The Free State High boys swimming team returned the favor against Washburn Rural on Thursday night at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.

Thursday night, the Firebirds dominated their home meet with 483 team points. Washburn Rural finished second with 387.

On Dec. 5, Free State finished third in the Topeka West Relay Invitational – behind Washburn Rural and Hutchinson.

“Going into it, Washburn Rural had us a little nervous,” Free State coach Annette McDonald said. “We swam with them in our first meet, and they blew us away.”

Bonner Springs (167), Junction City (167) and Saint James (33) rounded out the participating teams.

Of 12 events, Free State won eight of them.

Part of the reason for the Firebird domination could be from the addition of senior Chase Torgerson, junior Mitch Moore and sophomore Cameron Case this semester. The trio swam with the Aquahawks in the fall semester. McDonald said as long as they swam in 50 percent of the meets, they could participate in the state meet.

The trio’s effects were evident. Case was a part of the winning 200 freestyle relay team, then won the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly events.

Torgerson was part of the winning 200 medley relay team, then won the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke events.

“My favorite individual event is the 100 back,” Torgerson said. “I just like backstroke better – personal preference.”

After Torgerson explained how he won the event, it was evident why it was his favorite.

Free State senior julian spangler cuts through the water during the boys 200-yard medley relay. Free State won its home meet Thursday at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center.

“When you jump in, I get up on that block and shut my mind down,” he said. “They say the best swimmers are the ones who don’t think about it. So I get up on that block, then they say, “Take your mark,” and then I just kind of shut down. I just let my body do the work for me, and it seemed to work out.”

Despite the trio’s positive impact, McDonald said without a total team effort, the Firebirds certainly wouldn’t have won.

“You can’t win a whole meet with three guys,” McDonald said. “So although we recognize that they’re swimming awesome and bring a lot to the team, everybody else steps up when everybody’s being competitive.”

One of the Firebirds who has stepped up all season has been senior Julian Spangler. His willingness to compete in various meets has paid off. For instance, Spangler said Tuesday was the first time he ever swam the 200 individual medley in high school. He still finished in second place with a time of 2 minutes, 20.42 seconds.

Spangler placed third in his speciality event, the 100 breaststroke, with a time of 1 minute, 8.11 seconds. His teammate, Moore, won the event with a time of 1 minute, 2.55 seconds. Spangler won the 100 breaststroke at Free State’s home meet on Dec. 14 – before Moore joined the team.

“I think it helps having someone else to compete against in the breaststroke,” Spangler said of Moore. “It’s really nice that I can always look up to him and try to always catch him.”