Free State boys tennis coach Jon Renberger was not happy with his team’s doubles performance, and Lawrence High coach Dick Wedel was less than thrilled with the play of his singles.

Free State High's Charles guard hits a forehand during a doubles match with partner Keith Pipkin. The Firebird tandem beat Lawrence High's Tommy Johnson and Rahul Gogineni, and Free State won the dual, 5-4, Monday at the Lawrence Tennis Center.

The final tally at Monday’s city tennis showdown was as close to a wash as you could get. But in the end, the Firebirds ran their all-time record against the Lions to 6-0 after a 5-4 victory at the Lawrence Tennis Center.

“I think we just need to calm down,” Renberger said of his young doubles pairings.

“Our No. 2 and 3 doubles were just tight and flat,” Renberger said. “Their feet were flat on the ground, and their knees were locked. They just looked nervous and tight. Fortunately, we came out of that and played well in the singles.

“I’m pleased with the team win. But again, this definitely exposed a lot of things.”

Early on, everything was going Lawrence’s way. Rain clouds hovering over town veered around the tennis complex as the Lions convincingly won two of the three doubles matches.

LHS No. 2 doubles pair Ryan Robinson and Noah Welch ousted Jack Hull and Nick Martinez, 8-1, and No. 3 pair Gardner Burg and Sam Goodell took out Zack Morgenstern and Stephen Donly, 8-3.

No. 1 Firebird duo Keith Pipkin and Charles Guard, who rarely compete in doubles, saved Free State from a sweep. After going up 5-0 against Lawrence’s No. 1 tandem of Tommy Johnson and Rahul Gogineni, the Lions’ duo rallied to 5-4. But Pipkin and Guard pulled out the 8-5 win, shifting the momentum to Free State.

Lawrence High tennis coach Dick Wedel, left, talks to No. 1 doubles duo Tommy Johnson, center, and Rahul Gogineni during the Lions' match against Free State.

Pipkin said he and Guard let up after they built their steep advantage, but he wasn’t about to make the same mistake in the day’s most anticipated matchup — Pipkin’s match against Johnson at No. 1 singles.

Last year, Pipkin got the better of Johnson at the annual crosstown dual, then Johnson had the last laugh when he defeated Pipkin at the Sunflower League meet.

Monday’s match was tied at one when Pipkin displayed his trademark power along with his newfound consistency and control to reel off an 8-3 victory.

“I used to be really inconsistent last year, and that’s how I would lose a lot of the close matches,” he said. “I try not to let up, because usually if I let up, I probably won’t get back on.”

The two, who have been friendly rivals for roughly ten years, had some fun with it, too, talking a little bit of trash back and forth. Pipkin said when he had built a 6-1 advantage and Johnson was showing frustration, he knew it was in the bag.

6Sports video: City teams face off on the tennis courts

Pipkin’s dominance had a ripple effect, as Free State took four of six singles matches to rally and stay unbeaten against Lawrence.

Johnson was solid, too, showing good power on his serve, though he said Pipkin was not the same as a year ago.

Lawrence High senior Tommy Johnson hits a return to Free State's Keith Pipkin. Johnson lost the No. 1 singles match, and the Lions lost a dual to Free State, 5-4, Monday at the Lawrence Tennis Center.

“He got a lot better in terms of his consistency, and it takes me awhile to get warmed up,” Johnson said. “He was just more fluid and more consistent today.”

And the trash talking didn’t stop, even after Johnson had been defeated.

“You can quote me: He’d better be ready for league,” he said with a smile.

Both schools will play host today to individual home quads. For Free State, who plays at 3:00 p.m., it’s a chance to build momentum. For Lawrence, who will begin at 3:30, it’s a chance to bounce back.

“We’ve spent a lot of time working on doubles, so I was pretty pleased with some of those showings,” Wedel said. “I wasn’t pleased with how the singles went, and I think we should have done better.”

Free State High's Keith Pipkin hits a forehand against Lawrence High's Tommy Johnson.