Heading into Saturday’s Sunflower League Swimming and Diving Championships, Free State High’s Chase Torgerson had a goal of winning the 100-yard backstroke.

He not only accomplished that objective, but also broke a Sunflower League meet record – intact since 1998 – with a time of 53.62 seconds.

“I blew it out of the water,” Torgerson said. “Totally crushed it.”

Torgerson helped Free State reach fifth place – five spots higher than in 2006 – out of 12 schools.

“We really did well,” Free State coach Annette McDonald said. “Everybody put out a real good effort.”

Lawrence High finished ninth, improving on last year’s 11th-place finish.

“Our goal was just to place higher,” LHS swimmer Jeff Standing said.

Standing qualified for state Friday during the 500 freestyle, swimming 10 seconds faster than his Saturday time. But LHS coach Kent McDonald lauded his 12th-place performance during Saturday’s final, considering how he exerted himself the day before. Such endurance should benefit him down the line.

“I was just pleased because I came back from being tired yesterday,” Standing said, “like we have to do it at state.”

Free State High's Cameron Case competes in the 500-yard freestyle at the Sunflower League swim meet. Case finished fourth in the event Saturday with a time of 4 minutes, 59.92 seconds.

Shawnee Mission East, which placed first, hosted the event, but Free State’s Indoor Aquatic Center held the meet because it is a larger facility.

Several Free State swimmers performed well. The Firebirds finished third in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:44.65. Cameron Case finished third in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:03.89 and fourth in the 500 freestyle with a time of 4:59.92. Julian Spangler finished fourth in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:04.35.

“I’m very proud of my team,” said Torgerson, who also finished third in the 200 freestyle. “We had some outstanding swims.”

LHS finished fifth in the 400 freestyle relay and eighth in the 200 medley relay. Zach Henderson swam to fifth place in the 100 butterfly with a time of 57.96 and 10th in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:22.13.

“It’s great because they’re really improving,” Kent McDonald said. “What’s sad is it’s now the end of the season, and we’re just getting where they’re really dropping their times really quickly. If we had another month, there’s no telling where they could go.”

Lawrence High's Jeff Standing competes in the 500 yard freestyle during the Sunflower League at Lawrence Indoor Aquatic. Standing took sixth in his heat with a time of 5:30.83.

The Free State swimmers enjoyed the benefits of their home-pool advantages.

“You’re relaxed a little more,” Torgerson said. “I knew it would take me five minutes to get to the pool. Everything’s set in line. I didn’t need to ride a bus.”

Both local teams field strong diving teams, but a knee injury limited Lawrence High’s Skyler Criswell, and only Free State’s Blaine Juhl (12th) placed.

“We were looking forward to the divers doing a little better,” Annette McDonald said. “(Blaine) still had a good meet in the end.”

In the end, the Firebirds enjoyed a strong day, and their combined 118 points were one point higher than Shawnee Mission South for fifth place.

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“Every single person’s effort, every single person’s performance made a difference today for that fifth place,” Annette McDonald said. “I’m really proud of the guys – every one of them.”