‘It’s more fun when you win’: Free State, LHS boys swim teams primed for hot postseason
photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World
Topeka – As if their strong regular-season resumes weren’t enough, the Free State and Lawrence High boys swim and dive teams have made it clear they’re angling for big things this winter.
The two schools won all 12 events at the Topeka High Invitational on Tuesday, with the Firebirds (656 points) cruising to a first-place finish after winning all three relays – the 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle – and nine individual events.
FSHS senior Jake King, who lifted the Firebirds to victory in all three relays and placed third in the 50-yard freestyle behind Lawrence High senior Luke Velte, said the team came to Topeka with a clear vision of what they wanted.
“I’m really happy with how everyone did,” King said. “Everybody held or dropped times, so we’re doing really well in that regard. I’m really excited to see what we can do.”
Fellow senior captain Dawson Bonnell added to the big finish for the Firebirds, adding two gold medals on top of his relay contributions. Bonnell won the 200-yard individual medley (2:05.92) and 100-yard butterfly (56.24).
Bonnell agreed with King, saying he feels the late-season groove is connected to first-year head boys swimming coach Janna Skinner’s smooth transition. Skinner replaced longtime coach Annette McDonald this winter after serving as the team’s assistant coach.
“I’ve had (Skinner) for probably seven years between my club swimming and high school,” Bonnell said. “I feel like she really knows how to make swimmers perform their best at the end of the season and understanding how swimmers are going to progress.”
photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World
Junior Sina Khosh earned his share of hardware, picking up two gold medals in the 500-yard freestyle (5:25.42) and 100-yard backstroke (57.96). Earlier in the day, senior Isaiah Wilkins won the 1-meter dive (431.35) over Topeka High runner-up Jaxon Cowdin.
Other Free State gold-medal winners were Jackson Rea in the 20o-yard freestyle (2:02.15), Anderson Bateman in the 100-yard freestyle (52.07) and Asher Zelvy in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:11.81).
The Firebirds are poised for a big showing at the Sunflower League championships on Feb 4., where the competition will stiffen ahead of the state championships sitting just under a month away.
“I think we have really good chances at state,” King said. “Definitely better than last year. If we keep PR’ing like we are, we’ll keep moving on up.”
Lions rolling deep at the right time
The Chesty Lions (345) entered Tuesday’s swim meet fresh off a convincing win on senior night and ready for more going up against FSHS and a wide array of talent from the west: Salina South, Junction City and Hays, among others.
LHS picked up silver medals in all three relays, with the lone gold medal going to senior Luke Velte in the 50-yard freestyle (23.22).
Senior Jack Tell helped the Lions reach all three of those runner-up finishes, picking up a fourth-place finish in the 200-yard individual medley (23.22) ahead of FSHS junior Zelvy Asher.
Tell, reflecting back on the beginning of the season, said this year’s LHS team is fired up for the postseason. LHS, which qualified for state in the 200-yard medley and freestyle relays earlier this season, qualified for the 400-yard freestyle with a second-place finish on Tuesday (3:34.48).
“We’ve been working towards this for a couple weeks now,” Tell said. “We came here with one goal really in the last event.”
photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World
The meet saw a couple of LHS underclassmen take big steps forward, too. Junior Ryan Lane finished second in the 100-yard butterfly (58.52) and sophomore Hugo Cowardin finished second in the 500-yard freestyle (5:38.85) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:16.15).
Under the direction of first-year head boys swimming coach Elle Weber, LHS has a lot to be excited about heading into the postseason. Weber took over as the head girls swim coach last spring before taking on the boys gig this fall in place of longtime coach Kent McDonald.
A bit of McDonald’s wisdom lingered this season in the Lions’ circle, Tell said.
“(Kent) always said it’s more fun when you win,” Tell said. “That’s certainly true and it’s super good to know we got the state cuts. All we’ve got to do is put in the work, get these last couple weeks done and have some fun at state.”
LHS joins FSHS for the Sunflower League Championships at the Shawnee Mission Aquatic Center on Feb. 1.
photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World
photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World