The Great Bend High School boys’ swim team will be bringing six swimmers to the Class 5-1A state meet.
The meet runs today and Saturday at Hummer Park in Topeka. The top 16 swimmers from today’s heats will be competing  in the final races on Saturday.
Justin Kuhlman, Michael Haines, Ky Heeke, Dylan Dreiling and Cory Merten will all be competing for Great Bend.
“I think we’re ready to swim our fastest times yet,” GBHS head coach Steve Beaumont said. “That’s what we’ve been telling these kids that they have to do. No matter what our times are going in, the only way to be there on Saturday is to swim fast on Friday.
“All of our guys are in a great position to be in the top 16 and even push into the top eight.”
Kade Cook, who attends Hoisington but competes for Great Bend because Hoisington doesn’t have a swimming program, must represent Hoisington at the state meet.
“Kade’s a veteran,” Beaumont said. “He’s been going to the state meet going on four years now. He’s a senior, and I think he’s ready to swim well. He knows what he needs to do.”
Haines will be competing in four events — 200-yard medley relay, 200 freestyle relay, 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.
Heeke will also be competing in four events — 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay, 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly.
Kuhlman qualified for three events — 200 medley relay, 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Kuhlman is the top-seeded swimmer for Great Bend, heading into the state meet as the No. 7 seed in the backstroke.
“He’s fully progressed through the season,” Beaumont said. “He’s come back from the shoulder injury well. I think he gained more confidence as the season progressed, and his times has gotten better as he got more confidence.
“I hope this meet will be his best meet of the season.”
Dreiling will compete in all three relays.
Merten will compete in the 200 freestyle relay.
Cook, who can’t swim on the Great Bend relay teams, will swim in the 100 butterfly and the 100 backstroke.