Before Free State High’s Alex Hardman defeated Lawrence High’s Chris Coons, 5-2, in a battle of 125-pounders, he congratulated his opponent for reaching the finals of the 2007 Sunflower League wrestling meet Saturday afternoon.

“We’re both friends,” Hardman said. “I’m happy for Chris too.”

Hardman, a junior, has competed with Coons on the Coyotes and Jayhawks kids club teams and against him several times during high school.

“I kind of know what he likes to do,” he said.

Hardman’s victory against his familiar and friendly foe helped Free State, the host team, finish seventh with 95 points. The team placing was a bit of a dropoff from last year’s fourth-place finish, but it didn’t disappoint rookie Firebirds coach Paul Lappin.

“They had a pretty good day,” Lappin said. “I’m happy with their effort.”

One year after placing second, LHS ended Saturday’s league meet fourth with 132 points while placing eight wrestlers.

“Our performance was pretty good,” Lions coach Mark Dulgarian said.

The Lions likely would have placed higher had they featured a full slate of healthy wrestlers. Heavyweight Jake Lorenzo (broken nose) and 171-pounder Brandon Holland (injured hand) did not compete, but Dulgarian expects both to return for the Class 6A regional meet Feb. 16-17.

“If they both would’ve placed,” Dulgarian said, “I think we would’ve been close by (No. 1 team) Olathe East.”

Coons lost to Hardman, but still had a strong performance, defeating Shawnee Mission East’s Joey Lutz, the No. 1 seed, in the semifinal.

FREE STATE HIGH JUNIOR ALEX HARDMAN, TOP, tries to turn Olathe Northwest's Brad Cooper during their match at the Sunflower League wrestling meet. Hardman won the 125-pound weight class during Saturday's tournament in the Firebirds' home gym.

Coons and Hardman were not the only local wrestlers to go mano a mano. In the finals of the 140-pound weight class, Free State’s Marc Somers defeated Lawrence High’s Zach Hertzel. Officials paused the match as Somers aggravated an elbow injury, which has bothered the senior all year. Somers still won, 15-1.

“Marc’s just tough,” Lappin said. “He knows what he’s doing – years and years of experience.”

The Lions’ Brandon Goodwin, who has lost only four matches all year, opened the finals portion of the tournament with a victory in the 103-pound weight class to repeat as league champion. Dulgarian called his performance “dominant.”

“I just wrestled a lot better than I had been lately,” Goodwin said.

Free State also excelled in the lighter classes with freshman Koty Russell winning the 112-pound class.

“He’s a really strong kid, especially for just a 112-pounder,” Lappin said. “I look forward to what he’s able to do in the future.”

Competing in their home gym provided a boost for the Firebirds.

“It’s fun. Everyone usually enjoys competing at home,” Lappin said. “They did really well not getting distracted.”

Both local teams, however, know the stakes become higher with the regional and state meets looming.

“We’re going to have some dogfight matches,” Dulgarian said.