photo by: Derek Skillett

Free State sophomore Keegan VanPelt returns a ball in a first-place match during the Sunflower League tournament Thursday at the College Boulevard Activity Complex.

OLATHE — The Free State girls tennis team demonstrated its depth in the first event of the postseason.

For the second straight season, FSHS placed second at the Sunflower League tournament, scoring 75 points as a team. Lawrence High claimed 12th with 33 points as a team on Thursday at College Boulevard Activity Complex.

Sophomore Keegan VanPelt led the way for the Firebirds, as she finished second in the singles bracket. VanPelt lost in the championship match to Shawnee Mission East’s Allison Wilcox by an 8-4 margin.

“I felt like I could have performed a little better,” VanPelt said. “It was a really good match. (Wilcox) is a really good player. I’m not disappointed on that part.”

Senior Emma Johnson ended in 22nd place after going 1-3. Sophomore Andie Veeder and junior Anna Peard placed fifth in the doubles bracket with a 3-1 record. Seniors Gabby Gorman and Kate Piper placed fourth in the doubles bracket with a 2-2 record.

“The girls competed well top to bottom. Everyone came out and competed,” Clark said. “We had a tough loss in the championship on the singles bracket. In the doubles, we were deep. Just getting a championship match in the singles is an accomplishment in itself.”

Meanwhile, Lawrence High was led by Lilli Derby, who placed 15th with a 2-3 record in the singles bracket. Caitlynn Kliem and Karenna Peterson finished 21st with a 2-2 record, while Lana Chieu and Laura Teska finished in 18th place with a 2-2 clip.

photo by: Derek Skillett

Lawrence High’s Lilli Derby prepares to hit a ball during the Sunflower League tournament Thursday at the College Boulevard Activity Center.

“I was really pleased with (Derby), especially the way she played her first round,” LHS head coach Chris Marshall said. “The rest of us kind of struggled in the first couple of rounds, but I was pleased that we were able to win our last couple of matches. It ended in a positive manner.”

Both teams are slated to return Friday, Oct. 5, at Mill Valley for a 6A regional meet.

Sunflower League tournament

Team Scores — 1. Shawnee Mission East 98, 2. Lawrence Free State 75, 3. Olathe East 75, 4. Shawnee Mission South 64, 5. Olathe Northwest 62, 6. Olathe West 62, 7. Shawnee Mission Northwest 50, 8. Shawnee Mission West 47, 9. Olathe North 48, 10. Olathe South 45, 11. Gardner-Edgerton 34, 12. Lawrence High 33, 13. Shawnee Mission North 10.

Singles

FSHS: Keegan VanPelt (second place) — Keegan VanPelt def. Emma Alexander, SMNW, 8-0; Keegan VanPelt def. Michaela Crowe, SMNW, 8-0; Keegan VanPelt def. Michaela Magee, OE, 8-3; Allison Wilcox, SME, def. Keegan VanPelt 8-4.

FSHS: Emma Johnson (22nd place) — Lilli Derby, LHS, def. Emma Johnson 8-5; Greta Albrecht, OS, def. Emma Johnson 8-4; Emma Johnson def. Jacey Medlin, OS, 8-2; Bella Kirkwood, LHS, def. Emma Johnson 8-1.

LHS: Lilli Derby (15th place) — Lilli Derby def. Emma Johnson, LFS, 8-4; Michaela Magee, OE, def. Lilli Derby 8-0; Nora Weiss, SMW, def. Lilli Derby 8-2; Emma Alexander, SMNW, def. Lilli Derby 8-2; Lilli Derby def. Julia Brincks, OE.

LHS: Bella Kirkwood (21st place) — Emma Andreason, ONW, def. Bella Kirkwood 8-4; Kaylee Bartel, SMS, def. Bella Kirkwood 8-3; Bella Kirkwood def. Gillian Healzer, SMN, 8-1; Bella Kirkwood def. Emma Johnson, LFS, 8-1.

Doubles

FSHS: Andie Veeder/Anna Peard (fifth place) — Veeder/Peard def. Bai/Janzen, ON, 8-0; Gorman/Piper, LFS, def. Veeder/Peard 8-5; Veeder/Peard def. Ranee/Cruise, OE, 8-2; Veeder/Peard def. Liu/Li, OE, 8-1.

FSHS: Gabby Gorman/Kate Piper (fourth place) — Gorman/Piper def. Sloan/Anstein, SMNW, 8-0; Gorman/Piper def. Veeder/Peard, LFS, 8-5; Lynn/Alfaro, OS, def. Gorman/Piper 8-2; Cartmell/Rayland, SME, def. Gorman/Piper 8-1.

LHS: Caitlynn Kliem/Karenna Peterson (21st place) — Gorake/Jones, OW, def. Kliem/Peterson 8-3; Geyer/Penman, OW, def. Kliem/Peterson 8-3; Kliem/Peterson def. Phetsophou/Stanley, GE, 8-7; Kliem/Peterson def. Ibara/Newman, SMN, 8-1.

LHS: Lana Chieu/Laura Teska (18th place) — Budreau/Castillo, ONW, def. Chieu/Teska 8-3; Chieu/Teska def. Brown/Kawaoka, ON, 8-2; Chieu/Teska def. Harlow/Beasley, GE, 8-5; Geyer/Penman, OW, def. Chieu/Teska 7-6.