CLOCKWISE FROM BACK LEFT, LAWRENCE HIGH SWIMMERS EMMA MERCER AND CLAIRISSA WAGNER, Free State swimmers Kacee Abel and Sarah Clark, Free State diver Carol Fittel and LHS diver Mallory West are expected to be big contributors for the city's two girls swimming and diving programs this spring.

Although both city high schools will have new head coaches for their girls swimming and diving teams this spring, the top dogs have obvious familiarity with each other.

Annette McDonald leads the Free State High girls, while her husband, Kent, guides the Lawrence High girls.

When Annette met her new team, the girls’ exuberance made a strong first impression.

“It’s already been fabulous,” said Annette McDonald, longtime coach of the Free State boys swimming program. “They bring a lot of energy and fun to their workouts.”

Kent McDonald – who just finished his rookie campaign with the LHS boys – was taken back by the strong work ethic demonstrated from his 35-girl squad. They even performed more push-ups than he requested.

“They want to be tough,” Kent McDonald said. “I’ve been really happy with the way everything is going.”

Three senior swimmers who advanced to state last year should lead FSHS again. Sarah Clark excels in freestyle, Whitley Jackson stars in the backstroke and Katie Swank holds the school record in the breaststroke. All three, though, will compete in multiple events.

“They’re versatile,” Annette McDonald said. “You can put them in any kind of event and know that they’ll do really well.”

The Firebrids feature talented newcomers, including distance swimmer Morgan Flannigan and 200 individual medley ace Adriane Black. Although they are freshmen, they have swam year-round on club teams from a very young age.

“They are bringing a lot of experience to the team,” Annette McDonald said. “We’ll be looking for them to do real well.”

LHS also has high expectations for several swimmers who participate on club teams, including freshman Jessica Boyer and senior Chelsea Dirks-Ham.

Freshman Elle Weber has wowed coaches with her breaststroke and individual medley.

“She can do everything,” Kent McDonald said. “She should qualify for state.”

The Lions’ strength may rest in the freestyle events. Sophomore Erina Houk swims distance events while Marianne Klovning, a senior studying abroad from Norway, specializes in sprints.

“They’ve been really pushing each other,” Kent McDonald said.

Junior Mallory West, who set school records as a freshman, will pace the LHS divers. She missed her sophomore season while recovering from reconstructive ankle surgery but seems to have regained her form.

“She’s back,” Kent McDonald said, “and she’s looking great.”

The otherwise young, but talented, diving team includes sophomore Alex Hyler and freshman Anne Glasker.

North of 15th Street, Free State returning seniors Carol Fittel, who went to state last year, and Kasey Clements will lead the Firebirds’ diving squad.

“Their ultimate goal is to get to state,” Annette McDonald said.

The rest of the Free State squad will share that objective. The FSHS roster includes Kacee Able, Ayo Alston-Moore, Amanda Bari, Stephanie Brown, Bailey Carlson, Kelsey Cherland, Yasemin Ersoy, Mariah Finley, Valerie Hird, Maggie Holcomb, Bailey Jacobs, Ellen Keegan, Afton O’Connor, Kayla Phillips, Samantha Rose, Alexandra Schriner, Kristin Shillington, Katie Sloan, Heidi Ten Pas, Dianna Torgerson, Marcy Vickers and Brittanie Williams.

Lawrence High’s deep team includes Emily Bell, Kylea Bates, Aysylu Biktimirova, McKenna Ezell, Amanda Fredrickson, Alissa Freeman, Claire Frost, Katie Jones, Paula Kryriakos, Emma Mercer, Kelsey Montgomery, Melissa Naff, Madeleine Neet, Aimee Niedenthal, Maddie Nitcher, Lauren Ollila, Samantha Page, Lissy Ridenour, Zayna Robles, Morgan Sherve, Katie Stites, Erin Thimmesch, Clarissa Wagner, Eva Wehrle and Kalli Wheatley.

“I have big hopes,” Kent McDonald said. “One of our big goals is to beat Free State.”

Just don’t tell Annette.