Free State swimmer Jordan Portela is helped out of the pool after taking first in the final heat of the Boys 50 Yard Freestyle Event during the Free State Invitational, Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at Free State High School.

After swimming in the 100-yard backstroke Thursday at Indoor Aquatic Center, Free State High senior Jordan Portela jumped out of the pool, looked up into the stands and unleashed a wide smile.

Portela etched his name into the school’s record books once again, swimming to a record-time of 51.57 seconds.

The previous record was 52.35, set by junior teammate Evan Eskilson, who watched on the pool deck before shaking Portela’s hand. Teammates, coaches and fans clapped when they saw Portela’s time on the scoreboard.

Free State swimmer Cameron Hodge dives into the pool in the final heat of the Boys 50 Yard Freestyle event of the Free State Invitational on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2017 at Free State High School.

For Portela, it was one of the best ways to complete his Senior Night, where he was honored alongside several of his senior teammates. The Firebirds won 11 of the 12 events at their five-team invitational and cruised to first place in the team standings.

The backstroke isn’t Portela’s favorite event. He rarely swims it in high school, but incorporates it in his training. About two weeks ago, Free State coach Annette McDonald asked Portela which events he wanted to swim and he had his eyes on the record.

“It was sweet and sour,” Portela said. “I love Evan and I honestly think that he can get that at state. He’s a great backstroker. It was just fun to have friendly competition in between my teammates.”

Portela, signed to swim at Minnesota where his two older siblings swam, owns seven of the school’s 11 swimming records.

He attempted to break another record in the 50 freestyle, but fell a little short in his first-place finish in 20.99 seconds, which nearly tied his own personal-best. He said he was “really pleased” with his time and would love another crack at the record.

In the crowd was former FSHS state champion Jack Ziegler, who owns the 50 freestyle record in 20.78.

“What I love is that he’s very humble, but very motivated and has a lot of drive,” McDonald said of Portela.

Along with Portela’s record day, Evan Yoder (200 freestyle and 100 butterfly), Eskilson (200 individual medley and 100 freestyle), Chad Anderson (500 freestyle), Chad Bourdon (diving) and all three relays won events.

Free State’s Matthew Wilkus, Corey Schultz-Bever, Aidan Goertz and Sydney Lin contributed to wins in relays.

“Overall, oh my gosh, we had great performances today,” McDonald said. “The guys are really motivated. They’ve been working hard.”

For the team’s seniors, it was an opportunity to compete in events that they don’t usually swim and have fun in their final home meet, not including the Sunflower League meet.

“I’m just proud of them,” McDonald said. “I’m just so lucky to have that group. I think they are really good friends, they are really close, so they support each other and encourage each other.”

Thursday at Free State

Team scores: Free State 496, Washburn Rural 319, Turner 235, Bonner Springs 192, Sumner/Washington 68.

FSHS results

200 medley relay — 1. Jordan Portela, Corey Schultz-Bever, Matthew Wilkus, Evan Yoder, 1:40.72; 3. Jake Viscomi, Sydney Lin, John Loos, Cameron Hodge, 1:49.79; 8. Trenton Hartman, Ben Aldridge, Finneas Nesbitt-Daly, Adam Ziegler, 2:02.32; 10. David Stuart, Jadon Ballinger, Eugene Galvez, Atticus VonHolton, 2:06.89; 12. Miles Kingsley, Giovanni Booth, Jack Kelsey, Declan Forth, 2:17.57.

200 freestyle — 1. Evan Yoder, 1:46.70; 3. Chad Anderson, 2:00.12; 6. Trenton Hartman, 2:17.57; 7. Ethan Perrins, 2:24.77; 9. Nicholas Burket, 2:31.97; 12. James Morton, 2:35.97.

200 individual medley — 1. Evan Eskilson, 2:01.08; 2. Jake Viscomi, 2:19.99; 3. John Loos, 2:23.32;

50 freestyle –1. Jordan Portela, 20.99; 3. Aidan Goertz, 23.55; 6. Corey Schultz-Bever, 24.09; 7. Cameron Hodge, 24.22; 8. Dean Stuart, 24.75; 13. Adam Ziegler, 25.58; 14. Eugene Galvez, 25.83; 20. Atticus VonHolton, 27.02; 23. Ethan Perrins, 27.40; 24. David Stuart, 27.42; 26. Giovanni Booth, 27.75; 31. Jack Kelsey, 28.71; 36. Declan Forth, 29.44; 37. Kyler Ruby, 29.60; 40. Clayton Whitney, 29.72; 41. James Morton, 30.19; 49. Dylan Crawford, 32.45; 54. Ethan Cooper, 33.19.

One-meter diving — 1. Chad Bourdon, 271.00; 3. Skylar Eklund, 218.30; 6. Bahij Chanine, 154.95.

100 butterfly — 1. Evan Yoder, 53.30; 5. Matthew Wilkus, 59.70; 9. Finneas Nesbitt-Daly, 1:07.03.

100 freestyle — 1. Evan Eskilson, 49.25; 2. Aidan Goertz, 51.73; 3. Sydney Lin, 54.51; 6. Dean Stuart, 55.74; 7. Jadon Ballinger, 59.00; 11. Atticus VonHolton, 1:02.96; 15. Giovanni Booth, 1:08.64; 17. Declan Forth, 1:10.56; 20. Dylan Crawford, 1:15.20; 21. Aaron Guo, 1:16.73; 23. Ethan Cooper, 1:22.10.

500 freestyle — 1. Chad Anderson, 5:23.30; 4. Ben Aldridge, 5:51.28; 6. Miles Kingsley, 6:45.35.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Aidan Goertz, Evan Eskilson, Sydney Lin, Corey Schultz-Bever, 1:32.95; 4. Chad Anderson, Cameron Hodge, Dean Stuart, Matthew Wilkus, 1:40.71; 6. Adam Ziegler, Jadon Ballinger, Ethan Perrins, Finneas Nesbitt-Daly, 1:48.09; 9. Giovanni Booth, Nicholas Burket, Skylar Eklund, Jack Kelsey, 1:55.73; 12. Miles Kingsley, James Morton, Chad Bourdon, Atticus VonHolton, 1:57.76; 15. Ethan Cooper, Dylan Crawford, Aaron Guo, Clayton Whitney, 2:09.75.

100 backstroke — 1. Jordan Portela, 51.57; 4. Jake Viscomi, 1:03.26; 5. John Loos, 1:04.81; 9. Finneas Nesbitt-Daly, 1:11.70; 13. Trenton Hartman, 1:13.94; 16. David Stuart, 1:19.87; 18. Miles Kingsley, 1:29.16; 21. Nicholas Burket, 1:33.55.

100 breaststroke — 2. Corey Schultz-Bever, 1:03.93; 4. Matthew Wilkus, 1:08.79; 5. Sydney Lin, 1:09.06; 7. Ben Aldridge, 1:12.84; 10. Cameron Hodge, 1:15.72; 12. Jadon Ballinger, 1:19.27; 14. Jack Kelsey, 1:24.79; 16. Aaron Guo, 1:30.42; 17. Clayton Whitney, 1:32.31.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Evan Eskilson, Aidan Goertz, Evan Yoder, Jordan Portela, 3:19.88; 3. Jake Viscomi, Adam Ziegler, Dean Stuart, Chad Anderson, 3:47.36; 5. John Loos, David Stuart, Ethan Perrins, Ben Aldridge, 4:02.61.