Free State senior Courtney Caldwell has racked up her fair share of individual swimming accolades during her four years at FSHS.

Despite the success Caldwell and her fellow Firebird seniors have had in their high school careers, they still have a unfinished business going into today’s Sunflower League Championship prelims at Chisholm Trail Middle School in Olathe.

After finishing fourth at league in 2012, the Firebirds recorded back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2013 and 2014 and are looking to dethrone perennial power Shawnee Mission East.

The Lancers edged the Firebirds by 12 points at league in 2014, but FSHS cut the deficit from the previous year by 40 points.

The Firebirds know they have the firepower to win a league title, especially after defeating the Lancers in a dual meet on April 21 at Free State for the first time since 2007.

“I think their confidence is increasing,” FSHS coach Annette McDonald said following the Firebirds’ Senior Night on April 30. “However, I know they know they have some work to do because it’s not a done deal. You win by four points by .03 seconds. Otherwise, it would have been a tie. That tells you that there is more work to do.”

Caldwell echoed her head coach’s comments. The North Carolina State signee realizes that the midseason victory over the Lancers will not mean anything when it comes to going for a league or state championship.

“We can’t go in too cocky,” Caldwell said. “We need to do our job and stayed focused.”

Lawrence High coach Kent McDonald has been focused on getting his Lions primed for the league meet as well. The Lions have placed fifth or sixth at league for the past three seasons, and McDonald has stressed the importance of defeating Sunflower League teams throughout the season.

“We’re done with our regular season, and now it’s our championship part,” the LHS coach said. “I want them to know that this is really what we’ve been going for all year. We haven’t rested a whole lot for any of the meets.”

Sophomore Mary Reed-Weston was the Lions’ lone top-three event finisher at the 2014 league meet, finishing third in the 200 IM. Reed-Weston feels like the Lions have put in the training to climb up the league standings this year.

“I think we’re in a pretty good spot,” Reed-Weston said. “Everyone has been working really hard, so I think that puts us in a good place to do really well at league and state.”