Free State High swimming and diving coach Annette McDonald said her club had a pretty good afternoon Tuesday.

She might have been understating.

The Firebirds dominated a home triangular with Topeka Hayden and Topeka Washburn Rural by putting up 254 points. Hayden was second with 161 points, and Rural had 96.

Oh yeah, Free State also won every event and broke five school records as five swimmers and three relay teams qualified for the state meet.

“They were breaking records since they were juniors and sophomores, and now they’re stronger, so consequently I expected some records to be broken,” McDonald said.

Still, the coach was surprised five records fell in one meet.

Junior Anthony Portela started the Firebirds (4-0) off by breaking the 200 individual medley mark in a time of 1:59:11. Four events later, Portela was at it again with a 48:71 in the 100 freestyle.

Senior Alex Brunfeldt shaved three seconds off his own school record in the 500 freestyle in 4:37:28. Chris Sellon set the standard in the 100 backstroke in 57:39.

Portela, Brunfeldt, Sellon and senior Chris Wolf set the 200 freestyle school record in 1:36:05.

Free State’s top swimmers are beating school records at almost every meet largely because they have been beating the sun every day, getting up around 4:30 a.m., jumping in the pool around 5:30 and swimming until school starts close to 7 a.m.

Free State's Alex Brunfeldt comes up for air during the Firebirds' triangular with Topeka Hayden and Washburn Rural. FSHS won the event with 254 points Tuesday at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.

After school is over, practice begins again, going from about 3:30 to 6 p.m.

Getting up early means going to bed early.

Brunfeldt turns in some nights around 8. Portela goes to bed “whenever my homework will allow me.”

McDonald said about half of her squad participated in the early drills — a requirement for the team’s top swimmers starting at the beginning of the month — although some of the members have been doing it for as many as three years.

“Practice makes perfect in every sport,” Brunfeldt said. “The more you train, the better.”

Free State's Anthony Portela looks at his winning time in the 200 individual medley.

Portela said the early swims were key to improving endurance.

“It’s just like track,” Portela said. “You have to train really hard to finish the races.”

The Firebirds’ top swimmers will compete in the MOKAN Invitational Friday and Saturday at Kansas City (Mo.) Central High.