WRITER: Conner Becker

Preps Notebook: Free State, LHS tennis land top 3 at LHS invite; Free State and LHS senior swimmers shine at City Showdown

The Free State and Lawrence High boys tennis teams competed in the annual Lawrence High Invitational on Friday. The Firebirds placed second with 27 total wins and LHS slid in right beneath their cross-town rivals in third place with 20 total wins. In the first round of singles, Free State senior Britton Snyder won his opening match against Olathe Northwest's Caden Moore, but fell in the next round to Shawnee ...

Free State boys golf wins its first tournament since 2016

The Free State boys golf team earned its first tournament crown since 2016 on Wednesday, placing first among 13 total schools in the Seaman Invitational at Village Greens Golf Course. To take home the title, Free State carded a team score of 308 and finished one stroke better than Blue Valley Northwest. Junior Jack Randall led the way for the Firebirds, finishing 2-over (74) through 18 holes and placing second ...

Baseball and softball roundup: Free State softball runs past Mill Valley; LHS baseball drops road trip to SM West

A strong finish by junior starting pitcher Elsa Carrillo in the final two frames led the Free State softball team past Mill Valley 7-1 on Thursday night. The road win snaps a three-game losing skid for the Lady Firebirds (5-7). Carrillo went a full seven innings, allowing just a single run on nine hits, a walk and five strikeouts. Senior Megan Kohl (3-for-4) had a field day at the plate with two RBIs and a ...

LHS baseball keeps its winning streak going in 2-1 win over SM North

In his first varsity start, junior Kyan Guss extended LHS baseball’s winning streak to three games with a 2-1 home victory over Shawnee Mission North on Wednesday — and got a bit of revenge along the way. Through seven innings, Guss allowed a single run on four hits, one walk and six strikeouts. Two of those hits came from SM North’s Norman Davis Jr., and when he came up to bat with two outs in the top of ...

Preps Notebook: Free State, LHS golf enter second round of Sunflower League tournament

The Free State and Lawrence High boys golf teams returned to the links for the second round of the Sunflower League tournament on Monday at Falcon Ridge. Free State sophomore Adam Hemker carded an 81 tying for 20th place with Shawnee Mission East's Jack Shelton. Fellow sophomore Aiden Graf-Hannah tied for 24th carding an 83 with the Firebirds. Freshman Andrew Kirkwood led the Lions, individually, finishing ...

Fast start by Olathe East overpowers Free State girls soccer in 5-0 loss

An early ambush overwhelmed the Free State girls soccer team during a 5-0 loss to Olathe East at home on Tuesday. The Hawks charged out front from the first whistle, finding the net twice within the first five minutes of play. O-East junior midfielder Caitlyn Toubia lit the first match less than a minute after kickoff, sliding a short-range shot past Free State sophomore keeper Merrit Hale off a corner kick. ...