Free State winter sports athletes pictured clockwise from front: DK Middleton, basketball, Caely Kesten, basketball, Nicholas Burket, swimming and Lou Fincher, wrestling.

The latest winter sports season officially begins this week for Free State.

Free State’s swim and dive team will kick off this season with a home meet Wednesday afternoon. The girls basketball team and the wrestling squad, both of which have a new head coach this year, will begin the 2019-20 campaign on Thursday. FSHS boys basketball will also be in a tournament in Hays throughout the week.

Here is a look at all of the Firebirds’ winter sports programs before the upcoming season:

Boys basketball

The Firebirds might have surprised some last year with another trip to the Class 6A state tournament, but that won’t be the case this season.

Free State enters the year ranked No. 4 in Class 6A via the Kansas Basketball Coaches Association and brings back plenty of experienced players from a team that went 15-7 in the 2018-19 campaign.

Senior DK Middleton, who received all-Sunflower League honors last year, will lead a deep squad. Mozae Downing, who started every game at point guard as a freshman, is ready to take a jump in Year 2. Andrew Piper, Ethan Lincoln and Alyus Wisdom will all embrace bigger roles as well.

Miles Branch, who transferred to Free State from Bishop Seabury, could have a big impact on the varsity roster in January after sitting out the first semester.

“Looking forward to coaching this group,” fifth-year head coach Sam Stroh said. “Mixing some veterans with some young talent. Should be a deeper team this season. DK and Mo will be the catalyst for this group. Trying to get back to Wichita for the fourth season in a row.”

Free State will play Millwood (Okla.) in the opening round of the Hays City Shootout at 4:45 p.m. Thursday at Hays Middle School.

Girls basketball

Nick Wood is back coaching high school girls basketball in Lawrence.

Wood, who served as the head girls basketball coach at Lawrence High from 2009-14, is entering his first year at the helm with FSHS. Fortunately for Wood, the Firebirds have plenty of talent to do something significant during his debut season.

Senior Caely Kesten, a Northwest Missouri State signee, is looking to go out on a high note after a stellar career. Shannon Clarke, who has already received numerous Division I offers, is primed to take another big step in her junior campaign. Junior Evy Harrell and senior Joy Nunoo are also back after starting for the Firebirds last season.

Yet the key for Free State to improve on its 10-11 record from a year ago will be developing its bench at the varsity level.

“I feel fortunate that we are bringing quite a bit of varsity experience that is going to help give us a strong foundation to build on,” Wood said. “I’m excited to watch how our team develops and grows throughout the season.”

Wrestling

First-year head coach Stephen Burns has a younger team, but one that he is very excited about.

Senior Lou Fincher, who is currently ranked third in Class 6A in the 132-pound weight class, is coming off a third-place finish at the state meet. Junior Caleb Streeter, a state qualifier last season, will also be a contender in the 138-pound weight class.

This is also the first year that girls wrestling is a state championship sport in Kansas. Sophomore Madyson Gray, who is ranked second in the 130-pound weight class in the state, figures to be a contender this season. After all, she won a title in an unsanctioned state tournament at McPherson last spring.

Still, a majority of Free State’s roster will be made up of freshmen and sophomores this season. Nolan Bradley, Eric Streeter, Trey Shanks, Austin Burenheide, Cole Rorick and Gavin Blanchard all should make strides this season against a tough schedule.

“I think by the time February gets here we will be opening some eyes that might be sleeping on us right now,” Burns said. “The Firebirds are a work in progress, but that progress is coming quickly.”

Free State will host a double dual at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Swimming

It is business as usual for Free State’s swim and dive team. Entering this season, the Firebirds are focused on what they can accomplish in the postseason come February.

“The team has their sights set on being in the top three at league and the top five at state,” 19th-year head coach Annette McDonald said.

That’s exactly what FSHS accomplished last year, when the team notched third at the Sunflower League meet and fourth at the state swim meet. And plenty of key returners are back for what should be another impressive season.

Junior Reilley Moore and sophomore Ben Vorthmann are back after winning individual state titles in the 100 butterfly and 100 free, respectively. Juniors Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck, Brady Flynn and Finn VanDyck are all key returners as well. Sophomores Jacob Heinz, Max Bates, John Kelley, Jack Keathley-Helms and Alexander Moore will also make an impact this year.

Free State will begin its season with a home quadrangular at 3:30 p.m.