By The Hays Daily News

SALINA -- The Hays High School boys' swimming team finished third in its opening meet of the season.

Salina Central and Salina South were first and second with scores of 308 and 293.5, respectively, and Hays High was behind them at 284.5. Campus and Great Bend were fourth and fifth at 278 and 191.

Senior Blake Mathews led the way for the Indians with three first-place performances.

Mathews won the 100-yard freestyle in 53.30 seconds and 200-yard freestyle in 2:02.50. He also was a member of the 200 freestyle relay that won in 1:40.19. The members included Blake Mathews, sophomore Morgan Mathews, senior Connor Hess and senior Cade Sharp.

Senior Derek Drees won the 50 freestyle in 23.81 seconds and was second in the 100 butterfly in 28.65 seconds. He also was a member of the second-place 200 medley relay (1:55.36). The members included Drees, Hess, junior Austin Chambers and senior Joshua Brungardt.

Sophomore Ben Rajewski won the 500 freestyle in 6:16.75.

Other top-three finishes included Brungardt (third, 50 freestyle), Morgan Mathews (third, 100 freestyle) and Chambers (third, 100 breaststroke).