With nearly everyone returning from last year’s state runner-up, the Free State High girls swimming and diving squad is prepared to take that final step.

“Second last year makes this team want first this year even more,” FSHS coach Annette McDonald said.

By all accounts, the Firebirds are ready. They’re rested, they’re healthy, and when they step, toes first, into the water at Capitol Federal Natatorium at Topeka’s Hummer Sports Complex at 12:30 today for the preliminaries, they’ll be focused on qualifying as many swimmers for Saturday’s finals as possible.

Last season the Firebirds enjoyed a banner first day at state. Two relay teams — which return this season — qualified first and entered Saturday’s finals as the favorites. One day, and two state records later, both relay teams (200 medley and 400 freestyle) departed Topeka as state champions.

Thanks in large part to those relays, the Firebirds challenged for the top team spot until the end. That’s the goal again this year, and it’s the relays that figure to lead them.

Free State is seeded in the top five of all three relays entering the meet, including a No. 2 ranking in the 400 free relay and a No. 3 ranking in the 200 medley.

But Free State won’t be able to knock off Olathe Northwest, Shawnee Mission East, Olathe East or any other title contenders on the strength of relays alone. The Firebirds have much more in the bank.

Senior Molly Albrecht is among the favorites in the 200 free and 100 backstroke. Sophomore Chloe Portela (100 backstroke and 100 butterfly) and junior Morgan Flannigan (200 and 500 free) also are among the favorites to win their individual events.

That trio swims three of the four legs of the Firebirds’ powerhouse relays and is joined by sophomore Reilly Moore, who also will swim in the 50 free and 100 breaststroke.

In addition to the top-tier times from those four, the Firebirds will count on returning swimmers Adriane Black, Kayla Hedges and Kara Mishler, as well as newcomer Heather Clark, to add depth to their push for the team title.

Also competing at state this weekend will be a Lawrence High team that finished 14th a season ago. Heading into the week, the Lions hoped to crack the top five at this year’s meet. But that was before they learned top swimmer Emma Reaney had become ill and likely would miss the meet.

The loss of Reaney — a sophomore who set five school records this season — eliminates three events from the Lions’ entry card and forces LHS coach Kent McDonald to shift his team’s focus.

“Without Emma, we’re hoping to do as well as we did last year,” Kent McDonald said. “Our goal now is to make our best times of the season. It will be difficult to keep up the morale and be positive, but I think our girls will do their best.”

Without Reaney, the Lions will lean heavily on experienced swimmers Elle Weber (100 breaststroke, 200 individual medley), Sarah Schwartz (100 backstroke, 100 butterfly), Jessica Boyer (100 butterfly, 200 IM), Erina Houk (200 and 500 free) and Rachel Buchner (100 backstroke).

Today’s swimming preliminaries will be followed by the diving prelims at 4, when Free State senior Diana Torgerson will look to advance to Saturday’s finals to help bolster the Firebirds’ team score.