It wasn’t even girls swimming season, but Free State High coach Jama Crady was in a scolding mood last month in Manhattan.

Several of the Firebird girls swimmers were at Kansas State University watching the FSHS boys team capture the school’s first state championship. After it was over, a couple of the girls playfully stood atop the podium that’s used for presenting state champs.

Not cool, says Crady.

“I told them to get off the award stand,” said Crady, a former state champ at Lawrence High. “They need to earn it.”

The Firebirds have good reason to expect better than their eighth-place finish at state a year ago. Much of last year’s team is back, including two valuable cogs in junior Ashley Jackson and sophomore Ashley Robinson. They’re joined by senior Emmie Caplan and freshman Katie Swank as potential point-producers.

“We have higher expectations,” Crady said, “because we have more depth and more returners.”

Robinson was the 500 freestyle state champion last year, finishing the championship final in a time of 5:03.61. Jackson was the state champ in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:54.12. Both are swimming this week at the National Club Swimming Assn. Junior Championships in Florida, and will join the Firebirds on Monday.

“They’re looking really strong,” Crady said. “They both want to repeat their individual state titles.”

Free State opens its season March 31 at Manhattan.

Free State's Emmie Caplan, left, and Lawrence High's Ellie Lloyd are ready for swimming season. LHS will open today with a diving meet at Emporia.

Lawrence High

The Lions look to improve on a fourth-place finish at the Sunflower League meet and 13th-place finish at state.

Among those returning are Melissa Farve, Melissa Little and Julia Szabo, as well as senior diver Ellie Lloyd. Among their credentials, Little finished fourth at state last year in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:20.45, and ninth in the 200 freestyle with a consolation final time of 2:01.12.

Overall, LHS coach Ryan Adams called the four — two seniors and two juniors — a good nucleus to build from.

“I think we’re going to be a little stronger this year,” Adams said. “We lost a couple of girls, but we have a few newcomers swimming for us, too.”

Whether that translates to a higher placing in the postseason standings remains to be seen. The Lions will have plenty of tough competition in the Sunflower League, including defending state champ Olathe East, Shawnee Mission East, Shawnee Mission Northwest and Free State.

“League is going to be the toughest it’s been,” Adams said.

Lloyd and the other divers will compete at 4 p.m. today at the Emporia Diving Invitational. The swimmers will compete in the Emporia Invitational at 4 p.m. Thursday.