It’s not often that a high school athletic team inspires its collegiate counterpart. But that’s exactly what Kansas swimming coach Clark Campbell said happened when Free State’s boys swimming team won the school’s first state title last weekend.

“Because of the kids that swam with them in the summer for the Aquahawks, they have a pretty good relationship,” said Campbell, who along with 12 KU swimmers participated with the Aquahawks. “They are interested in how they do, and vice versa.”

While the Firebirds showed the Jayhawks how to get the job done, KU swimmers say they would be ecstatic with a top-three finish at the Big 12 championships, which run today through Saturday in Austin, Texas.

“We’re definitely shooting for the top three spots,” said KU senior Maegen Himes. “Obviously, Texas and Texas A&M are going to be the teams to beat, but everybody’s capable of having a bad day. So who knows what could happen if we all go out there and swim personal bests?”

If the Jayhawks finish in the top three, they would move up a spot from last year’s fourth-place finish during Campbell’s first year.

The Jayhawks have had more time to prepare for this season’s conference meet because it was moved back a week. KU’s last dual meet was the first week in February, giving the squad seven more days to rest and get ready for the Big 12.

“It’s just nice to be able to have that little bit of extra time to get really ready,” said Jayhawk junior Amy Gruber.

While Gruber is one of a handful of Jayhawks who already have met consideration times to qualify for the NCAA championships, Campbell said those times probably weren’t solid enough to make the 32-entry cut.

Thus the Jayhawks could guarantee spots with strong times at the Big 12.

“This time of year we’re concentrating on everyone swimming lifetime times,” Campbell said. “At the start of every year I have the four ‘P’ method: You plan, you prepare, you peak, and you perform. We’ve gotten three of the four things done better than any team I’ve ever coached. Now it’s just time to perform.”