Submitted
TOPEKA – As usual, a trio of upperclassmen led the Hays High swimmers Tuesday.
But they also got some help from freshman teammates to help them overcome illness that has hindered the team lately.
The Indians scored 266 points to finish in the top third of the highly competitive 12-team Topeka High meet.
Lawerence Free State, which owns top-10 times in Class 6A in more than than half of the 12 events, dominated the team scoring with 507 points – more than 200 more than runner-up Lawrence High.
Hays High seniors Chase Zadina and Karsen Flaska and junior Cedric Durr combined to place in the top eight in 11 events.
One of those was the 400-yard freestyle relay, the last event of the day.
When senior Maison Desaire had to withdraw from that relay because of illness, freshman Col Lonsdale was called upon to fill in.
Lonsdale erased more than five seconds off his previous personal-best time to help the Indians place second – their highest finish on the day.
Another freshman, Jace Herbers, also helped contribute several points, helping two relay teams finish in the top eight as well as finishing fifth in the 50y freestyle.
The top individual finishes came from Zadina (100y butterfly) and Flaska (100y butterfly), who each placed third.
Next action for the Indians will be Saturday at Wichita Northwest.
Team scores
Lawrence Free State 507, Lawrence High 290, Olathe South 282, Hays High 266, Junction City 225, Topeka-Hayden 180, Topeka-Seaman 154, Topeka High 142, Great Bend 90, Salian South 70, Salina Central 15, Lost Springs-Centre 7.
Hays High results
200y medley relay – 3. (Karsen Flaska, Jzce Herbers, Cedric Durr, Chase Zadina)
200y individual medley – 5. Herbers
50y freestyle – 5. Flaska
100y butterfly – 3. Zadina
100y freestyle – 7. Zadina; 8. Durr
200y freestyle relay – 8. (Maison Desaire, Brooks Dixon, Seth Burkholder, Herbers)
100y freestyle backstroke – 3. Flaska
100y breaststroke – 7. Herbers
400y freestyle relay – 2. (Zadina, Col Lonsdale, Durr, Flaska)