NEWTON, Kan. — The Buhler boys swim team placed second among 10 teams at the Newton Invitational #2 on Thursday night, totaling 197 points while prioritizing state-qualifying performances over a full push for the team title.
Maize won the boys meet with 243 points, followed by Buhler at 197 and Derby with 161. Maize South finished fourth with 138, Eisenhower placed fifth with 135 and Valley Center was sixth at 130. Andover Central (111), Newton (104), McPherson (85) and Hesston (47) rounded out the field.
Buhler coach Shane DeWeese said the Crusaders entered the meet with a focused plan, targeting specific events to secure state qualifications rather than chasing overall points, a strategy that paid off throughout the night.
Four seniors, Eli White, Hudson DeWeese, Ryler Hartnett and Gabe Auxier, qualified for state in the 200 medley relay. Buhler also punched another relay ticket to state in the 200 freestyle relay, as seniors DeWeese, White and Auxier teamed with Ethan Maxfield to meet the qualifying standard.
With Thursday’s results, all three Buhler relays have now secured state berths and will continue working toward podium finishes.
Senior Zachariah Greenlee added another state qualifier by scoring a 204.75 in diving.
Individually, DeWeese recorded a strong night with second-place finishes in both the 200 freestyle and the 100 breaststroke, the latter coming with a new personal best and a state consideration time. Hartnett placed fourth in the 200 individual medley and later finished fifth in the 100 butterfly. Auxier placed ninth in the 50 freestyle.
White earned a state consideration time while finishing second in the 100 freestyle. Maxfield followed in fourth, with Wyatt Regehr placing fifth. White also took third in the 100 backstroke, setting a new personal best.
In diving, Noah Fleischman finished seventh overall and Sam Biggs placed ninth.
Overall, Buhler swimmers posted 29 personal-best times in the meet.
“Way to go, Buhler,” coaches said, adding that photos of state qualifiers will be released soon.