By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
It's only been a few short years ago that Janson Garman did everything he could to beat Washburn Rural's swimming team
Now, as the Junior Blues' first-year head coach, Garman is doing everything he can to help Rural win.
Washburn Rural's swimming team celebrates after being announced as the team champion in Wednesday's 13-school Topeka West Invitational. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
When Garman starred at Seaman, helping the Vikings win the 2018 Class 5A-1A state team title, Washburn Rural was the Vikings' biggest city rival.
But when Garman, who coached Topeka West last season, got the opportunity to take over the Junior Blues' boys program this season, he realized it was too good of a chance to pass up, rival or not.
Washburn Rural's swimming team rallied late to give Jason Garman a team championship in his debut as the Junior Blues' coach Wednesday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium. [Photo by Rick Peterson/TSN]
"Let's just say I never thought I'd be coaching at Washburn Rural,'' Garman said. "If you would have asked me when I was in high school I would have said, 'Heck no,' but I'm very grateful. This is a great team, great guys that work hard and I'm happy to be in the position I am right now.
"I thought it was a great opportunity. I'd still be able to coach and do what I love to do, swimming, and still be able to finish my schooling up (in physical therapy). Rural has a great swim culture and I hope we can continue to grow and build on it.''
Garman made his debut as Rural's coach on Wednesday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium and his Junior Blues made it a happy occasion with a late rally, pulling out the team championship by a 405-396 margin over Centennial League rival Manhattan.
Manhattan got individual wins from freshman Daniel Allen in the 200-yard individual medley (2 minutes, 04.56 seconds) and from senior Brogan Meier in the 100 backstroke (56.98) and the Washburn Rural foursome of Will Powell, Allen, Luke Lemke and Jack Miranda won the meet-ending 400 free relay (3:22.72).
On the day the Junior Blues posted top-three finishes in nine of 12 events en route to the team title.
Now Garman is turning his focus on the rest of what he is confident can be a very successful season.
"I hope we continue to do well,'' Garman said. "I hope we take city city year, I hope we do well in league and I hope we do well at state. That seems to be the thing -- we need to do well at state.''
Seaman finished sixth in the team standings with 187 points while Topeka High was seventh (151), Shawnee Heights ninth (95), Hayden 10th (64) and Topeka West 13th (18).
Topeka High got a win in one-meter diving from Jaxon Cowdin, the reigning two-time city champion who opened his 2023-2024 season with a winning score of 215.55.
Olathe Northwest's Braden Zimmerman finished second to Cowdin with a score of 196.10.
TOPEKA WEST INVITATIONAL
At Capitol Federal Natatorium
Team scores
Washburn Rural 405, Manhattan 396, Olathe Northwest 324, Lansing 277, Basehor-Linwood 204, Seaman 187, Topeka High 151, Junction City 127, Shawnee Heights 95, Hayden 64, Bishop Seabury 28, Turner, 21, Topeka West 18.
Individual results
200 medley relay -- 1. Manhattan (Steffensmeier, Graves, Balman, Staedtler), 1:42.53; 2. Olathe Northwest (Branstrom, Yim, Lein, Bond), 1:46.17; 3. Washburn Rural (Meier, Morano-Jasper, Miranda, Lemke), 1:47.48.
200 freestyle -- 1. Mendez, Lansing, 1:46.20; 2. Miranda, Washburn Rural, 1:49.60; 3. Wymer, Manhattan, 1:56.55.
200 individual medley -- 1. Allen, Washburn Rural, 2:04.56; 2. Steffensmeier, Manhattan, 2:04.86; 3. Gibson, Lansing, 2:11.59.
50 freestyle -- 1. Palacian, Manhattan, 22.34; 2. Meier, Washburn Rural, 22.45; 3. Staedtler, Manhattan, 22.86.
One meter diving -- 1. Cowdin, Topeka High, 215.55; 2. Zimmerman, Olathe Northwest, 196.10; 3. Rastofer, Olathe Northwest, 175.45.
100 butterfly -- 1. Balman, Manhattan, 54.64; 2. Yim, Olathe Northwest, 57.02; 3. Powell, Washburn Rural, 57.80.
100 freestyle -- 1. Palacian Manhattan, 56.98; 2. Branstrom, Olathe Northwest, 51.88; 3. Kobs, Lansing, 51.93.
500 freestyle -- 1. Mendez, Lansing, 4:47.39; 2. Miranda, Washburn Rural, 4:59.42; 3. Graves, Manhattan, 5:01.58.
200 free relay -- 1. Manhattan (Balman, Staedtler, Wymer, Palacian), 1:32.29; 2. Washburn Rural (Powell, Allen, Leenerts, Meier), 1:32.73; 3. Lansing (Cuesta Belmonte, Brooks, Kobs, Mendez), 1:36.15.
100 backstroke -- 1. Meier, Washburn Rural, 56.98; 2. Balman, Manhattan, 57.70; 3. Steffensmeier, Manhattan, 59.23.
100 breastroke -- 1. Yim, Olathe Northwest, 1:02.66; 2. Graves, Manhattan, 1:04.20; 3. Sanner, Junction City, 1:06.46.
400 free relay -- 1. Washburn Rural (Powell, Allen, Lemke, Miranda), 3:22.72; 2. Manhattan (Wymer, Steffensmeier, Graves, Palacian), 3:28.23; 3. Olathe Northwest (Lein, Keaden Yim, Keifer Yim, Branstrom), 3:31.92.
