Free State senior swimmer Jordan Portela insists he becomes nervous before all of his races, even if it doesn’t show when he climbs up on the starting blocks.

For the past three years, Portela has turned those nerves — and adrenaline — into some of the best swims in state history.

Portela, an eight-time state champion, will compete in his final Class 6A state meet over the next two days. State swimming prelims begin at 10 a.m. today at Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka. In each of his first three seasons, Portela was named the Athlete of the Meet.

Despite all of the success, Portela stays focused on his next race. There’s always a new time to reach and improvements to be made.

When he dives into the pool at state, he will remain as the top-seeded swimmer in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. He broke the state-meet record (49.44 seconds) in the 100 fly last season.

“There’s new talent each year,” Portela said. “There’s athletes getting faster and faster each year. It’s not like someone can just slack off if they’ve done well in the past. We’ve been working really hard and tapering leading up to state is great.”

Portela, signed to swim at Minnesota alongside teammate Evan Yoder, has noticed “a lot of lasts” in the past few weeks. His last Sunflower League meet. His last Saturday practice.

The state meet will be his last time suiting up for Free State.

“I’m really excited for him,” FSHS coach Annette McDonald said. “But at the same time, it’s kind of sad because I’ve really gotten to know him well and how he races and how he thinks and how he trains. It’s just been a great experience the whole four years.”

Along with Portela, Yoder is the top-seeded swimmer the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Senior diver Chad Bourdon won a Sunflower League title and the Firebirds own the fastest entry time for the 200 medley relay.

“Obviously I still have work to do when I get there,” Yoder said. “But yeah, I’m excited about that.”

Portela is hopeful that he can take a crack at the state meet’s 200 free record, set in 2011 by Olathe East’s Ben Bravence, who also swam at Minnesota in college.

It’s one last opportunity to end his final prep season in a big way.

“I’ve had a pretty good preseason leading up to state,” Portela said. My times at league and other past meets have been right around where I need them leading up to state. As long as I can drop from those times, I think I’m set up well. “

Lawrence took eighth place at state last season, its best finish since 2002.

“We’re only in a few events, but we should do pretty well,” Kent McDonald said. “We scored out, based on the entry times, and last time was our best placing since (2002). We could do that again if they hold their spot. That’s kind of goal: hold where we are seeded.”

The Lions will be led by junior Stephen Johnson, seeded first in the 500 free and second in the 200 free, and junior Alex Heckman, who broke a school record in the 50 free last week (21.56).

Along with their top two swimmers, two LHS relays are seeded sixth or better.