Wichita ? The jump into his coach’s arms was priceless.

But to win it all, the city’s lone state championship qualifier will have to win one more wrestling match tonight.

No, Lawrence High’s Aaron Madill — who entered Friday with a 37-0 mark — won’t be going for gold at 160 pounds at Kansas Coliseum. Neither will Free State’s Nick McGovern, who won’t become the first city wrestler to take a title since his father, Ken McGovern, did it in 1978.

“I’m not surprised (of winning),” said Firebird Brett Shoffner, who advanced to tonight’s championship finals with a 7-6 semifinal victory over Blue Valley Northwest’s Jeisun Lawson in the 152-pound class.

“This is the reward for all that work over the summer and the fall,” said Shoffner (26-11), who will wrestle Overland Park Aquinas’ Drew Ibarra (28-3).

Free State coach Darrell Andrew told Shoffner to watch out for Lawson’s two-handed shoot at the start of the match. Shoffner blocked Lawson and tallied his own two-point takedown. That confidence carried through to the third period, and Lawson got closer when Shoffner was called for stalling.

“All he does is live and breathe wrestling,” Andrew said of the junior, who missed qualifying for state last season by one point. “He’s become a completely different wrestler this year, he’s worked for everything he’s earned.”

While Shoffner scored the day’s biggest success, three city seniors missed out on the championship round by a single point.

Madill and McGovern both lost in the championship semifinals, while Free State 171-pounder Kyle Frank fell 6-5 in the quarterfinals to Derby’s Matt Wintz.

“They both were about a second slow,” Andrew said of his two seniors.

While those losses stung the Firebirds late, five of Free State’s six state qualifiers — Matt Somers (125), Shoffner, Frank, McGovern and 215-pounder Grant Steinback — won their first matches.

Free State's Nick McGovern, top, controls Jake Rowell during a 189-pound match at the Class 6A state tournament. McGovern won the match Friday at Wichita.

But then McGovern was a split second late on his takedown in the 189-pound semifinal — giving Maize’s Matt Tatro a 3-2 win.

Lawrence High had similar fortunes.

Four of the six Lion qualifiers — Chris Cates (103), Pharouk Hussein (125), Brendan Halpin (135) and Madill — made it unscathed through the first round. But LHS had one the biggest surprises when 28-2 senior heavyweight Kenny Poeverlein was pinned in his first match by Dodge City’s Johnathan King, who came into state with a 13-14 record.

Poeverlein, who placed fifth last season at state, was pinned again by Salina South’s Ternel Marshall in his consolation match.

“It wasn’t that bad (of a day),” LHS coach Mark Dulgarian said. “You have to be mentally ready when it comes time for state matches. Some kids are satisfied just being here, and others are shooting for something more.”

While Madill had his sights on an undefeated season, the best he can do now is third.

Madill trailed Manhattan’s Derek Bunker 5-3 in the final 30 seconds of the third period before tying the match with 12 seconds left.

But as the clock wound down, Madill tried to re-adjust his grasp on Bunker, who escaped.

“I thought I had it going into overtime,” Madill said. “But I was sweaty, lost my grip and he just rolled out.”

Neither LHS nor Free State was in Class 6A’s team title hunt, which Hutchinson clearly led with 1051¼2 points. Free State is in 13th place with 38 points, and Lawrence is 22nd with 20 points.

Perennial champion Arkansas City (114) again leads Wichita Carroll (891¼2) and Wichita Kapaun (86) in 5A, while Columbus (95) is ahead of Abilene (82) in 4A. Baldwin sits in 10th with 341¼2 points.

DeSoto freshman Neil Erisman improved to 33-0 and advanced to the 145-pound 4A title, where he’ll face Colby’s Eric Luedke (37-1).

“That’s been my goal to go undefeated and go to the state finals,” Erisman said. “And hopefully win that.”

For the second straight year, a Baldwin heavyweight made a run. But unlike Witt Hinton, who won it all last year, Sam Coffey — who entered Friday with a 20-19 record — was pinned in the semifinals by Prairie View’s Dennis Kimzey.

Bulldog Kyle Flory made it back to the state finals for the second straight year at 171. Flory (39-6) will wrestle Columbus’ Kurtis Baylor (33-4).

“You just know he’s going to always come out and wrestle solid,” said BHS coach Kit Harris of Flory, whose six losses this season have come to either current or former Kansas and Missouri state champions.

Mill Valley’s Eric Pingleton will wrestle in the 4A 189-pound final. Pingleton (40-0) will take on Concordia’s Jacob Strait (33-1).

Eudora’s Mike Paxton (215) and Shane Grant (275) both lost in the championship semifinals.