Free State swimmers walk back to the gymnasium with their masks on during Free State's triangular Wednesday afternoon at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center on March 17, 2021.

Free State’s girls swim and dive team was victorious in its home triangular on Wednesday, but the real prize wasn’t a first-place finish — it was getting in the pool in the first place.

Last year, local swim teams and other spring sports athletes didn’t have that chance. The COVID-19 pandemic canceled the 2020 season before it even began. Wednesday’s triangular with Lawrence High and Shawnee Mission South was the first spring sports event of any kind for local teams in 661 days.

“I wasn’t nervous about my times,” FSHS senior Alayna Baker said. “I was just really happy to be back in the pool. And I know my (senior) teammates like Rudy Benton, Clare Benton and Nethni (Weerasekara), we were just ecstatic to actually be in the pool again.”

Free State took first with a team score of 239 points. Shawnee Mission South was second with 204 points, and Lawrence was right behind with 203.

Wednesday’s event was the first action LHS had seen since winning a state title in 2019. In addition, it was the first home event for any FSHS swim team in over a year, because the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center didn’t host any boys meets during the winter season.

The atmosphere was quite different from past meets, in part because of the COVID-19 safety protocols.

The facility was emptier — only athletes who were competing in a particular event were allowed inside at that time, with the rest of the competitors waiting their turn in the nearby basketball gymnasium.

And it was also much quieter.

Because swimmers couldn’t cheer their teammates in different events on in person, they had to wish one another good luck before each race. And there were no spectators allowed, either; instead, the meet was available via a livestream.

“It was weird,” Lawrence senior Aubrey Fischer said. “I guess I’m used to it (from club season), but it’s super alien to what it usually is.”

And FSHS’ Weerasekara said that despite the restrictions, “all the girls were cheering each other on and wishing each other luck.”

“It was weird, but I think Free State handled it really well,” she said. “I think everyone handled the safety precautions, but definitely different than what we are used to.”

The meet got underway with the diving contest, which FSHS junior Audrey Hoey-Kummerow won with a total score of 167.30. The Firebirds would win two other events, as well: Molly Nuckolls won the 200 IM with a time of 2:33.87, and Nisa Kay Khosh won the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:58.42.

The Lions, who won every single meet in 2019, came away with six first-place finishes. Iris Sherron, Mara Manolescu, Fischer and Madi Heckman placed first in the 200-yard medley with a time of 1:59.27. Abi Jones won the 200 freestyle right after that, posting a time of 2:14.86. Heckman won both the 50 freestyle (25.79) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.92). Fischer also finished first in the 100 butterfly with a 1:02.92, and Sherron won the 100 backstroke with a 1:07.68.

“It feels really nice to compete,” Fischer said. “Being around all your friends again is just so much nicer.”

Up next, Lawrence will host a meet on March 30, and Free State will be back in action on April 1.

photo by: Shane Jackson

Lawrence High swimmers walk back to the gymnasium with their masks on during Free State’s triangular Wednesday afternoon at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center on March 17, 2021.

Free State triangular

Wednesday at Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center

Team scores: 1. Free State 239; 2. SM South 204; 3. Lawrence 203.

FSHS/LHS results

200-yard medley relay: 1. Lawrence (Irs Sherron, Mara Manolescu, Aubrey Fischer, Madi Heckman), 1:59.27; 2. Free State (Abby Hossler, Mina Khosh, Molly Nuckolls, Silvia Liu), 2:05.59.

200 freestyle: 1. Abi Jones, LHS, 2:14.86; 3. Savannah Randall, FS, 2:32.86; 4. Rudy Benton, FS, 2:37.39; 5. Laura Teska, LHS, 2:41.84; 7. Molly Daugherty, LHS, 2:47.88; 9. Allison Cindrell, FS, 2:48.86.

200 IM: 1. Molly Nuckolls, FS, 2:33.87; 2. Silvia Liu, FS, 2:35.21; 6. Mara Manolescu, LHS, 2:50.23; 7. Anna Marburger, LHS, 2:57.37; 9. Karsyn Robertson, FS, 2:59.20; 10. Paige Unekis, LHS, 3:07.87.

50 freestyle: 1. Madi Heckman, LHS, 25.79; 4. Abbey Hossler, FS, 28.69; 5. Genevieve Stull, FS, 29.05; 6. Alayna Baker, FS, 29.48; 8. Emily Brandt, LHS, 30.46; 10. Clare Benton, FS, 31.37.

Diving: 1. Audre Hoey-Kummerow, FS, 167.30; 2. Tori Crockett, FS, 159.45; 4. Peyton Fowler, LHS, 157.40; 5. Maya Huang, FS, 153.70; 6. Meara Kingery, LHS, 147.89; 7. Emily Brandt, LHS, 146.10; 8. Annie Shew, LHS, 143.80; 10. Josephine Warrior, FS, 128.90.

100 butterfly: 1. Aubrey Fischer, LHS, 1:02.98; 2. Molly Nuckolls, FS, 1:09.64; 3. Iris Sherron, LHS, 1:10.47; 5. Nisa Kay Khosh, FS, 1:20.10; 7. Anna Marburger, LHS, 1:28.85; 8. Karsyn Robertson, FS, 1:31.75.

100 freestyle: 4. Genevieve Stull, FS, 1:04.34; Mina Khosh, FS, 1:04.69; 7. Clare Benton, FS, 1:09.84; 8. Paige Unekis, LHS, 1:10.62; 10. Nethni Weerasekara, FS, 1:12.22.

500 freestyle: 1. Nisa Kay Khosh, FS, 5:58.42; 2. Emma Day, FS, 6:03.16; 3. Savannah Randall, FS, 6:41.24; 5. Macie McDermott, LHS, 7:59.87; 6. Ima Rodenbeek, LHS, 8:01.08.

200 freestyle relay: 2. Lawrence (Aubrey Fischer, Mara Manolescu, Paige Unekis, Madi Heckman), 1:54.88; 3. Free State (Abbey Hossler, Mina Khosh, Nethni Weerasekara, Silvia Liu), 1:56.91.

100 backstroke: 1. Irs Sherron, LHS, 1:07.68; 3. Emma Day, FS, 1:10.21; 4. Abbey Hossler, FS, 1:10.38; 5. Abi Jones, LHS, 1:11.93; 7. Allison Cindrell, FS, 1:26.78; 8. Addie London, LHS, 1:28.78; 9. Ragan Mauldin, LHS, 1:46.07.

100 breaststroke: 1. Madi Heckman, LHS, 1:11.92; 2. Mara Manolescu, LHS, 1:17.55; 3. Mina Khosh, FS, 1:19.42; 4. Silvia Liu, FS, 1:22.96; 6. Rudy Benton, FS, 1:30.38; 7. Laura Teska, LHS, 1:33.17; 9. Mya Gilbert, LHS, 1:39.69.

400 freestyle relay: 2. Lawrence (Abi Jones, Paige Unekis, Iris Sherron, Aubrey Fischer), 4:13.95; 3. Free State (Molly Nuckolls, Nisa Kay Khosh, Nethni Weerasekara, Emma Day), 4:20.70.