FSHS, LHS runners getting a fast start

Lawrence Free State High School cross country runners take part in drills during a fall practice Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015.

It’s impossible to miss the large group of Free State High runners going down Sixth Street in the middle of the afternoon this week.

The Firebirds battled the heat for their first practice on Monday before enjoying a cooler afternoon Tuesday.

“It looked like we had about upper 70s, which for our first day is really good, because we’ll find a lot of kids who didn’t realize fall sports started until they show up for school on Wednesday,” FSHS coach Steve Heffernan said. “We’ll take it.”

Among the nearly 80 runners on the first day, Heffernan said about 50 of them showed up at various points throughout the summer for early morning runs.

“Probably 20 of them were pretty routine,” Heffernan said. “A lot of new kids, younger kids. They are going to find out what’s cool about training in the summer is it makes these days a little bit easier to tolerate. We had some of our veterans back as well putting in a pretty good (summer).”

Lawrence High had 20 boys and 13 girls show up on Monday, with a few additional runners forced to sit out because of incomplete paperwork.

“There will be more. We’ve got a lot more on the list,” said LHS coach Brian Anderson, who hopes to add about 10 runners in the next few weeks. “There will be some more when they make cuts from volleyball and soccer, if they make cuts. We always tell them if they get cut, we’d love to have them here.”

The Lions had about 15 runners each day in their summer workouts.

Girls tennis

Lawrence High’s girls tennis team opened its first practice with smaller numbers than last year, including a smaller freshmen class.

“For the first day we still have some paperwork to try and find,” LHS coach Chris Marshall said. “Twenty-one here. I know I have at least 24 that have shown interest so maybe 30 if we get lucky?”

The Lions spent the first day adjusting to the heat and working on the fundamentals while mixing in four-square games.

“We’re usually right around 30, finish the season with 28, so we’re about there,” Marshall said. “Not very many freshmen, so my guess is since they don’t have school they’re not aware that we started practice.”

Free State started with more than 30 girls for its first practice on Monday with first-year coach Keith Pipkin.

The Firebirds filled up all of their courts with a large freshman group.

“It’s weird how some freshman class will be five people and this time I think it’s like 12 to 15,” Pipkin said. “I knew there would be about 20 returning, then it all depended on freshmen.

“More people, more competitors … I think it’ll be a positive thing.”

Gymnastics

The first two days of practice for the Free State and Lawrence High gymnastics teams involved setting up the mats at LHS.

Not the most fun way to start the year for the Firebirds, who won a state championship last season for the third time in four years.

It takes two days to set up their gymnastics room at LHS because there’s not enough storage at either school to hold everything.

Free State only had one girl show up for the beginning of practice on Monday, but more girls are expected to show up throughout the week. Lawrence High had about 10 girls for the start of Monday’s practice.

“I’ve gotten a lot of emails from people who are showing up and a lot of the Free State kids don’t know where they are supposed to be going totally yet,” LHS and FSHS coach Brooke Kissinger said. “I’m sure I’ll have more from (Free State). … I think we’ll still end up with a couple of returners that are pretty good and we may end up with a pretty good team.”

Girls golf

Free State’s girls golf team only had six golfers show up for the first two days of tryouts, including zero freshmen.

“The last couple of years we’ve had about 13 or 14 girls,” FSHS coach Layne Meyer said. “We graduated a lot — not just in numbers, but in talent. So things are going to be a little different.”

“To be honest with you, I wish we had some more girls trying out,” Meyer added. “Every girl that is here and is trying out is a girl that played in the program, so they’re all returners.”

Lawrence High’s girls golf team only had one varsity golfer last season, and the Lions aren’t expected to have many more this season. Two girls showed up for Monday’s tryout while two seniors will likely join later this week. Tuesday’s tryout was canceled because of rain.

“My goal is to increase numbers by having a presence in the school that will hopefully entice more and more girls to be interested in golf,” first-year LHS coach Jennifer Schmitt said. “We have kind of a void in those two years (sophomores and juniors).”