photo by: Andrew Rosenthal

Free State freshman Ben Shryock races with the top pack at the state cross-country meet Saturday at Rim Rock Farm on Oct. 27, 2018.

In its quest for a state title, Free State’s boys cross-country began the season off right.

Following a runner-up finish in Class 6A last year, the Firebirds are poised for another high finish this fall. In its first action of 2019, Free State proved why as six runners finished in the top-19 to win the Bobcat Invitational Thursday afternoon at Basehor-Linwood.

Ben Shryock (third) and Charlie Johnson (fifth) both netted top-five finishes in the first meet of the year. Jack Keathley-Helms, Ethan Sharp and Brock Cordova all finished between 10th and 12th. John Loos placed 19th to help the Firebirds top the runner-up, Blue Valley Southwest, by 34 points.

Bishop Seabury senior Henry Nelson won the boys race, while Eudora’s Jerratt Bradley notched 20th.

On the girls side, FSHS finished as a runner-up with 72 points. Blue Valley Southwest won the event with 58 points, while Eudora placed third with 83 points. Erin Fagan paced the Firebirds with a seventh-place finish.

Bishop Seabury freshman Oona Nelson won the event in her debut. Riley Hiebert of Eudora was a runner-up in the girls race.

Bobcat Invitational

Thursday at Basehor-Linwood

Girls team scores: 1. BV Southwest, 58; 2. Free State, 72; 3. Eudora, 83; 4. Basehor-Linwood, 135; 5. Shawnee Heights, 164; 6. Spring Hill, 176; 7. Piper, 190; 8. KCCHS, 221; 9. Topeka West, 224; 10. Bishop Seabury, 252; 11. Bonner Springs, 291; 12. BV West, 301; 13. Sumner Academy, 388; 14. Hayden Catholic, 396.

Boys team scores: 1. Free State, 41; 2. BV Southwest, 75; 3. Spring Hill, 133; 4. Topeka West, 136; 5. Shawnee Heights, 166; 6. Hayden, 167; 7. KCCHS, 228; 8. Eudora, 234; 9. Piper, 239; 10. Basehor-Linwood, 241; 11. BV West, 274; 12. Pleasant Ridge, 302; 13. Bonner Springs, 326; 14. Bishop Seabury, 350; 15. Sumner Academy, 396.

Girls 5K results

1. Oona Nelson, BSA, 20:44.3; 2. Riley Hiebert, Eudora, 20:58.2; 7. Erin Fagan, FS, 21:47.7; 11. Reagan Hiebert, EHS, 22:19.5; 14. Maddie Day, 22:30.6; 15. Emily Stone, FS, 22:58.5; 17. Allison Babbit, FS, 23:18.7; 19. Kate Erpelding, EHS, 23:24.5; 21. Janice Werth, FS, 23:29.2; 21. Melia Martin, EHS, 23:31.1; 24. Ella Marshall, FS, 23:34.5; 25. Morgan Goeser, FS, 23:36.5; 26. Ella McCleary, FS, 23:44.6; 27. Olivia Goeser, FS, 23:59.6; 34. Rachel Pratt, EHS, 24:27.0; 36. Maya Pattison, EHS, 24:34.6; 38. Mackenzie Mayer, EHS, 24:41.2; 41. Liz Mueting, EHS, 24:44.4; 43. Stella Whalen, EHS, 25:32.6; 44. Delaney Rockers, FS, 25:32.9; 46. Sabrina Eicher, BSA, 24:41.1; 48. Kyra Marshall, FS, 25:57.0; 50. Ashley Metcalf, EHS, 26:06.6.

Boys 5K results

1. Henry Nelson, BSA, 16:37.8; 3. Ben Shryock, FS, 16:56.1; 5. Charles Johnson, FS, 17:13.8; 10. Jack Keathley-Helms, FS, 17:43.0; 11. Ethan Sharp, FS, 17:48.2; 12. Brock Cordova, FS, 17:50.9; 19. John Loos, FS, 18:42.4; 20. Jerratt Bradley, EHS, 18:42.7; 32. Cody Loganbill, EHS, 19:21.6; 41. Braiden Bengalan, FS, 19:56.0; 42. Marsh Marshall, FS, 19:57.2; 49. Jonas Staples, EHS, 20:28.3; 60. Diego Klish, BSA, 20:49.8.

LHS cross-country squads begin 2019

Both Lawrence High cross-country programs started the year in a competitive meet Saturday morning at Warner Memorial Park in Manhattan.

A few LHS runners came away with medals to start the new campaign. Diana Messick led the way for the Lawrence girls, placing 10th in the varsity race. Sophie DeWitt started her senior season off with a medal by claiming 19th place. LHS placed fifth as a team in the girls race.

On the boys side, sophomore Jack Ryan notched the highest finish by a Lion on the day. He placed fourth, lifting LHS to a sixth-place finish in the team standings.

Lions drop to 0-6

Lawrence High’s volleyball team dropped all five matches during a tournament at Olathe South on Saturday.

The Lions are now 0-6 to start the year after losing only two matches last season during their run to the Class 6A state title. Lawrence’s lone set victory came on a 25-15 win over Olathe South before dropping the next two sets by a 25-13 and 25-14 to lose the match.

LHS also lost to Shawnee Mission South (25-21, 25-21), Blue Valley North (25-13, 25-21), Blue Valley Northwest (25-15, 25-18) and Manhattan High (25-15, 25-12) on the day. Junior Hadley Bird led the team with 61 digs. Sophomore Gianna Cooper registered 17 kills, while senior Asjah Harris notched 15 kills. Senior Haven Bellerive tallied 13 kills.

Lawrence will compete in a home triangular against Shawnee Mission South and Olathe South on Tuesday.