The Free State and Lawrence High swimming and diving teams already have competed at the same meet twice this spring. The Firebirds finished better than the Lions on both occasions.

The teams will clash again at a quadrangular meet at 3:30 p.m. today at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center. Shawnee Mission Northwest and Shawnee Mission South will complete the four-team field.

Despite Lawrence High’s troubles with topping Free State, coach Kent McDonald said the familiarity with the Firebirds would put LHS in a better position for an upset today.

“I think there is that motivation and challenge to beat Free State, because they’re friends of ours, but they’re also our competitors,” McDonald said. “There’s no reason why we can’t start knocking them off a little bit.”

The Lions have qualified four individuals for state this season: senior Chelsea Dirks-Ham (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 200 individual medley), junior diver Mallory West, freshman Elle Weber (100 backstroke, 200 individual medley), and freshman Jessica Boyer (100 butterfly, 500 freestyle).

Dirks-Ham swam with the Lions as a freshman, but competed for the Lawrence Aquahawks her sophomore and junior seasons before returning for her senior campaign.

Lawrence also has all three of its relay teams (200 medley, 200 freestyle, 400 freestyle) qualified for the state meet.

McDonald talked a bit of strategy, stating that the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center was a pool that should produce fast times.

“The starting blocks are taller, which should help get us a little bit farther at the start,” McDonald said. “It’s also deep, so you don’t get motion off the bottom.”

On the other side of town, Free State has started the spring in spectacular fashion. The Firebirds already have eight individuals and two relay teams qualified for state.

The individuals are: senior Sarah Clark (200 free), senior Katie Swank (500 free), senior Whitley Jackson (500 free), senior diver Carol Fittell, junior Katie Sloan (200 free, 100 butterfly), freshman Morgan Flannigan (200 free, 200 individual medley, 500 free), freshman Adriane Black (500 free) and freshman Heather Clark (100 backstroke).

The three freshman state qualifiers are part of an FSHS class of eight freshmen for coach Annette McDonald. Today will be the first time the class will face Lawrence High at home.

“I think it’s a nice crosstown rivalry that says each team wants to win and be on top,” Annette McDonald said. “But at the same time, it’s good, friendly competition.”