From left, Megan Williams, softball, Kyleigh Severa, girls track, JD Woods, boys track, Daonte Lowery, baseball, Elaine Harris, girls soccer, and Taylor Schoepf, girls swimming, will help lead Lawrence High's spring sports teams.

There’s a lot of optimism around Lawrence High’s spring sports teams this season. One team is looking to defend its state title, and others have been building toward their big goals.

The baseball team will begin play this weekend, and most teams are less than a week away from starting their seasons.

Here is a look at what all of the Lions’ programs expect out of the upcoming year:

Track

Lawrence High’s girls track and field team won a state championship last season, but senior Kyleigh Severa is the only returner who scored points at the state meet, winning the school’s third-straight 4×400 relay title and finishing second in the long jump.

Along with Severa, the Lions are hoping to get strong contributions from senior Caroline Dykes and junior sprinter Myah Yoder.

For the boys, the Lions are led by senior sprinters JD Woods and J’Mony Bryant and thrower Amani Bledsoe. Woods was runner-up in the 100 meter dash last season.

Coach Jack Hood noted the Lions will be led by their seniors, but they have a strong freshman class.

“Lots of new kids,” Hood said. “We like what we have seen out of them so far. We won’t know for sure until we start to compete.”

The Lions open in the Topeka West Invitational on March 24.

Softball

After Lawrence won its first regional game since 2011, the softball team hopes it can make more strides this season.

The Lions will be led by a large group of seniors, including first-team all-stater Sophie Taylor, Audrina Hidalgo, Amber Flummerfelt, Sami Mills and Megan Williams.

Along with the seniors, the Lions return juniors Annie Grammer, Rhi Emerson and Sydney O’Brien, and sophomores Darian Chamberlain, Zoe Brewer and Morgan Husman.

After posting a 12-10 record last season, third-year coach Joe Dee Tarbutton said he hopes to see big seasons from Grace Neilson, Kampbell Kilburn and Chloe Taylor, and the biggest challenge will be finding more depth with their pitching.

Lawrence will play Topeka Seaman in its season-opening doubleheader at 4:15 p.m. on March 25 at home.

Baseball

Last season, Lawrence High’s baseball team had a 7-14 record, including nine losses by two runs or less.

The Lions are confident they will have a more successful season, led by seniors Daonte Lowery (left-handed pitcher and outfielder), Ivan Hollins (catcher), Brad Kincaid (infielder and right-handed pitcher) and Luke Padia (outfielder). Senior infielder and right-handed pitcher Parker Kirkpatrick also returns after missing last season because of arm surgery.

“Tremendous leadership and toughness in the senior class,” 11th-year coach Brad Stoll said. “Good depth with the junior and sophomore classes.”

The Lions will travel to Arkansas to play Springdale Har-Ber at 5 p.m. Friday and Shiloh Christian at 1 p.m. Saturday.

Boys golf

Fresh off the school’s first regional title since 2003 and finishing 11th at the Class 6A state tournament, Lawrence’s boys golf team has high hopes for this season.

The Lions return their top four golfers from last year: seniors Dawson Dykes and Braxton Olson and juniors Cole Brungardt and Garrett Wildeman.

“We need all four veterans to improve over last year and hope a couple of the young kids step up,” coach Dirk Wedd said.

Sophomore Joe Mandigo and junior Thomas Taber are expected to compete for spots in the varsity rotation.

Lawrence kicks off the season on March 30 in the Shawnee Mission South Invitational at Deer Creek.

Girls swimming

Lawrence’s girls swimming and diving team finished fourth in the Sunflower League and eighth at state last season but lost a lot of its point scorers.

Fortunately, the Lions return junior Mary Reed-Weston, the league’s 100 breaststroke champion from last year and a lot of talent.

“Good group of incoming freshmen should have an immediate impact,” 10th-year coach Kent McDonald said. “We also have several divers who should help the team this year. Even though we lost most of our league and state scorers from last year, we do have a number of returners who will contribute to the team’s success.”

The Lions bring back Chandler Sells, Meredith Von Feldt, Vanessa Hernandez, Chisato Kimura, Taylor Schoepf and diver Ashley Ammann.

McDonald also hopes to get contributions this season from Jamie Abernathy, Madelyn Dean, Emily Guo, Morgan Jones, Eden Kingery, Rachel Nikolov, Jillian Wilson and Brooke Wroten.

The Lions will compete in the Emporia Invitational at 4 p.m. on March 24.

Girls soccer

Lawrence High’s girls soccer team welcomes its fifth coach in eight seasons this year, Matthew McCune, and the Lions hope to bring in a new era of success.

“We are starting fresh with something new, and there seems to be quality senior leadership as well as a desire to improve and compete,” McCune said.

The Lions, who finished 4-13 last season, return senior midfielder/defender Elaine Harris, junior midfielder/forward Skylar Drum and sophomore forward Maria Duncan. They also hope to get a boost from freshman forward Anna Chieu.

Lawrence opens with two homes games next week, beginning with Pembroke Hill (Mo.) at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Boys tennis

Last season, Lawrence High’s boys tennis team had a young lineup and sent one player to state. The Lions hope they can make big steps forward this season.

The Lions return senior Elliott Abromeit, who was 12th at state in singles last season, Zach Bowie, Jonathan Kinder and Sam Allen. Kinder and Allen will likely be among the top doubles pairings, along with Brendan Conner and Austin Butell.

“Elliott Abromeit has worked very hard at improving his game the past three seasons, and I am looking forward to see what he can do in his senior season,” seventh-year coach Chris Marshall said.

Marshall added the Lions have more than 30 players this season, which will help out with depth.

The Lions start in the Emporia Tournament on March 29.