The Free State High girls swimming and diving team is taking the Forrest Gump approach to this season.

FSHS coach Jama Crady doesn’t know what she’s going to get — much like Gump’s box of chocolates — but that’s just fine with Crady. The Firebirds are going to have some fun along the way, because she says her girls have no pressure on them.

“I think we’re kind of up for whatever happens this year,” Crady said. “We have no expectations. The pressure’s off, because we don’t know exactly how well we’re going to do.”

The majority of the team is unproven. Most of the members this season weren’t there for last year’s fourth-place finish at state.

But Crady expects good things from her newcomers, such as Kacee Abel, Amanda Bari, Ellen Howat and Katie Sloan.

“I think that we’re going to rely on some of the new kids a little bit more than we usually have,” Crady said.

She added that this probably was the youngest FSHS squad since current senior Ashley Jackson’s freshman season.

Despite the youth, the Firebirds boast one of the state’s most decorated swimmers in junior Ashley Robinson.

She accomplished more in her first two years than most high school swimmers achieve in four. Robinson already is a two-time state champion in the 500 freestyle and last season took the crown in the 100 butterfly, as well.

As for being a leader, Crady says Robinson does that just by showing up.

Senior swimmers Julia Szabo, Lawrence High, left, and Ashley Jackson, Free State, are ready to dive into the girls spring swimming season. It starts for LHS today at Emporia.

“You just look at her,” Crady said. “She’s strong, she’s fast. She leads just by being on deck.”

Free State’s season begins March 30 at Manhattan.

Lawrence High

Two words: clean slate.

What exactly goes on that slate begins today, when the Lions open their season in Emporia.

It’s not that LHS had a sour 2004 season or anything, as the team’s fourth-place finish at league and 11th-place finish at state were higher than the team’s goals.

But fifth-year coach Ryan Adams is excited about the possibilities, as LHS enters this season with more drive and fewer injuries than his teams have had in recent memory.

“I think our team is more focused than it’s been in the past,” Adams said. “They’re all ready to swim, they all show up to practice on time. There’s not any distractions this year.”

The Lions have a solid finish from last season and a good core of veterans on which to build.

Seniors Kahheetah Barnoskie, Julia Szabo and junior Kristi Rudman will shoulder most of the weight in terms of fulfilling the team’s early goals. On the diving board, junior Meredith West will be relied upon to fill the void left by the graduation of Ellie Lloyd.

Among the team goals are to qualify three relay teams, six individual swimmers and two divers for state, May 20-21 in Topeka.

Today in Emporia, LHS will face Manhattan, Emporia and Wichita Trinity.