TOPEKA, Kan. -- The opening of the long course season couldn't have gone much better for the Salt Fork YMCA Swim Club.

The Manta Rays had six individuals meet qualifying times for post-season competition -- with 14 entries for the Missouri Valley LSC Division I Championships and 10 for Division II -- last weekend during the Voorhees/Maxwell Open at Topeka, Kan.

Then there was Tyler Nichols, whose showing in the Open 50-meter freestyle (28.07 seconds) topped the qualification standard for the Central Zone meet -- becoming the third Marshall boy, behind current MHS junior Mason Weber and freshman Brock Musick, to post times for that level.

Nichols, 14, didn't enter any age group events, so didn't finish higher than 14th place. However, he made D-I times in the 200 butterfly (2:39.52), 100 (1:17.94) and 200 (2:55.67) breaststroke, 200 freestyle (2:19.77) and 400 individual medley (5:31.67).

He will be joined at the Division I meet by Christian Farris -- winner of the 10-and-under boys' 100 free (1:18.46). Farris' second in the 50 free (34.16) and 100 breast (1:49.68) and fourth in the 50 breast (48.08) also exceeded the needed time standards.

Salt Fork's Allee Barton, 14, like Nichols, competed against older swimmers, and came away with D-I times in the 100 (1:31.54) and 200 (3:13.84) breaststroke. She also had four Division II marks.

A pair of 10-under Manta Ray girls posted Division I times: Lauren Nichols in the 50 breast (51.23) and Kadie Williams in the 100 breast (1:51.44).

Nichols and Williams each had two additional D-II marks, while Olivia Quint had three.

Salt Fork is scheduled to take part in the Early Bird Meet, scheduled for May 9-11 at the Kansas City-Central High School pool.