NEWTON ? Lacey Baxter took first place on the balance beam, leading Free State High’s gymnastics squad to a sixth-place finish Saturday at the state tournament.

Baxter won the state championship after a score of 9.475 on the beam. She took second in floor exercise after scoring 9.35 and finished fourth all-around with 36.475 points.

The Firebirds scored 101.45 as a team — winner Olathe East scored 109.65.

Free State had four other athletes at the meet — Kim Baker, Sara Hase, Karen Kroege and Elena Zeitler. Baker scored 8.2 on vault, 7.675 on bars, 7.925 on beam and 7.95 on floor exercise for 31.75 all-around. Hase had 8.55 on vault, 8.15 bars, 8.25 beam, 8.2 floor and 33.15 all-around. Kroege had 8.0 vault, 7.775 bars, 7.55 beam, 7.7 floor and 31.00 all-around. Zeitler finished with 7.7 on vault, 5.65 beam and 5.65 floor.