For the past few weeks, Lawrence High gymnasts have spent extra time in practice, working to add new skills and more consistency to their routines in each event.

The Lions hope their extra work will earn them a spot on the medal podium at the state meet, which starts at 11 a.m. today at Newton.

At the Sunflower League meet on Oct. 10, the Lions finished in fifth place, but were only 1.05 points from taking second place. Newton and Olathe East have consistently posted the top scores across the state this season, but the Lions hope they can finish third.

“It would be awesome,” LHS and Free State coach Brooke Kissinger said. “Lawrence High didn’t make it to state as a team last year. Going from not making it to state at all to potentially being on the podium is pretty exciting.”

Free State didn’t qualify as a team this season, but senior Callie Hicks qualified individually on the beam, bars and vault, and junior Landon Prideaux will compete on the beam. Hicks tied for third on the vault and took fourth on the bars at state last year.

At the league meet, LHS senior Ashley Ammann posted top-10 scores in the floor exercise (8.85) and balance beam (8.325), while freshman Eden Kingery shined on the vault (8.7) and floor (8.575).

Since the beginning of the season, Kingery has worked on adding a new skill on the bars and a new series on the beam, which she’ll unleash at state.

Ammann — the lone LHS senior — hopes to end her high school career on a high note and earn her first state medal in the floor exercise.

“It’s fun,” Ammann said. “We have a lot of new people on the team, but we’re doing well, which is always exciting.”

The Lions hope to receive key performances from junior Jordyn Leon, sophomore Eliana Seidner and freshman Klara Hinson. Leon took 19th at state in the bars last season and had a team-best score (7.7) at the league meet.

“My hope is the consistency will be there (today), because they’ve started to show a lot more consistency this last week or two,” Kissinger said. “I’m hoping that carries over. If we can stay on all of the events without falling, then we have a good shot.”

The Lions opened the season by winning the Shawnee Mission West quadrangular in early September, their first meet victory in four years.

Now they want to end the season in the same fashion.

“I’m excited,” Kingery said. “I think we’ll do well.”