In terms of city showdowns, today’s Lawrence High tennis triangular might be anticlimactic.

The Lions play host to Free State, but also play Olathe East at 3 p.m. at the Lawrence Tennis Center. Sure, a Firebirds-Lions matchup always brings out the best in both teams, but this is one that follows a couple of other matches.

“This is the only head-to-head matchup, but we’ve already seen them,” FSHS coach Jon Renberger said, noting that both teams were in the Liberty Invitational and the Emporia Invitational, and they’ll play in the Sunflower League tournament and at regionals.

“You’re looking at four tournaments in the season and the head-to-head quad, so we actually see them quite a bit.”

LHS coach Dick Wedel joked that maybe even once is enough.

“As strong as they’ve been the last couple of years, I don’t think we need to see them more than that,” he said.

Free State was second at the Class 6A state meet last year and features the defending state champ in senior Emily Wang, while Lawrence’s lone state qualifier graduated.

That doesn’t mean there’s not a friendly rivalry going between the schools, though.

“I wouldn’t say it’s heated or personal, it’s just fun to put the two local school together,” Renberger said, adding that he’s never lost a head-to-head showdown in four years against LHS.

“We’re certainly lucky enough to be a talented team that we can get the bragging rights.”