Free State junior wrestler Tate Steele (138 pounds) tries to pin down Olathe East's Markell Scott during Wednesday's double-dual at Free State.

After a few weeks to prepare for the season, Free State High’s wrestling team proved it was more than ready to matchup against some new faces Wednesday.

The Firebirds, ranked 10th in Class 6A, cruised to a sweep in their season-opening double dual at FSHS. They won, 70-12, over Bishop Miege and beat Olathe East, 65-12.

In their pair of dominant wins, the Firebirds showed off their depth and offseason improvements. Perhaps, no wrestler was a better example than 132-pound FSHS junior Charlie Bermel, who pinned both of his opponents, including one match that lasted 40 seconds.

“He’s one of the hardest-working kids in our room,” Free State coach Mike Gillman said of Bermel. “Giving a kid like that an opportunity to wrestle varsity and then to showcase what he’s been working for is pretty cool. I really enjoyed watching him wrestle. That was my highlight.”

Bermel, who spent last season wrestling on junior-varsity, credited his practice partners, juniors Tate Steele and Isaiah Jacobs. Steele won a state title at 132 pounds last year and Jacobs took fifth at 126.

For instance, Bermel has improved his signature move — the cross-face cradle. It’s a move designed to pin opponents who lay on their stomach.

“I learned that freshman year and I tried it in my very first match ever and it was horrible,” Bermel said. “Absolutely terrible. But I got the pin and I’ve stuck with it ever since and I’ve perfected it. Guys like Tate, they taught me. I lost in a match because I was doing it the wrong way and they taught me how to do it the right way.”

Along with Bermel, Ben Hill, Devin Beers and Nick Eddis won two matches. Bishop Miege had seven open weights and Olathe East had three, limiting the time on the mat for some wrestlers.

Steele, the top-ranked wrestler in 6A at 138 pounds, said there isn’t much difference in his wrestling mentality after winning his first state title. The first state wrestling champion in school history won by technical fall, a 16-1 victory over Olathe East’s Danny Malekani.

“I think with a title comes confidence. But I don’t think that it’s really changed,” Steele said. “I still have the same mind-set. It’s not going to make me any cockier or anything like that.”

In the first few meets of the season, Gillman said it mostly comes down to “competitive fire” before teams have extra time to work on the technical side during winter break.

Against Olathe East, the Firebirds registered six pins: Bermel, Bennett King, Elijah Jacobs, Joey Eddis, Nick Eddis and Sky Carey.

The list of pins, spanning several weight classes, showcased where the Firebirds have made big strides throughout the past few seasons.

“It’s a lot different,” Steele said. “When you come in freshman year, I mean we were pretty good and we won regionals, but you saw the talent concentrated in certain parts of the room. If you go in our room right now, it just seems like it’s spread out everywhere.”

The Firebirds will compete in the Leavenworth Invitational at 9 a.m. Saturday.

Wednesday at Free State

Free State 70, Bishop Miege 12

106 pounds: Lou Fincher, FS, won by forfeit.

113: Garrett Bradley, FS, won by forfeit.

120: Bennett King, FS, won by forfeit.

126: Isaiah Jacobs, FS, won by forfeit.

132: Charlie Bermel, FS, pinned Gabe Cantu, BM, 3:54.

138: Tate Steele, FS, won by forfeit.

145: Elijah Jacobs, FS, won by forfeit.

152: Ben Hill, FS, def. Matt Deitchmon, BM, 3-0.

160: Drew Perez, BM, pinned Joey Eddis, FS, 1:34.

170: Brett Bailes, BM, won by forfeit.

182: Devin Beers, FS, pinned Collin Drinkhouse, BM, 1:23.

195: Manuel Solis, FS, pinned Luke Ziglinski, 1:06.

220: Nick Eddis, FS, pinned Christian Munoz, BM, 1:27.

285: Sky Carey, FS, won by forfeit.

Free State 65, Olathe East 12

106 pounds: Lou Fincher, FS, won by forfeit.

113: Garrett Bradley, FS, won by forfeit.

120: Bennett King, FS, pinned Liam Delancy, OE.

126: Isaiah Jacobs, FS, won by forfeit.

132: Charlie Bermel, FS, pinned Markell Scott, OE, 0:40.

138: Tate Steele, FS, def. Danny Malekani, OE, 16-1.

145: Elijah Jacobs, FS, pinned Mitchell Cardello, OE, 1:27.

152: Ben Hill, FS, def. Ty Alholm, OE, 4-0.

160: Joey Eddis, FS, pinned Wyatt Mackley, OE, 1:42.

170: Dwan Washington, OE, won by forfeit.

182: Devin Beers, FS, def. Jaden Avena, 13-9.

195: Robert Martinez, OE, pinned Manuel Solis, FS, 2:47.

220: Nick Eddis, FS, pinned Saul Gomez, 1:36.

285: Sky Carey, FS, pinned Will Eagan, 0:38.