Even though the Free State High gymnastics team qualified for the Class 6A state gymnastics meet a season ago, the eight Firebirds heading to state this season admit the meet has a different feel.

There are several reasons for that, but the most obvious is the strength of the team. Instead of taking three girls to state and fighting just to get through each event, this year’s Firebirds have serious depth.

Because of that, they’ll travel to today’s state meet at noon in Olathe with their sights set on winning the team title.

“It’s just weird because it switched so suddenly,” said Free State sophomore Kelcy Bowers, one of two Firebirds who will battle in the all-around competition. “From last year to this year has been a big step for us. We have so many more people on each event and we have a true team.”

From seniors Amelia Firns-Hubert, Alexa Clements and Courtney Zinn to newcomers Aly Frydman and Jackie Soelter and sophomore Lexi Gonzales, this year’s team has enough depth and talent to support Bowers and junior Drue Davis.

Those two enter today’s meet on the heels of top-three finishes at last week’s regional meet. Their efforts led the Firebirds to the regional team title. Both figure to challenge for the top spot in the all-around competition, but neither gymnast is focused on individual accolades. Instead, they’re determined to deliver for the team.

“It’s so nice to have a bigger team,” Davis said. “Because everybody contributes to the team now. It wasn’t as stressful at regionals and I’m hoping that will help at state, too.”

Free State has competed at Olathe East twice already this year, giving the squad the comfort of familiarity. In addition, Friday’s practice was at O-East.

“It’s nice to get to run through stuff at the place you’re going to compete,” Frydman said.

All eight Firebirds will compete in at least one event at state. The top three scores on each apparatus will count toward the team score, giving the Firebirds margin for error in a couple of events.

As a team, Free State’s strength is stretched out over three events. The balance beam has the potential to deliver the highest scores, while the vault and floor exercise are the squad’s most consistent events.

“We’ve competed against every team there multiple times,” Firns-Hubert said. “Now it’s just about who can bring it to this meet.”

As for Lawrence High, which finished third at state in 2007 and was the state champion in 2006, the Lions will be represented by a single gymnast today, junior Maria Carvajal.

Carvajal qualified for state by finishing sixth on the uneven bars at regionals. Despite the odd feeling of competing without a team to back her, Carvajal said she was looking forward to focusing on her routine.

“It’s definitely easier because you can just concentrate on that one event,” she said.

As for her assessment of the Firebirds, Carvajal, who trains with Free State throughout the year, said the Firebirds have what it takes to bring home the title.

“They definitely do,” she said. “As long as they just concentrate and do what they’ve been doing all year.”

Kathy Johnson, who coaches both squads, said she was optimistic that Free State could deliver its best team performance in school history. The 2004 team finished third.

“It should come down to three teams,” said Johnson of Free State’s battle with Olathe East and Shawnee Mission Northwest for the team title. “You really can’t predict it. We’ve seen the underdog pull through and we’ve seen teams that were favored just fall apart.”