Although Free State High wrestling coach Darrell Andrew didn’t get the quantity, he believes the Firebirds have the quality to produce today and Saturday at the Class 6A state tournament at the Kansas Coliseum in Wichita.

Seven Firebirds, including four regional runners-up, advanced to state.

“When you look at the seven qualifying, they’re pretty quality kids,” said Andrew, who had qualified eight wrestlers in the four previous seasons. “Although we don’t have those younger kids that would benefit from the experience of a state tournament, I think the people we have we’ll be point scorers.”

FSHS is led by four-time state qualifiers Ian Band Justin Stevens.

B a 6A runner-up last season who is ranked third at 215 pounds this season, should challenge for a state title. He is 25-6 with two of those losses coming to Olathe North’s Josh Carroll, the defending state champion. Bhanded Carroll (25-1) his only loss at the Blue Valley Northwest tournament. Carroll defeated B a Stanford signee, in the finals of the Sunflower League and regional tournaments.

FSHS senior Justin Stevens, fifth at state last year and ranked second at 189 pounds, is 32-2 with both losses coming against Olathe South’s Justin Dyer, a two-time state champion. Dyer, an Oklahoma signee, is 131-3 in his prep career and has won 89 consecutive matches.

“Our goal was to place in the top six,” said Andrew, whose Firebirds are ranked 10th in 6A. “I don’t think we have enough people to get a trophy (top-three finish). If we can have two kids get in the finals and have other wrestlers do well in the back door we should be all right.”

Other Firebird qualifiers are Matt Somers (19-6 at 119 pounds), Kyle Case (22-15 at 130), Anthony White (24-15 at 135), Nick McGovern (18-10 at 160) and Kyle Frank (24-9 at 171).

Three Lions to state

Three Lawrence High wrestlers Chris Hultine (135), Aaron Madill (160) and Kenny Poeverlein II (275) qualified for state.

Hultine, a junior and the city’s lone regional champion, is 26-8 and ranked fourth in his weight class.

Madill and Poeverlein, both juniors, placed second in their respective weight classes at regional. Madill is 25-7 and Poeverlein is 20-10.

Baldwin sending seven

Baldwin High is sending a school-record seven wrestlers, including regional champions Kyle Flory (171), Dan Hamilton (215) and Witt Hinton (275) to the 4A state meet in Wichita.

Flory, a sophomore, is 39-4 with 18 falls and has set the school record for wins in a season.

“Kyle has had a very exciting season,” BHS coach Kit Harris said. “He has surprised many upperclassmen and just continues to get better each week. He has focused on developing real solid techniques and is combining that with his feisty competitive mentality.”

Wellsville’s Patton unbeaten

Wellsville junior Kyle Patton, ranked No. 1 at 112 pounds, takes a 28-0 record to the Class 3-2-1A wrestling tournament in Hays.

Oskaloosa senior Larry Sulbeka, a regional champion at 189 pounds, should also challenge for a medal with a 24-4 record.