Coaches across the city were asking a similar question after the first day of winter sports practices Monday.

Where in the heck are all of the athletes?

Both basketball and wrestling coaches noticed a drop in participants compared to the first day of practice in past seasons. Free State High, for example, had 20 wrestlers practice Monday. In the past, up to 35 wrestlers had gone out for the squad on the first day.

“I’m not real sure why, to tell you the truth,” FSHS coach Darrell Andrew said. “You have so many different opportunities when you get to the high school level that a lot of kids kind of split up.”

Both Lawrence High basketball coaches — Chris Davis for the boys and Kristin Mallory for the girls — noticed similar drops. Mallory had just 12 juniors and seniors to work with Monday, and Davis said the number of sophomores trying out — 22 this year — was lower than usual.

“I think Free State’s the same,” Davis said. “You’ll find that they’re down, too.”

Regardless, all the coaches seem to accept the low numbers.

Of course, they don’t have much choice.

“The 20 kids that were here gave us 100 percent today,” Andrew said. “If that’s a sign for how the season will go, I think we will have a very talented group.”

• Not much time: To add to his depth problem, Andrew and the Firebirds don’t have much time to prepare before the Gardner Invitational Dec. 6.

With Thanksgiving creating a big break in the middle of preparation, Andrew figures they’ll have about 12 practices before the tournament. Making matters worse, Free State has an unusually young squad Andrew isn’t familiar with yet.

“You never have enough time to prepare for that first tournament,” Andrew said. “Twelve practices doesn’t give you enough time to get to the weight you want to be at. Thanksgiving doesn’t help, either.”

• Who goes first?: All three city girls basketball teams — LHS, FSHS and Seabury Academy — will start out the winter season with games Dec. 4.

The Lions will play Overland Park Aquinas, the Firebirds will travel to Kansas City Wyandotte and the Seabury boys and girls teams will play in the Williamsburg Tournament.

In addition, both LHS and Free State swimming and diving teams will travel to an away quad Dec. 4.

• Brunfeldt to sign: Free State High swimmer Alex Brunfeldt will sign a national letter of intent with Indiana University today.

Brunfeldt, who was the Kansas state champion in the 500-yard freestyle as a junior last season, will become the city’s second Division One signee this school year, joining Lawrence High girls basketball standout Josie Polk, who signed with Fairleigh Dickinson last week.

The ceremony will take place at 3:15 p.m. today in the Free State High library.