Free State High senior Grace Bartle does a flip as she dismounts the balance beam during Free State's meet at Lawrence High on Thursday.

Free State High senior Grace Bartle does a flip as she dismounts the balance beam during Free State's meet at Lawrence High on Thursday.

Free Staet High senior Haley Johnson goes through her routine on the uneven bars during Free State's meet at Lawrence High on Thursday.

Lawrence High freshman Eliana Seidner performs her routine on the balance beam during Lawrence High's meet Thursday at LHS.

Lawrence High sophomore Sydney Haralson sprints down the runway as she does the vault at Lawrence High's meet Thursday at LHS.

Free State High’s gymnastics team took the floor for the first time this year as Class 6A defending state champions, and there were plenty of nerves. That didn’t stop them from performing well.

The Firebirds won the Lawrence High quadrangular, as senior Grace Bartle took first place in the vault and floor exercise and edged teammate Haley Johnson in all-around points.

Even with the success, there were the expected jitters and kinks to work on after the first meet of the season.

“I mean, I wasn’t ecstatic. I messed up on bars, and I fell on beam,” Bartle said. “But it’s still our first meet. I’m really happy with, like, how it went all together. It’s just a great start-off meet.”

The Firebirds had four of the top five scores in the beam, led by Callie Hicks (7.9) in first, Johnson (7.8) in second, Carrie Howland (7.7) in third and Bartle in fifth (7.5).

They also had the top three floor exercises, as Howland (8.55) took third, Johnson (8.6) finished second and Bartle (9.05) was first.

“I’m really happy. We were nervous, and you could see it,” FSHS and LHS coach Brooke Kissinger said. “But we did a good job. We have a great foundation, and I’m ready to work from there.”

Hicks, who just joined the team this season, also took first place in the uneven bars (8.0).

“Callie really surprised me,” Bartle said. “She does really well under pressure. I’m so happy we have her on the team this year. It’s going to be really exciting.”

Bartle said teammate Landon Prideaux also surprised her with her performances throughout the quad, taking 14th in all-around points, and even in open gym practices throughout week.

LHS finished last in the team standings, but was led by junior Ashley Ammann, who took sixth all-around and earned top-six finishes in the floor exercise (8.0), uneven bars (7.8) and vault (8.5).

With a few of the Lions battling injuries, they relied on newcomers Sydney Haralson, who took 17th in the floor exercise (6.45), and Eliana Seidner, who finished 13th in all-around points.

“A lot of girls stepped up and did better than I’ve even seen them do at practice,” Ammann said. “So it was good to see everyone work so hard.”

Both schools will compete in the Shawnee Mission North Invitational on Sept. 20.

Team scores: 1. Free State, 100.3; 2. Shawnee Mission West, 94.4; 3. Shawnee Mission North, 89.3; 3. Lawrence, 88.45.

Free State individual results

Balance beam — Callie Hicks, 7.9; Haley Johnson, 7.8; Carrie Howland, 7.7; Grace Bartle, 7.5; Landon Prideaux, 5.1.

Uneven bars — Hicks, 8.8; Bartle, 8.5; Johnson, 7.4; Howland, 7.35; Prideaux, 5.0.

Vault — Bartle, 9.3; Johnson, 8.7; Prideaux, 8.0; Becca Moran, 7.7.

Floor — Bartle, 9.05; Johnson, 8.6; Howland, 8.55; Moran, 7.55; Prideaux, 5.35; Rohe (JV), 5.4.

Lawrence individual results

Balance beam — Jordyn Leon, 6.6; Ashley Ammann, 6.5; Eliana Seidner, 6.3; Talyn Jefferson, 6.0; Elizabeth Harms, 6.0; Ja’Maya Dye (JV), 3.6; Lexi Mason (JV), 3.4.

Uneven bars — Ammann, 7.8; Leon, 7.3; Jefferson, 5.7; Seidner, 4.25; Dye (JV), 4.2; Naomi Dale (JV), 3.7; Kate Rettig (JV), 3.7.

Vault — Ammann, 8.5; Leon, 8.4; Jefferson, 8.2; Seidner, 8.0; Le-asa Woods, 7.5; Dye (JV), 8.5; Dale (JV), 7.4; Abby Warren (JV), 6.7; Sydney Haralson (JV), 6.6.

Floor — Ammann, 8.0; Harms, 7.8; Leon, 7.35; Seidner, 6.85; Haralson, 6.45; Mason (JV), 5.1; Warren (JV), 5.0; Rettig (JV), 4.9; Sarah Krambeer (JV), 4.6.

All-around city medalists: 1. Bartle, FSHS, 34.35; t-2. Johnson, FSHS, 32.5; 6. Ammann, LHS, 30.8.