Most of the Lawrence High and Free State winter sports programs saw a larger number of kids on the first day of preseason practices and tryouts Monday.

But nowhere was more crowded than the pools.

Lawrence had 46 swimmers and divers signed up for the team — a considerable rise from a little less than 30 team members last year.

Free State didn’t have the same explosion in numbers but opened with 38 swimmers and divers, which coach Annette McDonald said was the highest that she’s ever started the season.

“Probably the big reason is the Michael Phelps effect and the Olympics,” LHS coach Kent McDonald said. “But a lot of them also they got friends who did it and they brought in friends. I’ve got soccer players that came in. Got a couple of wrestlers that aren’t wrestling now and the cross country team, of course, so that all helps.”

Similar to gymnastics in the fall, both swim coaches agreed that Olympic years usually produce more swimmers in the following season.

“I always think Olympic years bring out people trying the sport,” Annette McDonald said. “I think it’s healthy. What’s really nice, I’ve got a lot of young swimmers coming out. We can develop them.”

Girls basketball

After coaching stints at Lawrence High, Bishop Seabury and several other schools in the region, Ted Juneau was thrilled to start his next chapter with the Free State girls basketball program Monday.

“Very excited,” Juneau said. “Looking forward to getting started. Had some summer and fall conditioning. It’s just good to have everyone out here with a ball.”

The Firebirds are conducting a three-day tryout. Juneau said there’s about 40 girls trying out at all levels, including 20 total sophomores, juniors and seniors.

On the other side of town, Lawrence had one of its biggest tryouts in years with 57 girls Monday. Third-year coach Jeff Dickson noted there were only 26 girls total during his first year in the program.

The Lions will have a two-day tryout, ending Tuesday.

“Obviously word of mouth with what we’ve done in our program and how our kids in the program feel about has attracted more kids,” Dickson said. “That’s exactly what you want to happen.”

Boys basketball

Free State boys basketball coach Sam Stroh is used to having a few kids missing from the first few days of tryouts.

Fortunately, it wasn’t about paperwork. Instead, it’s the excitement of dual-sport athletes continuing their football season into the state semifinals.

The Firebirds have about 65-70 kids in their three-day tryout, which is higher than usual because of a big freshman class.

“We’re happy for the football team,” Stroh said. “It’s good for the school and good for our sports programs. When they join us, they join us. But we’ve got to get to work because we’re playing in three weeks so we have to get ready to go.”

Lawrence had around 60 boys show up for tryouts Monday, a little less than the last two years.

But that didn’t take away any of the excitement from the return of basketball season.

“I told the guys,” LHS coach Mike Lewis said, “‘If you’re not excited, nervous and anxious and all of the above, you probably shouldn’t be trying out for basketball, right?'”

Wrestling

Free State’s wrestling team opens the season with a No. 10 ranking in Class 6A and group of 45 wrestlers, continuing a rise from the past few seasons.

The only negative is space becomes tight in the wrestling room, but coach Mike Gillman said the team usually adjusts well after it splits into junior-varsity and varsity.

“When you get a top-10 finish, ninth in state, kids want to come out and they are getting their friends to come out too, which is good,” Gillman said. “Sometimes they aren’t wrestling kids but they just want to be a part of program, so it’s cool.”

Lawrence coach Pat Naughton was “ecstatic” to see a large group of freshmen and sophomores show up for the first day of practice Monday.

Naughton said he’s hopeful there will be about 40 members of the team after paperwork is complete for a few kids.