Free State High winter sports preview. The athletes from left, senior Cooper Schmiedeler, swimming; senior Adriana Jadlow, girls basketball; senior Weston Hack, boys basketball; and junior Sam Skwarlo, wrestling.

Thanksgiving has passed, and for the athletes at Free State High, that means the winter sports season is set to begin.

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

Boys basketball

Many of the familiar faces of Free State’s boys basketball team who earned a trip to the state tournament in 2013 and filled up the starting lineup last year are gone.

Now the Firebirds will be led by senior forward Weston Hack and senior guard Justin Narcomey. They were in last year’s varsity rotation when Free State went 12-10 and lost in the sub-state title game and will be asked to lead the team on both ends of the floor.

But there are some benefits to all of these players filling bigger roles than before.

“Kids play well together, work hard, know they have to play together to be successful,” ninth-year coach Chuck Law said.

The Firebirds are still trying to get football players into basketball shape but hope to get big contributions to open the season from senior point guard Andrew Keating, senior forward Jack Raney and junior forward Hunter Gudde.

Free State will go on the road to face AC Prep in its season opener at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Girls basketball

Free State’s girls basketball team lost a few talented seniors but has reloaded and is expected to do some damage this winter.

The Firebirds return four players from last year’s varsity rotation: sophomore Madison Piper, senior Adriana Jadlow, senior Hannah Shoemaker and junior Hannah Walter. Piper earned all-state honors last year, averaging more than 15 points per game.

They also added sophomore Jaycie Bishop, a transfer from Lawrence High, and senior Sarah Coversup, a transfer from Horton. Cameryn Thomas and Jaelyn McKay are also expected to make an impact this season.

The biggest challenge to start the year is developing team chemistry and roles on the court, 13th-year coach Bryan Duncan said.

The Firebirds, ranked No. 10 in the preseason coaches poll, will start the year at home against Topeka High at 7 p.m. Friday.

Boys swimming

After finishing third in the Sunflower League and fifth at state, Free State’s boys swimming and diving team hopes to make another jump forward this season.

The Firebirds bring back plenty of state experience, headlined by sophomore Jordan Portela, who won state titles in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Seniors Jack Ziegler, Nolan Stoppel, Josh Terrell, Cooper Schmiedeler, junior Ethan Kallenberger and sophomore diver Chad Bourdon all participated in last year’s state meet.

FSHS also hopes for big seasons from Ty Hartman, Sam Oliver, Brandon Bunting, Brett Carey, Evan Yoder, Syd Lin, Matthew Wilkus, Skylar Eklund, Evan Eskilson and Eli Garcia.

“Returning swimmers and divers come with the experience and determination to have a winning season,” 14th-year coach Annette McDonald said.

The Firebirds will start the year at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday with a home quadrangular.

Wrestling

After using a young lineup last season, fifth-year coach Mike Gillman is excited to see how far Free State’s wrestling team can go this year.

The Firebirds return junior Sam Skwarlo, who took fourth place in last year’s state tournament at 182 pounds. Skwarlo will miss the early part of the season with a Lisfranc fracture in his left foot, an injury he suffered during the first game of the football season.

They also bring in freshman Tate Steele, who enters this year as the top-ranked wrestler in the coaches poll at 106 pounds, and hope to get a boost from Shayn Morris. Steele won a USA Wrestling Preseason National Title at 106 pounds for ninth- and 10th-graders in October.

“We are full of juniors and sophomores that will do very well throughout the year,” Gillman said. “The kids are hard workers and are team-oriented with a vision of taking as may wrestlers to state and are willing to help each other get there rather than worrying about individual accomplishments.”

The Firebirds begin the season at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday in a dual against Olathe East.