Free State High’s girls swimming and diving team has won all of its meets and duals this season. Only one meet is left for the Firebirds: the Class 6A state tournament.

The Firebirds will try to finish their dream season with one more first-place finish when they swim in prelims at 10 a.m. today at the Capitol Federal Natatorium in Topeka.

The biggest competitor standing in Free State’s way of a perfect record is Shawnee Mission East, the five-time defending state champion. The Firebirds beat SM East in a dual and at the Sunflower League meet, but the Firebirds know there’s plenty of work left to accomplish.

“I would like to say league is usually a pretty good representation of state, but we’re going to have to work hard,” senior Alexa Malik said. “It’s close.”

“It’s not going to be an easy task,” FSHS coach Annette McDonald added. “It’ll be challenging but fun. I think that we are ready for the competition. It’s about being competitive and going out there and having kind of a showdown.”

The Firebirds, who finished second at state last year by 26.5 points, have four swimmers in every event, along with two divers, and all of their relays are seeded first.

Senior Courtney Caldwell, a nine-time state champion, is the top seed in the 100 free and 100 backstroke. Freshman Alvena Walpole earned the top spot in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly, while junior Sydney Sirimongkhon-Dyck has the top time in the 50 freestyle and junior Cierra Campbell leads in the 200 freestyle.

“We have some confidence but we’re definitely not going into it thinking that it’s going to be a blowout and thinking we’ll win,” said junior Anna McCurdy, who is seeded 12th in the 200 individual medley and eighth in the 500 freestyle. “We know they are after us. We know it’s going to be a fight. But our confidence is up. It’ll be good for us.”

Along with the motivation of winning every single meet this year, the extremely competitive group of seniors — Caldwell, Malik, Eliza Anderson, Kat LeFever — is ready to knock off the Lancers after two straight runner-up finishes.

“You know, just being a senior and watching Shawnee Mission East win the last three years, it’s been aggravating,” said Malik, seeded 11th in the 50 freestyle and fifth in the 100 freestyle. “So now we’re really excited. We’re kind of out for blood.”

Lawrence High’s girls swimming team is hoping to build on momentum from fourth place at the league meet.

All three of the LHS relays are seeded in the top 10, including the 400 freestyle relay in fifth.

“We did so well. I’m hoping that we can hold that,” LHS coach Kent McDonald said. “I personally get worried that they are going to lose that edge a little bit, but I think once they get on their competition suits and they get around all the other people, they are going to be psyched up and ready to go.”

Sophomore Mary Reed-Weston is the top seed in the 100 breaststroke and is fourth in the 200 individual medley, while freshman Morgan Traughber is sixth in the individual medley and seventh in the backstroke.

“Right now, I’m seeded in 17th in the 500 (freestyle), so I’d like to back it back to the top 16,” sophomore Brittany Archer said. “Last year, I didn’t make it back so it’s been a goal since last year to make it back.”