Panthers Stand Out at Topeka swimming Invite; Somers Qualifies for State The Panthers turned in a strong showing at the Topeka Men’s swimming Invite on Tuesday, led by an outstanding performance from Eli Somers, who punched his ticket to the state meet in the 100-yard freestyle. Somers delivered a standout swim in the 100 freestyle, clocking a time of 52.48 seconds, a state-qualifying mark. His performance placed him among the top finishers in a competitive field and marked a major milestone for the Panthers’ senior. In addition to his state-qualifying swim, Somers also competed in the 200-yard freestyle, finishing with a time of 1:59.64, continuing to show consistency across sprint and middle-distance events. Other Panthers athletes posted solid individual performances throughout the meet, gaining valuable experience and contributing to the team’s overall progress. Kale Mermis, Mark Sperlein, Cade Urban, Dylon Kalivoda, Leo Bashor, Tyler Scheuerman, Eli Leech, Rocky Montanez, and Cooper Burroughs each represented the Panthers across multiple events. With momentum building and a state qualifier already secured, the Panthers will look to carry this energy into Thursdays home meet.