Topeka ? The mystery regarding why the seedings for the state swimming meet are released on what’s known as a “Psych Sheet” might have been solved this week.

“I think we know where the name came from now,” said Free State coach Annette McDonald. “You look at the sheet and you get psyched up.”

Such was the case for a handful of Lawrence High and Free State girls who will swim today in the preliminary round of state at Hummer Sports Park.

In all, 19 girls will make the trip, with 16 slated to compete and three alternates.

Free State, which will suit up 10 swimmers for nine events, is in position to challenge for the state title. After sharing the times on the Psych Sheet with her swimmers, McDonald scored the meet and based her totals on each girl’s qualifying times. The result left Blue Valley, Blue Valley Northwest and Free State within an arm’s length of each other for the title.

“It’s so close,” McDonald said. “It just depends on how well the girls swim the next two days. We’re going to do our best and put out our best effort to be right up there.”

Entering the meet, several Firebirds already are right up there. Morgan Flannigan is seeded first in the 500 freestyle and second in the 200 freestyle. Molly Albrecht is seeded third in the 200 free and fourth in the 100 backstroke. Chloe Portela is seeded second in the 100 butterfly and fifth in the 100 backstroke. In addition, all three girls swim legs on the FSHS relays, each of which is seeded in the top 10, with the 400 free relay team entering the meet with the top time by more than two seconds.

“It’s been a great week,” McDonald said. “The girls have been really focused and have had their minds set on their goals. They have high goals, very realistic goals for themselves and the team.”

While the Firebirds figure to challenge for the crown, the Lawrence High girls enter the meet hoping to improve on last year’s finish while turning in their top individual performances of the season, as well.

“I really think we’re focusing on doing our best individually,” LHS coach Kent McDonald said. “It really did help getting the Psych Sheet because we looked at it, and a couple of the girls told me they felt a lot more confident after seeing those times.”

While the Lions don’t feature the same powerhouse lineup as their crosstown rivals, they have more than their share of marquee names.

Kent McDonald said senior diver Mallory West should finish in the top three and has a legitimate shot to win the diving competition. West will join Free State’s Brittanie Williams and Dianna Torgerson in the diving rounds.

In addition, LHS swimmers Sarah Schwartz and Elle Weber both are seeded in the top 15 of two events, and both will swim on the LHS relays. That, Kent McDonald said, gives the Lions a shot at improving on their 58-point showing from a season ago.

“We’ve had some really good practices, and the girls are really looking forward to going over there and finishing higher than they’re ranked on the Psych Sheet,” Kent McDonald said. “If you look at the times, it doesn’t take much to move up a lot of places.”

Today’s prelims will begin at 1 p.m., with the diving prelims slated to kick off at 6 p.m. Saturday’s finals will begin at 12:30 p.m.