FSHS swimming gaining ground

Lawrence High's Jessica Boyer competes in the 200-yard individual medley. Boyer placed fourth in the event Thursday at Knox Natatorium.

Free State High’s girls swimming and diving team continues to nip at the heels of Blue Valley North – and is getting closer with each passing meet.

Despite taking first place in eight of the 12 events Thursday at Carl Knox Natatorium, FSHS came up seven points shy of BVNHS, which won the Lawrence High quadrangular with 413 points.

“They are one of our biggest competitors for state so it was fun getting to race them,” Free State’s Molly Albrecht said. “It was close, but it was closer than it was last weekend. This meet just showed us we’re right on track and getting motivated.”

Lawrence was third with 326 points. Sunflower League foe Olathe South brought up the rear with 183 points.

“I think we had a good showing. Those two teams that beat us are two of the best in the state,” LHS coach Kent McDonald said. “They’ll be racing each other for first place, I’m sure.”

Free State’s Albrecht won two individual events – the 100 freestyle (54.79) and the 100 backstroke (58.53) – and was a member of the winning 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Morgan Flannigan swam anchor on both of those relay teams and also won the 200 freestyle (1:56.83) and 500 freestyle (5:10.32).

Reilly Moore, who won the 100 breaststroke (1:11.64) and finished third in the 50 freestyle (26.58), and Chloe Portela, who won the 100 butterfly (57.67) and placed second in the 200 individual medley (2:17.29), joined Flannigan and Albrecht on the 200 medley relay team that had a time of 1:52.80, which was four seconds faster than second place.

Albrecht and Flannigan teamed up with Kara Mishler and Adriane Black in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:48.65.

“Our two relays were, you’ve got to admit it, pretty exciting,” FSHS coach Annette McDonald said. “What can I say, though? Everybody was successful. They all scored points for us and just did a great job.”

The best finish by any LHS swimmer was second by Elle Weber in the 100 breaststroke. Weber’s time of 1:12.46 was just 0.82 seconds behind Moore.

“It kind of stunk,” Weber said of the 100 breaststroke. “I wanted to win that bad, but, oh well, I guess.”

The Lions also got a second-place finish from Mallory West in diving. West had a score of 192.75.