Lawrence High senior swimmers Erina Houk, seated left, and Madeleine Neet, seated right, and Free State senior swimmers Dianna Torgerson, standing left and Molly Albrecht will help lead their teams in the spring season, which starts today for the divers.

The last time the Free State High girls swimming team hit the water for a meet, they were challenging for a Class 6A state championship and breaking state records in the process.

That’s kind of the plan again this year.

With nearly all of last year’s 6A runner-up squad returning, the Firebirds enter the 2009 season hoping to break through for a state title that eluded them last season.

“It’s like anything else, we don’t know what the other competition is until we start seeing results from races,” FSHS coach Annette McDonald said. “The most exciting part is that I have just about everyone coming back, and the seniors that I lost, I have some freshmen coming in who can replace them. It’s almost like I have all the talent of last year’s team plus a little bit more.”

And that’s downright scary.

The top returners for the Firebirds this year combined to break two relay records at the state meet last season.

Senior Molly Albrecht continues to amaze her peers, improving her times and getting stronger and faster by the day. Junior Morgan Flannigan also has continued to improve, particularly in the freestyle events, where she’s faster than ever. And sophomores Chloe Portela and Reilly Moore also return with a year of high school experience and year-round training under their caps.

The other returning senior is diver Dianna Torgerson, who reached the Round of 24 at state last year before bowing out.

“The girls all know what it takes,” McDonald said. “They’re experienced swimmers and I think they motivate each other.”

The Firebirds field a team of 21 girls this season and McDonald said each brings something special to the water. Also expected to deliver for the Firebirds this season are: juniors Adrian Black, Mariah Finley and Christina Van Anne as well as sophomores Kara Mishler and Kayla Hedges.

“I think all of the girls will contribute for points during the season and they all look at the times and say, ‘What can I do, how can I improve,'” McDonald said.

A similar sentence can be heard coming from the pool across town at Lawrence High, where Kent McDonald’s Lions return a large group of experienced and talented swimmers for the 2009 season.

LHS features senior co-captains Erina Houk and Madeline Neet, along with juniors Jessica Boyer and Elle Weber and sophomores Sarah Schwartz, Rachel Buchener and Mallory Neet. Also joining the squad for the first time is sophomore Emma Rainey, who has competed at several national meets and an Olympic qualifying event during her swimming career.

“I think we will be pretty good,” Kent McDonald said. “I know what they can do, so the expectations are a lot higher.”

Despite the lofty goals, McDonald acknowledged that his team is young, with a lot of sophomores, and said he was counting on seniors Morgan Sherve and Claire Frost to help provide leadership.

New to this year’s team, and in to replace departed senior Mallory West, who medaled at state, are three junior divers: Maria Carvajal, Caitlin Haig and Ida Greenwell. All three are gymnasts, like West, and that has their coach looking forward to their seasons.

“They’re all new and they have to get used to going through the floor, but I’ve been amazed with their improvement so far,” Kent McDonald said.

The Lions and Firebirds open the season today at the Emporia Invitational Dive meet. The swimming portion of the Emporia Invite is scheduled for Thursday.