The Free State High boys swimming and diving team doesn’t want me to write this.

You’re bringing too much attention to us, they’ll say. You’re going to jinx us, they’ll complain. We haven’t even done anything yet, they’ll moan.

It’s understandable, but I’m writing it anyway. Sorry, guys. Blame your talent.

Several state championship plaques are passed out every season in Kansas. And every season so far, they’ve eluded the trophy case at Free State High. The girls tennis team lost the state title by a quirky tiebreaker rule in 2002. The baseball team, perhaps more talented than any squad in Kansas, ran into a smokin’ pitcher at the state tournament last spring. Boys and girls basketball and volleyball also have fallen short in their state tournaments.

The bad luck goes on and on. And the Free State gods now are turning to this year’s boys swimming and diving team to break this depressing spell.

This weekend’s Kansas state swim meet could be the best chance yet for the Firebirds.

Pressure, anyone?

“We don’t dwell on it too much,” senior Alex Brunfeldt said. “We don’t want to jinx it.”

You can’t blame them, but it’d be hard to jinx consistent times and six talented individual qualifiers, all of whom will be competing in multiple individual events starting Friday in Manhattan.

Free State will be represented in all three relays, too, which count for more points in the team standings.

It has the potential to be a spectacular ending to a spectacular season, but the Firebirds don’t want to hear about it. Not yet.

“If you talk about it too much and it doesn’t happen,” senior Will Hecht said, “you’ll feel like an idiot.”

Said senior Chris Wolff: “It’s going to have to be a great day by everyone.”

Free State had that great day just two weeks ago at the Sunflower League meet in Olathe. The Firebirds grabbed five individual league titles and the 200 medley and 400 free relay titles.

That 400 free relay team set a league-meet record with a time of 3:19.23. It wasn’t a school record, though.

Brunfeldt did similar things in the 500 freestyle. A league record, but he has done better.

The powerful performances no doubt puts things in perspective. This IS a special squad.

Even with all that, the Firebirds took second to Shawnee Mission East in the team standings two weeks ago.

But swimming’s a little bit different than some team sports. Despite topping two great squads — Free State and Olathe East — at the league meet, SM East coach Wiley Wright is hoping his team can finish fourth at the state meet.

“They’re deep, but some of the swimmers that got points for them at league haven’t qualified yet,” FSHS coach Annette McDonald said. “They won’t be at state.”

Free State has that edge — and seemingly a lot of other edges as well. It won’t be easy for the Firebirds, but a state title is attainable.

The FSHS swimmers all seem to be aware of that. But it’s buried in the back of their heads now. Why worry about team standings, when the individual performances must come first?

That seems to be the team’s mantra, so forgive me, Firebirds, for adding to the hype train. But seven years of history, bad luck and decorated athletes who fell just short have their eyes on you.

Forget about them all. Go do it for yourself.

Go make history.