Free State High senior Stephen Anderson and junior Sam Solis had a state tournament berth within their grasp but they just couldn’t fully grab it.

The doubles pair fought back from a one-set deficit to force a tiebreaker, but ultimately lost, 7-6, 2-6, (7-2).

“It was really hard, especially in a close game like that,” Anderson said. “But we sure played good and played our hearts out.”

They weren’t the only Firebirds who left everything they had on the court as freshman Ian Pultz-Earle won his first round match but lost the next two to fall just one win shy of a state tournament bid. He lost to Tyler Garland (SMNW), who had just lost to LHS’s Thomas Irick, in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.

Junior David Neff had the same fate as Pultz-Earle, winning in the first round before losing the next two matches. Neff lost in the consolation semifinals to Conner Petty (O-South), 6-1, 6-2.

“The future looks bright for Free State tennis,” Anderson said, “and I’m happy to see that.”

“I think I am excited about our future, but I’m also excited about the seniors we had our team this year,” FSHS coach Oather Strawderman added. “Stephen and Jackson (Schneider) both did amazing today. They both had super high expectations about their performance today and I think both lived up to it.”

Lawrence High also has a lot of young players that have showed promise, but junior Elliott Abromeit will probably be the top singles man next spring. He had a tough draw against Austin Crist (O-North) and lost 6-0, 6-0. Abromeit has shown flashes of No. 1 singles talent, but he’ll need to refine his game over the summer to match the strong serves and spin that his opponents can put on the ball.

Both of Lawrence High’s doubles teams lost in the first round, though they were a much different lineup than anticipated. Senior Panyin Boye-Doe had to pair with freshman Sam Allen as junior Adam Edualy recovers from two broken wrists and senior Matt Carmody was out sick with pneumonia. Sophomore Johnathon Kinder and freshman Michael Braman also paired up, but it’s hard to insert two freshmen into a regionals setting with no chemistry to work with.

However, before thoughts about next season get too far ahead, LHS senior Thomas Irick still has one week left to cap his final year when he plays at the state tournament in Wichita. He had a great comeback to win a regional title and it’ll be fun to see if he can keep that magic throughout the week.