The buzzer sounded and the boys shot into the waiting water. Less than five minutes later, freshman Ryan Baker hit the finish board, his team cheering as Baker set a new  school record in the 500 freestyle, Sept. 15

“It went by really fast,” Baker said. “I was just racing and having fun.”

At the fourth swim meet of the season, Baker completed his laps in 4:59.88, beating the old record of 5:11.18 from Chris Jordan in 2006.

“I think it was really good for the team in general,” diver Michael Bauer said. “And he has four years to improve that time.”

Before hitting the pool for Howell, Baker has been swimming on a team for five years. At the Sept. 15 meet he participated in the 200 individual medley and turned around to do the 500 freestyle right afterwards.

“I got a 10 minute rest and then had to do the 500 relay. It was harder because at the bigger meets I usually get longer to rest,” Baker said.

Due to his record setting time, Baker also qualified for state competition.

Overall, Howell placed second at the FHSD tri-meet.

“The meet went pretty well,” junior Keenan Shumard said. “Central beat us, but only by a little bit. We did what we came there to do.”