Leavenworth ? Talk about dramatic finishes.

Lawrence High’s wrestling team led Free State by three points heading into the championship round of Saturday’s Sunflower League Tournament.

The next nearest school, Shawnee Mission North, was 16 points behind and didn’t have as many wrestlers in the finals as either FSHS or LHS. Both squads had four finalists and three in the consolation finals, almost guaranteeing one of the two schools would take the team title.

Thanks to the Firebirds’ four individual titles — from juniors Matt Somers, Brett Shoffner and seniors Kyle Frank and Nick McGovern — and a third-place finish from Grant Steinbach, they edged LHS, 120-1141¼2, for their first league team title.

“Our big guys stepped up in a big way,” FSHS coach Darrell Andrew said. “And we got some big points from the back door from K.J. Siebert and Mike Goble. They got us some big pins.”

For Frank, who defended his title at 171 pounds, the feeling was doubly sweet. He was the lone FSHS league champ last season, but he’s more than happy to have some company this year. Plus, there’s the team trophy.

“We finally got our shirt,” said Frank, referring to the championship shirts, which Andrew said will probably be ordered first thing Monday morning.

The Lions, who were denied their first league team title since 1988, had one individual champ in senior Aaron Madill. Madill (34-0) took the 160-pound title with a 23-6 win against Olathe South’s Conor Fitzgerald.

“I had two so-so matches coming into this one,” Madill said. “I knew I needed to go out and have a better match. I needed to be focused for this one.”

Madill’s win gave LHS a chance, but when the Firebirds won the next two titles — from Frank and McGovern — the Lions had to take the 215-pound title to stay close. But junior Nolan Kellerman was disqualified because the referee ruled he had ringworm on his chest.

Six minutes later, Steinbach won his third-place match, 3-2, against Olathe North’s Ryan Croxton and FSHS wrapped up the title.

Free State high's Matt Somers, top, earns three points against Leavenworth's Bobby Wood. Somers won the first-round match Saturday, and went on to win the 125-pound title at the Sunflower League wrestling meet at Leavenworth.

LHS got some late satisfaction when senior Kenny Poeverlein edged FSHS junior Jeremy Bustamante, 6-1, in the third-place heavyweight match but it wasn’t enough.

However, LHS coach Mark Dulgarian wasn’t about to blame the Lions’ loss on the ringworm ruling.

“A referee has that ability to make that decision,” he said. “And you don’t have to worry about that if we would have had five guys in the finals like we should have. If we put five guys in the finals, we have 123 (points) and we ultimately win.”

LHS freshman Chris Cates took second at 103 pounds, while senior Chris Hultine was second at 152 pounds. Junior Pharouk Hussein was fourth at 125 pounds.

The Firebirds’ other medalist was junior Brandon Allsbury, who was fourth at 103 pounds.

After the schedule FSHS had this season, including three two-day tournaments, it’s little wonder it came away with the team title. After all, the Firebirds had been through the gauntlet — now they’re ready for anything.

“Two things can happen with that,” Andrew said. “The kids either get beaten down and give up, or they could get better from it, which is exactly what I thought this group would do.”

Or, as Frank puts it, FSHS just got tougher.

“I think it finally showed us how much heart we have to have to come out and win,” he said.

Free State and Lawrence will be in action again Saturday when the Lions play host to a Class 6A regional at LHS.