Free State wrestling takes down SMNW, 64-10

Free State 220-pounder Nick Eddis finishes off a pin in his match against Shawnee Mission Northwest's Raian Hajmahmoud in the Firebirds' 64-10 dual win over the Cougars on Wednesday at FSHS.

Free State wrestling coach Mike Gillman knew that his team had the experience factor over Shawnee Mission Northwest in Wednesday’s home dual against the Cougars, but there were still a few things that he was looking for regardless of the outcome.

The Firebirds won 10 of the 12 matches to coast to a 64-10 victory over the Cougars, and Gillman was pleased to see that their work in the practice room translated over to the dual.

“One thing that we always try to focus on is our conditioning. I thought that there were about five or six matches in there where our conditioning was far superior than them,” Gillman said. “That’s one of the things that we try to pride ourselves on is our conditioning — to be ready for every match. If it goes to the third period, then we need to be ready to go during that time so that was great.”

Lou Fincher, Isaiah Jacobs, Charlie Bermel, Elijah Jacobs, Ben Hill, Elijah Denmark, Devin Beers and Nick Eddis all won by fall for the Firebirds, Bennett King and Tate Steele went on to win by tech fall.

One of the marquee matches of the dual put Free State 126-pounder Isaiah Jacobs up against Shawnee Mission Northwest junior Jerad Habben. The SM Northwest grappler is ranked No. 5 in Class 6A at 120 pounds, but wrestled up a weight class to take on Jacobs. Habben jumped out to a 2-0 early in the first period, but the Free State senior battled back to win by fall in the second.

“He took me down early in the first period, and I knew that shouldn’t have happened,” Jacobs said. “I just had to come back and just get that dub (win).”

Jacobs was pleased with the Firebirds’ overall performance, and the Free State wrestler who he was most impressed with was one that didn’t win his match. Free State 113-pounder Garrett Bradley was facing the No. 1 wrestler in 6A in his weight class in SM Northwest sophomore Charles Brockmann. Although Bradley lost by major decision, 11-2, Jacobs thought that his teammate showed a lot of grit against Brockmann.

“He didn’t do too bad,” said Jacobs of Bradley, who is ranked No. 6 in 6A. “Last time he wrestled the kid, he got pinned. This time it was just a major.”

The Firebirds’ convincing win over the Cougars marked just the second time that they’ve wrestled at home this season. Eddis closed out the dual with a first-period pin against Raian Hajmahmoud in the 220-pound match, and credited the Free State faithful for getting him amped up before taking the mat.

“It’s always fun because we have one of the best home crowds of any high school in Kansas,” Eddis said. “It’s always a blast having all these eyes on you watching you.”

While the adrenaline was running high for the Firebirds, Gillman said that still keeping composure was still critical for his wrestlers. During the 145-pound match, Elijah Jacobs was penalized a point for an illegal takedown against Jackson Burnett. Gillman was proud of Jacobs, though, for immediately apologizing to Burnett, and noticing that the takedown was excessive.

“He had a slam there at the end, and he realized what he did. That’s the kind of kid he is,” Gillman said. “He learns, he evolves and he starts doing really good. His pin was great.”

The schedule will start to pick up quickly for the Firebirds, as they will compete next in the Paola tournament on Friday and Saturday.

“We have a lot of wrestling for the next two weeks,” Gillman said. “We wrestle like five or six times in the next two weeks.”

Free State 64, Shawnee Mission Northwest 10

106 — Lou Fincher, FS, won by fall over Dominique Brooks, SMNW, 0:15.

113 — Charles Brockmann, SMNW, won by major decision over Garrett Bradley, FS, 11-2.

120 — Bennett King, FS, won by tech fall over Joey Mendez, SMNW, 15-0.

126 — Isaiah Jacobs, FS, won by fall over Jerad Habben, SMNW, 3:03.

132 — Charlie Bermel, FS, won by fall over Noah Herzberg, SMNW, 5:20.

138 — Tate Steele, FS, won by tech fall over Julian Gutierrez, SMNW, 18-2.

145 — Elijah Jacobs, FS, won by fall over Jackson Burnett, SMNW, 3:32.

152 — Ben Hill, FS, won by fall over Aidan Quinn, SMNW, 2:38.

160 — Devonte Smith, SMNW, won by fall over Joey Eddis, FS, 4:34.

170 — Gage Foster, FS, def. OPEN, SMNW.

182 — Elijah Denmark, FS, won by fall over Adam Consiglio, SMNW, 1:11.

195 — Devin Beers, FS, won by fall over Anthony Cochangco, SMNW, 1:30.

220 — Nick Eddis, FS, won by fall over Raian Hajmahmoud, SMNW, 1:12.