwest’s Katie Bigger in the 200 freestyle. Jackson swam 1:54.12, nearly four seconds faster than Friday’s preliminary time in beating Bigger.

“It felt good,” Jackson said after claiming Free State’s first-ever girls swimming state title. “I was ready to go in and compete.”

The victory earned her a huge hug from Crady afterward and high-fives from her teammates.

Of course, there was more to come.

Robinson took second in the 200 individual medley — behind an astounding 2:01.88 from Wichita Trinity’s Caroline Bruce, which was just .73 seconds off the state record — then had just 45 minutes to rest before the 500.

Robinson and Jackson, longtime friends, had the fastest preliminary times, and both took an early lead on the field. They matched splits on two different laps and finished 1-2, just like Crady hoped.

Robinson won, swimming 5:03.61, her fastest time of the high school season, while Jackson was at 5:06.31.

They hadn’t competed against each other for about five years, thought neither minded.

“We haven’t done that for a really long time,” Robinson said. “It’s weird. We do it in practice, but we haven’t in a meet.”

It turned out to be a monster race for both Lawrence schools, as LHS sophomore Melissa Little finished fourth, the Lions’ highest individual place of the meet. She was an honorable-mention all-stater.

“I’m proud of what they did,” LHS coach Ryan Adams said. “They stepped it up a whole lot better than yesterday. The pressure was on, and the ladies responded to the pressure.”

The pressure came right after the 500, when all three swimmers lined up for the 200 free relay. LHS was 16th, while FSHS was 13th — but that was with girls that just swam 500 yards.

“I could quite possible be the meanest coach in the world, making them swim back-to-back like that,” Crady joked. “But they just had an outstanding race.”

Tapering does work

LHS senior Megan Little, who will swim at Northern Iowa next year, hoped to win the 100 butterfly, but had to settle for winning her heat. Still, she swam faster than she has in five years, at 1:01.54, taking ninth overall.

“I haven’t swam 1:01 since I was 13-years old,” she said. “I was a little surprised I did it at this meet. We tapered a lot, so I was rested, I guess.

She, along with LHS senior Sarah Marlow, had high hopes for their final meet, but couldn’t bust into the top eight. Little was 12th on the 200 medley relay, 10th on the 400 free relay

Marlow, who’s headed to West Virginia Wesleyan College, swam on the 400 free relay, the 200 free relay and was 15th in the 200 IM.

Big time difference for big meets

Several of the FSHS and LHS swimmers swim for the Lawrence Aquahawks, but said there’s a significant difference between meet atmospheres.

“Normally, in big meets, parents don’t come in wearing matching T-Shirts and pom-poms,” Robinson said. “But it’s really exciting because they’re just in there cheering for everyone and not the winner.”

Added Melissa Little, “There’s a lot more spirit. Plus, I like it because it goes faster. You don’t have to swim prelims one day, wait, swim some more, then finals. Here, you swim prelims one day and finals the next and you’re done.”

The view from the top

Robinson is tall for her age, at 5-foot-9. Jackson, on the other hand, is about 5-3. That played into some good-natured joking when the two were on the medal stand.

“It’s pretty nice. You’re up higher than anyone else,” Robinson said.

Including Jackson?

“I’m pretty much taller than her anyway, so I’m always looking down on her.”

honored

Former LHS coach Pat Grzenda was named swimming volunteer of the year during Saturday’s finals. Grzenda, whose girls teams won seven state titles from 1986 to 1994, runs meets throughout the boys and girls seasons.