Free State snaps Lions’ stranglehold in wrestling

Free State senior Matt Stalkfleet, top, takes Lawrence High sophomore Chris Geiss down to the mat during their 220 pound wrestling match Wednesday at FSHS.

Free State High’s wrestling team usually doesn’t have the depth to keep up with Lawrence High in the annual City Showdown dual.

Not this year.

The Firebirds fought off a late rally to win the Showdown, 36-28, on Wednesday night at FSHS.

“That puts us in a good spot to win regionals now,” FSHS senior Matt Stalkfleet said. “We’ve seen every opponent. It just feels good to beat a team that’s beat us eight years in a row. It’s awhile. We’re out of our dark days. It feels pretty good.”

Stalkfleet secured the victory for his school with a win by pinfall at 220 pounds, just 1:21 into his match. He was locked in from the very beginning, tossing his opponent off the mat in the opening 30 seconds before working his way to a pin.

Among Free State’s three seniors celebrating Senior Night Wednesday — Stalkfleet, Nick Hocking and Shayn Morris — Stalkfleet is the only one who has wrestled in the program for the past four years. Entering among a class of about 20 wrestlers in his freshman year, it wasn’t lost on Stalkfleet that it has been a long road as he teared up during the Senior Night ceremony before the dual.

“That’s the best part, man,” FSHS coach Mike Gillman said, “when you see that one senior who sticks it out, works hard and all of a sudden does something like that on Senior Night.”

The Firebirds won the first five matches of the dual, with Morris, Quailan Fowler and Isaiah Jacobs winning by decision, freshman Tate Steele capturing a victory by technical fall and junior Sid Miller claiming victory by pinfall. Steele, the top-ranked wrestler in Class 6A at 106 pounds, improved to 26-1 this year.

“That’s where the strength is of our team, our lower weights,” Gillman said. “Everybody has a great practice partner in the room, and that’s what helps them get pretty good.”

In one of the closest matches of the night, FSHS freshman Gage Foster beat LHS sophomore Tucker Wilson by a 9-8 decision at the buzzer. The two close friends from childhood continued to flip-flop one-point leads throughout the match. Wilson led by one with a reversal in the final seconds before Foster went to his favorite move — a switch — for two points and the win.

“We’ve never wrestled in a match because he’s always been heavier than me,” Foster said. “But we wrestle in practice, and he always beat up on me. It was good to finally get redemption.”

The Lions ripped off three straight victories in the middle of the dual, with freshman James Cooper winning a 4-1 decision at 145 pounds, senior Tristan Star using his moves for an 11-3 victory at 152 and senior Cy Burghart winning by pin at 160 pounds. Sophomore Kevin Nichols also won at 285 pounds by a 5-4 sudden victory.

LHS junior Alan Clothier won by pinfall at 195 pounds, improving this season to 29-0. He won his 100th match last weekend at the Blue Valley Northwest Tournament and now owns a 102-5 career record.

“It’s the fastest we’ve had anybody to 100 wins that I know of,” Naughton said. “He’s definitely solidified himself among the best in our history.”

Clothier is happy with his accomplishments, but he’s already looking forward to adding more.

“I think it’s great, and I’m proud,” Clothier said, “but I’m working for the state championship.”

The Firebirds are off until the Silver Lake Invitational on Feb. 7, but the Lions will compete in the Olathe North Tournament on Saturday.

Free State 36, Lawrence High 28

106 pounds: Gabe Smith, FS, won by forfeit.

113: Tate Steele, FS, def. Bennett King, 15-0.

120: Shayn Morris, FS, def. Carson Jumping Eagle, 4-1.

126: Quailan Fowler, FS, def. Ja’Melle Dye, 11-6.

132: Isaiah Jacobs, FS, def. Jay Cheatham, 16-3.

138: Sid Miller, FS, pinned Cade Burgart.

145: James Cooper, LHS, def. Ben Hill, 4-1.

152: Tristan Star, LHS, def. James Wensel, 11-3.

160: Cy Burghart, LHS, pinned Wyatt Stevens.

170: Gage Foster, FS, def. Tucker Wilson, 9-8.

182: Hayden Husman, LHS, won by forfeit.

190: Alan Clothier, LHS, pinned Sky Carey.

220: Matt Stalkfleet, FS, pinned Chris Geiss.

285: Kevin Nichols, LHS, def. Luke Winchester, 5-4 (SV).