Large freshmen classes highlight fall high school sports programs

A common theme between Lawrence High and Free State boys soccer programs are large freshmen classes.

For the first day of tryouts Monday, Lawrence had around 27 freshmen compared to only eight seniors. LHS coach Mike Murphy attributed his team’s participation numbers to the usual cycles in high school sports, but was thrilled to see all of the new players vying for spots.

The Lions, who ended tryouts Tuesday night, had around 65 players show up Monday and most of them participated with the team throughout the summer.

“We’ll be young at all levels really,” Murphy said.

At Free State, which is holding three days of tryouts, more than 70 players arrived Monday afternoon, including about 30 freshmen.

“I don’t think in the last two years, we’ve had this huge of a freshmen class,” Free State coach Kelly Barah said.

Girls tennis

After previously coaching at Field Kindley High in Coffeyville, Aaron Clark was impressed by the size of his team at his first practice Monday.

Clark, the fourth FSHS tennis coach in four years, had more than 30 players filling up all of the courts. With only two or three seniors, most of them are underclassmen.

“Coming from where I came from … we certainly didn’t have those numbers,” said Clark, who will teach at Free State. “It’s nice to see a passion for the sport.”

Lawrence has one of its largest teams in recent seasons with around 30 girls participating in practice during the first two days.

LHS coach Chris Marshall, who said at least 17 girls are new to the program, believes club tennis is contributing to the rise in numbers.

“I think that tennis is starting to become a little more popular and I think a lot of the girls are having fun with the game,” Marshall said.

Cross country

Easing into the cross country season, one of the biggest benefits for runners this year are the milder-than-usual temperatures.

Lawrence had about 40 runners during the first day of practice, which is fewer than last year, but coach Laura Koster is hopeful that the team will grow throughout the first week.

“We had a pretty good group this summer, so we’re excited about that,” Koster said. “Hopefully that’ll help us this season.”

Free State’s cross country team started with more than 80 runners on the first day, and has grown in the past few seasons to more than 100 once school starts and cuts are made in other sports.

The Firebirds plan to bring runners along slowly in the first few weeks in terms of mileage.

“We’re not in a big hurry to measure where folks are,” FSHS coach Steve Heffernan said. “We just want to get them through and keep them coming back the next day.”

Girls golf

Only two years ago, there were less than 10 combined members of the girls golf programs between Free State and Lawrence.

“We do our best to try to grow the game, to get as many girls out as we can,” Free State coach Layne Meyer said. “So rather pleased to see the numbers that we have this year — 16 trying out is the most I’ve ever had since being the head coach at Free State.”

The Firebirds, who will conclude tryouts today at Eagle Bend, only return one varsity golfer. But there’s a big group of newcomers, which is a good sign for the growth of the program.

“I’m encouraged that there’s this many girls trying out,” Meyer said. “Every year we like to keep as many as we can.”

Lawrence had around seven golfers at Tuesday’s practice at Lawrence Country Club. John Moos was named the team’s head coach on Tuesday afternoon, replacing Jennifer Schmitt.