The Free State swim team huddles for a team cheer prior to a meet against Shawnee Mission East at Free State High School on Tuesday, April 21, 2015.

Free State High girls swimmers were in disbelief when their coaches told them they beat Shawnee Mission East in a dual on Tuesday.

“Wait, we did what?” a few members of the team said with stunned looks on their faces.

The Firebirds topped the Lancers in their annual dual, 95-91, for their first victory against the five-time defending state champions since 2007.

Free State’s win wasn’t without any dramatics. Just three-tenths of a second lifted Free State to victory when junior Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck edged SM East for third place in the 400-yard freestyle relay, the final event of the dual. Finishing in fourth place would’ve ended the dual in a tie.

“All I knew was that my relay had to get third for us to even have a chance,” said Sirimongkhon-Dyck, who had an idea of the score heading into the final race.

The Firebirds, who have won every meet they’ve entered this season, were trailing by eight points midway through the dual. Free State responded with two of the top three times in the last five events.

Sirimongkhon-Dyck added a win in the 50 freestyle, senior Haley Johnson won the one-meter dive, and senior Courtney Caldwell swam to victories in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Caldwell, Alexa Malik, Claire Campbell and Cierra Campbell also won in the 200 freestyle relay.

In the final events, the atmosphere felt closer to the Sunflower League or state meets with all of the yelling, clapping and excitement on the pool deck.

“Amazing, because we went into it knowing that it was possible,” said senior Eliza Anderson, who took third in the 200 freestyle and third in the 100 backstroke. “But to have it actually happen was really sweet.”

The Firebirds took second place at league and state last year, finishing just behind SM East. Their goal this season is finally to pull ahead, and they’ve gained confidence by beating the Lancers at the Olathe Invitational on April 10 and in the dual Tuesday.

“Confidence out the ceiling,” Caldwell said.

Sirimongkhon-Dyck added: “We just want to stay humble because once you add in every other team and all the other fast swimmers, it could totally change the dynamic. But I mean, it does feel good to win after the three years that I’ve been here.”

The Firebirds celebrated their victory with hugs and high-fives, but know they still have plenty more they want to accomplish this season.

“We were back and forth all day,” Caldwell said. “We were proud of how we swam. But we definitely have a lot of work to do. We just have to go back to practice tomorrow and reset and keep on training. It’s so exciting and it’s one more step toward our goal. But we have quite a few meets along the way.”

The Firebirds will play host to Lawrence High for a dual at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

FREE STATE 95,

SHAWNEE MISSION EAST 91

Free State results

200 medley relay — 2. Courtney Caldwell, Ava Cormaney, Alvena Walpole, Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck, 1:51.24; 4. Janet Stefanov, Kara Krannawitter, Piper Rogers, Simone Herlihy, 1:59.11; 5. Hailei Detwiler, Kat LeFever, Lydia Zicker, Linda Liu, 2:02.64; 6. Maura MacDonald, Maleena Hatfield, Rowan Plinsky, Margaret Uhler, 2:21.94; 7. Heather Buckingham, Paxton Brittingham, Chloe Riedemann, Sophia Riedemann, 2:24.36; 8. Maddie Hill, Caroline Kelton, Hannah Malloy, Danielle Morrison, 2:45.93.

200 freestyle — 2. Cierra Campbell, 1:56.42; 3. Eliza Anderson, 2:03.66; 7. Carter Stacey, 2:09.91; 11. Courtney Cruickshank, 2:16.54; 12. Sydney Williams, 2:16.46; 15. Rowan Plinsky, 2:22.62.

200 individual medley — 2. Alvena Walpole, 2:12.93; 5. Lydia Zicker, 2:23.58; 8. Charlotte Crandall, 2:25.01; 9. Anna McCurdy, 2:25.08.

50 freestyle — 1. Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck, 24.89; 3. Claire Campbell, 25.51; 4. Alexa Malik, 26.10; 8. Simone Herlihy, 26.97; 11. Piper Rogers, 27.85; 13. Linda Liu, 28.13; 15. Kara Krannawitter, 28.36; Chloe Riedemann, 28.49; 21. Zoe Prather, 29.77; 24. Trenna Soderling, 29.83; 28. Nathalie Chow Yuen, 30.86; 29. Margaret Uhler, 31.12; 31. Emma Steimle, 31.41; 34. Taylor Thomas, 31.81; 35. Paxton Brittingham, 32.07; 36. Sophia Riedemann, 32.16; 37. Maleena Hatfield, 32.19; 40. Aubin Murphy, 33.02; 41. Maddie Clark, 34.06; 42. Danielle Morrison, 34.15; 43. Caroline Kelton, 34.94; Madeline Nachtigal, 35.26; 45. Maddie Hill, 39.61; 46. Sonal Soni, 42.76.

One-meter diving — 1. Haley Johnson, 250.05; 3. Alexis Luinstra, 186.40.

100 butterfly — 1. Courtney Caldwell, 57.20; 3. Alvena Walpole, 59.98; 5. Piper Rogers, 1:02.88; 7. Lydia Zicker, 1:05.34; 10. Rowan Plinsky, 1:12.79.

100 freestyle — 3. Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck, 55.85; 4. Alexa Malik, 56.92; 5. Simone Herlihy, 58.55; 6. Janet Stefanov, 58.73; 19. Taylor Thomas, 1:13.82; 21. Maddie Clark, 1:17.89; 22. Caroline Kelton, 1:23.91; 23. Maddie Hill, 1:27.67; 24. Sonal Soni, 1:38.97.

500 freestyle — 2. Cierra Campbell, 5:16.52; 3. Ava Cormaney, 5:35.13; 6. Anna McCurdy, 5:52.13; 7. Carter Stacey, 5:53.43; 9. Hailei Detwiler, 5:58.70; 11. Sydney Williams, 6:11.73; 14. Emma Steimle, 7:11.29.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Courtney Caldwell, Claire Campbell, Alexa Malik, Cierra Campbell, 1:41.49; 3. Eliza Anderson, Janet Stefanov, Ava Cormaney, Simone Herlihy, 1:45.89; 5. Linda Liu, Kara Krannawitter, Courntey Cruickshank, Chloe Riedemann, 1:53.66; 7. Charlotte Crandall, Nathalie Chow Yuen, Trenna Soderling, Emma Steimle, 2:02.08; 9. Maura MacDonald, Hannah Malloy, Sophie Riedemann, Margaret Uhler, 2:07.70; 11. Heather Buckingham, Maddie Clark, Caroline Kelton, Paxton Brittingham, 2:15.54; 12. Maleena Hatfield, Danielle Morrison, Madeline Nachtigal, Taylor Thomas, 2:17.12.

100 backstroke — 1. Courtney Caldwell, 56.84; 3. Eliza Anderson, 1:02.21; 4. Claire Campbell, 1:04.06; 6. Janet Stefanov, 1:06.08; 9. Hailei Detwiler, 1:07.98; 10. Zoe Prather, 1:09.42; 12. Maura MacDonald, 1:20.22.

100 breaststroke — 2. Ava Cormaney, 1:12.73; 3. Kat LeFever, 1:14.94; 4. Kara Krannawitter, 1:15.01; 9. Courtney Cruickshank, 1:18.29; 11. Trenna Soderling, 1:21.13; 13. Maleena Hatfield, 1:29.66; 15. Paxton Brittingham, 1:33.19.

400 freestyle relay — 2. Cierra Campbell, Eliza Anderson, Alvena Walpole, Claire Campbell, 3:39.89; 3. Alexa Malik, Carter Stacey, Linda Liu, Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck, 3:54.65; 5. Charlotte Crandall, Hailei Detwiler, Lydia Zicker, Anna McCurdy, 4:10.96; 6. Sydney Williams, Rowan Plinsky, Emma Steimle, Piper Rogers, 4:22.91.