The normal first-day-on-the-job jitters were nowhere to be seen for Lawrence High wrestling coach Mark Dulgarian or Free State girls basketball coach Brian Duncan.

But thatâÂÂs typical of each.

Duncan, a former assistant for the FSHS boys basketball team, has been preparing for the start of winter sports since June. Monday, he was pumped.

âÂÂWeâÂÂve been ready to go for six months,â he said. âÂÂItâÂÂs new and hopefully exciting for everyone involved.âÂÂ

The new part is big – Duncan has never coached girls hoops before.

Not that heâÂÂs too worried.

He has been an assistant for nearly 10 years and isnâÂÂt concerned about the differences between boys and girls.

âÂÂI think basketballâÂÂs basketball,â he said. âÂÂIâÂÂm not a yeller or screamer to begin with. I donâÂÂt think itâÂÂll be a problem.âÂÂ

With only two returning starters in senior Jayme Lisher and sophomore Jamie Stanclift, DuncanâÂÂs learn-as-I-do approach may suit the Firebirds, 6-15 last season. HeâÂÂll chose a varsity from about 22 juniors and seniors, though any of the 16 sophomores could play.

While DuncanâÂÂs new to the head-coaching game, Dulgarian is an seasoned pro.

The Lionsâ new wrestling coach spent the last 11 years in Fort Scott, and another dozen or so in Warrensburg, Mo. Yet, a new school didnâÂÂt affect his system.

Consider his âÂÂMidnight Madness.âÂÂ

At 12:01 Monday morning, Dulgarian opened the gym to 10 LHS wrestlers who wanted to get a jump on the season. They practiced for about an hour, then munched on french toast and bacon.

âÂÂIâÂÂve been doing that since about 1974,â he said. âÂÂAnd, as far as I know, everybody made it to school on time today.âÂÂ

If practicing in the middle of the night seems a little extreme, well, thatâÂÂs akin to the sport itself.

âÂÂYou try to look for any little thing that makes you feel like you get an advantage,â Dulgarian said. âÂÂAnd a lot of times, itâÂÂs fun for the kids to say they were the first people in the state to start practice.âÂÂ

Those that attended the late-night version werenâÂÂt required to practice Monday afternoon. When itâÂÂs said and done, Dulgarian hopes to have about 30 wrestlers, though heâÂÂs dealing with some students that havenâÂÂt had a physical and some football players whose season ended last Friday.

Or if any other students might be interested in wrestling, Dulgarian certainly wouldnâÂÂt turn them away.

âÂÂI tell kids if theyâÂÂre a good athlete and they get cut (from another sport), weâÂÂll make them a wrestler,â he said.

Free State

Boys basketball

The Firebirds held tryouts Monday, and will continue through Wednesday choosing varsity, JV and sophomore teams from the 25 juniors and seniors and 26 sophomores. With that kind of turnout, FSHS coach Jack Schreiner has a lot to choose from.

âÂÂThese are as good of numbers that weâÂÂve had since IâÂÂve been here,â he said. âÂÂBasically what weâÂÂre looking for right now is whoâÂÂs good enough to make the team and what they can give us.âÂÂ

Boys swimming

With 19 swimmers at MondayâÂÂs practice, coach Annette McDonald just wanted to their muscles accustomed to swimming. So the Firebirds did a couple of land exercises, then hopped in the pool. After all, you can never spend too much time swimming.

âÂÂRight now, weâÂÂre just starting our aerobics to build a base,â said McDonald, who expects her four seniors to set the pace. âÂÂThen weâÂÂll set some goals and go from there.âÂÂ

Wrestling

FSHS coach Darrell Andrew doesnâÂÂt need an enormous team. HeâÂÂs fine with the 28 hard-working Firebirds he has.

âÂÂYou always wish you had 50 or 60 out,â he said. âÂÂBut if we have 15 out that give 110 percent each day, in all honesty, IâÂÂll take that.âÂÂ

Besides, with a couple of state qualifiers returning in Kyle Frank and Matt Somers, along with 2001 qualifier Nick McGovern, Andrew doesnâÂÂt need much else.

Lawrence High

Boys basketball

The Lions enjoyed their best season in seven years last season, going 18-5 and winning the Sunflower League title. This season, coach Chris Davis is expecting to start slow, then build another solid season.

âÂÂIâÂÂm looking for guys that can contribute immediately,â he said. âÂÂWe graduated a whole bunch of seniors. The first part of the seasonâÂÂs going to be a learning experience.âÂÂ

Davis had 26 players at varsity tryout, which last through Wednesday, and another 25 sophomores. He expects about 10 more, most of them football players he let rest an extra day.

Girls basketball

Second-year coach Kristin Mallory has the majority of her offense back from last yearâÂÂs 9-13 team, which means this seasonâÂÂs squad could be even better.

ThatâÂÂs fine with her.

âÂÂThis year expectations are higher,â Mallory said. âÂÂWith as many upperclassmen as we have, they should be.âÂÂ

The Lions will have tryouts until Wednesday, when theyâÂÂll chose among the 34 girls at practice.

Boys swimming

Coach Alicia Jackson expects about 15 swimmers by the middle of the week, but four of them have never swum competitively.

Needless to say, thatâÂÂs where she spent most of MondayâÂÂs practice.

âÂÂWe had some cramping up in their legs, and we were working on their breathing techniques,â Jackson said. âÂÂRight now, weâÂÂre just getting into shape, getting into the pool and getting their muscles working again.âÂÂ

Seabury Academy

Boys basketball

Seahawks coach Marcus Heckman has high hopes for his squad, which had 12 players at MondayâÂÂs practice.

Girls basketball

Coach Tracy Kitson said her team could struggle in its move to a Kansas State High School Activities Assn. schedule, starting with the Seahawksâ first game against Williamsburg on Dec. 6.

So until then, theyâÂÂll be working on the little things.

âÂÂWeâÂÂre really going to be concentrating fundamentals.â Kitson said. âÂÂThey know (itâÂÂll be tougher), but theyâÂÂre realistic about it too.âÂÂ