photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State coach Annette McDonald celebrates with her teammates by taking a swim after claiming the state title at the 2023 State Swimming Championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Hummer Sports Park-Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka, Kansas.

The Free State swim team surged past the competition at the Class 6A state championship on Saturday in Topeka. The Lady Firebirds defended their state title from a year ago, picking up the program’s fourth all-time championship victory – a strong finish for outgoing coach Annette McDonald.

Seven state champions bolstered Free State’s team score (364), pushing the Lady Firebirds over 100 points past runner-up Blue Valley North. Additionally, four Free State swimmers landed on the First Team All-State list.

“We’re just so excited to have a great team,” McDonald said. “It’s a team effort. It wasn’t just one person that made this happen. It was the whole team.”

Free State claimed all three relays, beginning with a first-place finish by the 200-yard medley relay team: senior Bradie Ward, senior Halle McCullough, senior Lolly Hindman and junior Liza Engelbrecht (01:45.96). The four swimmers closed in on the state record (01:45.29) Free State set a year ago.

The second relay, the 200-yard freestyle, featured another decisive victory by Engelbrecht, McCullough, sophomore Jocelyn Wilson and senior Samantha Packard (01:36.99), falling just shy of the state record (01:36.77) set by Wichita East in 2018.

The final relay, the 400-yard freestyle, served as the grand sendoff for the Lady Firebirds. Packard, junior Molly Nuckolls, Wilson and Ward (03:33.51) outperformed runner-up Blue Valley North by just under two seconds. The first-place finish added 40 total points to Free State’s team score.

Paving the way individually, Ward and Packard each finished with two gold medals. Ward won the 200-yard freestyle (01:51.87) and 500-yard freestyle (05:00:45); Packard won the 50-yard freestyle (00:23.78) and the 100-yard freestyle (00:52.43).

McCullough picked up two silvers beginning with the 100-yard breaststroke (01:04:10). The senior finished as the runner-up in the 200-yard individual medley (2:09.80), falling behind state record-breaker Annika Finzen of Blue Valley West (02:00:93).

Free State picked up a bronze medal courtesy of Engelbrecht in the 100-yard butterfly (00:57.72), with sophomore Gayla Gao finishing fourth (00:58.16) right behind her teammate.

Rounding out the state title for the Firebirds was Nuckolls (fifth in the 500-yard freestyle, sixth in the 200-yard freestyle), Wilson (sixth in the 100-yard freestyle, eighth 200-yard individual medley), and Hindman (seventh in the 100-yard backstroke, eighth in the 100-yard butterfly).

Another Lawrence area athlete made her mark at the state championship, as well. Lawrence High junior Emily Brandt represented the city, finishing seventh (357.90) in the 1-meter dive.

Firebirds on the All-State list:

First Team – Bradie Ward, Samantha Packard, Halle McCullough and Liza Engelbrecht.

Second Team – Molly Nuckolls, Gayla Gao and Jocelyn Wilson.

Third Team – Lolly Hindman.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Samantha Packard keeps up the pace at the 2023 State Swimming Championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Hummer Sports Park-Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Bradie Ward chats with her opponent after a race at the 2023 State Swimming Championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Hummer Sports Park-Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

The Free State girls swim team cheers on their teammates during the final event of the 2023 State Swimming Championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Hummer Sports Park-Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

The Free State girls swim team cheers on their teammates during the final event of the 2023 State Swimming Championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Hummer Sports Park-Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State coach Annette McDonald greets three of swimmers after completing the final event of the 2023 State Swimming Championship on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Hummer Sports Park-Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka, Kansas.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

The Free State swimming team is jubilant after being handed the state championship trophy at the 2023 State Swimming Championships on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at Hummer Sports Park-Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka, Kansas.