photo by: Courtesy photo

Free State senior Caleb Streeter finishes off a pin during a wrestling meet at De Soto Wednesday night on Dec. 2, 2020. Streeter started off his senior season with two pins in as many matches to help the Firebirds cruise to a pair of victories.

Free State’s wrestling program didn’t disappoint in its first competition under first-year head coach Randy Streeter, earning a pair of convincing wins in the season opener Wednesday night at De Soto.

The Firebirds dropped just one of their 28 total bouts on the night. Free State earned a 76-0 win over De Soto and secured a 78-6 victory over Shawnee Mission West to begin the 2020-21 campaign.

“It’s been a great opening week for the program,” said head coach Randy Streeter, who was hired over the summer. “Dominating wins over De Soto and Shawnee Mission Northwest (on Wednesday) have ignited this small and rebuilding, but solid, group of wrestlers.”

photo by: Courtesy photo

Free State senior Caleb Streeter looks toward the crowd during a match at De Soto on Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020. Streeter, who is a three-time state qualifier, signed to wrestle at Newman University on Thursday, Dec. 2, 2020.

Senior Caleb Streeter led the way for Free State with two dominating pins in his 138-pound weight class. The talented wrestler then proceeded to make his collegiate plans official by signing his national letter of intent on Thursday to wrestle for Newman University after his high school career is finished.

Streeter, who is the son of the new FSHS head coach, is a three-time state qualifier and is currently ranked No. 2 in the 138-pound weight class.

“He has worked since he was six years old for such an opportunity, and that work has paid off,” Randy Streeter said of his son. “The school is a great fit for Caleb and he is excited to take the next step.”

photo by: Courtesy photo

Free State’s Madyson Gray competes in a wrestling match at De Soto Wednesday night on Dec. 2, 2020. Gray won both of her matches in the season-opening event, helping the Firebirds pick up two convincing victories to start the season.

Wednesday’s opener was just a glimpse of what could be in store this season for a FSHS wrestling team with a nice blend of veterans and talented newcomers.

Madyson Gray, who won a state title a year ago in the first official girls wrestling state tournament, won both of her matches against boy wrestlers in the first event of the new year. Gray, who is ranked No. 9 in the nation in her weight class, won a match by a major decision and another via pin.

“We are excited (about) what the returning girls state champ can do this season, as we will mix her into some boys competition when we can,” Streeter said. “This will only make her stronger on the mat.”

D’onte Goodman also won both of his matches in the 126-pound weight class.

FSHS was back in action with a dual at Holton on Thursday, but results from that match were not made available by the time the Journal-World went to print.

Free State 76, DeSoto 0

106: Nolan Bradley (FS) received a FF

113: Eric Streeter (FS) pinned Nick Owens (DS)

120: Ezra Birdashaw (FS) received a FF

126: D’onte Goodman (FS) dec Tristan Hurley (DS) 10-4

132: Madyson Gray (FS) maj dec Caleb VanBooven (DS) 8-0

138: Caleb Streeter pinned Luke VanBooven (DS)

145: Zack Shepley (FS) received a FF

152: Ben Mellenbruch (FS) received a FF

160: Laython Biddle (FS) pinned Jake Livingston (DS)

170: Matthew Marcum (FS) pinned Braden Duncan (DS)

182: Austin Burenheide (FS) dec Owen Nehl (DS) 16-11

195: Gavin Blanchard (FS) pinned Josue Perales (DS)

220: Cole Rorick (FS) pinned Josh Dunn (DS)

285: Preston Tran (FS) received a FF

Free State 78, Shawnee Mission NW 6

106: Nolan Bradley (FS) received a FF

113: Eric Streeter (FS) received a FF

120: Ezra Birdashaw (FS) received a FF

126: D’onte Goodman (FS) pinned Jackson Scheffer (NW)

132: Madyson Gray (FS) pinned Colten Chambers (NW)

138: Caleb Streeter pinned Nathan Heckelman (NW)

145: Zack Shepley (FS) received a FF

152: Ben Mellenbruch (FS) pinned Jayden Gragg (NW)

160: Laython Biddle (FS) received a FF

170: Matthew Marcum (FS) pinned Wyatt Coats (NW)

182: Austin Burenheide (FS) pinned Gabriel Holgate (NW)

195: Gavin Blanchard (FS) received a FF

220: Alvin Horner-Luetter (NW) pinned Cole Rorick (FS)

285: Preston Tran (FS) pinned Elijah Aguillar (NW)

LHS wrestling drops dual at home

Lawrence’s wrestling team was also in action on Wednesday, dropping a 42-38 decision to Gardner-Edgerton at home. Because there will be no fans at high school events until late January, this match was streamed by LHS on YouTube and had over 700 views.

The Lions only lost two matches, but had to forfeit even more due to openings in their lineup. Andrew Honas, Kevin Honas, Zac Logan, Trey Medina and Tucker Corbin all won their respective matches by pinning their opponent. Logan Farrell won by a decision in the 138-pound weight class.

Lawrence will play host to Shawnee Mission West at 6 p.m. Friday.

Lawrence 38, Gardner Edgerton 42

106 Andrew Honas WBF Whitted

113 Jack Elsten WBF Kason Smith

120 Kevin Honas WBF Caden Smith

126 Zac Logan WBF Seth Reddin

132 Forfeit to Collin Smith

138 Logan Farrell WBD Therron Meade

145 Forfeit to Gardner Edgerton

152 Trey Medina WBF Keegan Troutman

160 Forfeit to Chris Rossberg

170 Anthony Morales LBF Will Shuler

182 Tucker Corbin WBF Ryche Vernon

195 Ralph Saldano LBF Gus Davis

220 Forfeit to Caden Rodriguez

285 Forfeit to Jay Jensen

Note: WBF= Won by Fall. LBF= Loss by Fall. WBD= Won by Decision. LBD = Loss by Decision

FSHS swim starts season off with first-place finish

Free State’s swim and dive program kicked off the new season with a first-place finish in a quadrangular meet at Lawrence High on Wednesday.

The Firebirds finished in a tie for first with Shawnee Mission South, as both teams scored 207 points in the event. Lawrence placed third with 166 points, while Leavenworth finished fourth with a score of 62.

Free State and Lawrence combined to win all but four of the 12 events on the day. FSHS finished first in six different events led by a pair of senior athletes who won multiple individual races.

Senior Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck won the 200 IM with a time of 2:05.68 and the 100 breaststroke with a mark of 1:03.19. Senior Finn VanDyke finished first in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:58.31, while also claiming the top time (52.86) in the 100 freestyle.

Free State sophomore Elliott Ahlvers won the diving competition in convincing fashion. He posted an individual score of 240.05 points, which was more than 60 points better than the runner-up. Alexander Moore, Sirimongkhon-Dyck, Dawson Bonnell and VanDyke won the 200-yard medley relay in the first swimming event of the afternoon.

Lawrence High sophomore Ryan Christian secured the team’s first win in the eighth event of the day. Christian clocked a time of 5:32.53 to win the 500-yard freestyle, finishing about two seconds faster than the runner-up.

Two events later, LHS sophomore Giuliano Lule-Paredes was victorious in the 100-yard backstroke. Lule-Paredes won the event with a time of 1:01.29, which was a little over one second faster than Moore of FSHS.

The two teams will square off in a dual next Thursday at LHS.

Free State quadrangular

Wednesday at LHS

Team scores: 1. Shawnee Mission South 207 1. Lawrence Free State High School 207 3. Lawrence High 166 4. Leavenworth High School 62.

FSHS/LHS results

Event 1 200-yard medley relay: 1. Free State (Alexander Moore, Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck, Dawson Bonnell, Finn VanDyke) 1:46.25; 3. Lawrence (Giuliano Lule-Parede, Jack Tell, Maximilian Whittaker, Christopher Oral) 1:51.25.

Event 2 Boys 200 Yard Freestyle: 1. Finn VanDyke, FS, 1:58.31; 2. Ryan Christian, LHS, 2:00.22; 5 Trenton Snyder, Lawrence, 2:09.13; 6. Jackson Rea, Free State, 2:22.76; 8 Gabe Clark, Free State, 2:24.65.

Event 3 Boys 200 Yard IM: 1. Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck, Free State, 2:05.68; 2. Giuliano Lule-Paredes, Lawrence, 2:12.69; 5. Giovani Lule-Paredes, Lawrence. 2:21.96; 6. Dawson Bonnell, Free State, 2:22.05; 8. Max Bates, Free State, 2:29.63.

Event 4 Boys 50 Yard Freestyle: 2. Maximilian Whittaker, Lawrence, 23.42; 3. Christopher Oral, Lawrence, 24.25; 4. Alexander Moore, Free State, 25.40; 13. Quinn Pleskac, Lawrence, 28.21; 17. Drake Khatib, Lawrence, 29.31; 18. Levi Bates, Free State, 29.70; 19. Jack Keathley-Helms, Free State, 30.25; 20. Jamie King, Free State, 30.30.

Event 5 Boys 1 mtr Diving: 1. Elliott Ahlvers, Free State, 240.05; 2. Keyan Crawford, Lawrence, 174.25; 4. Michael Leonard, Free State, 150.20; 5. Salvador Good, Lawrence, 146.45; 6. Jack Keathley-Helms, Free State, 117.50.

Event 6 Boys 100 Yard Butterfly: 2. Dawson Bonnell, Free State, 1:01.66; 3. Maximilian Whittaker, Lawrence, 1:02.80; 5. Jacob Heinz, Free State, 1:05.27; 6. Noah Mast, Free State, 1:06.25.

Event 7 Boys 100 Yard Freestyle: 1. Finn VanDyke, Free State, 52.86; 2. Christopher Oral, Lawrence, 55.26; 6. Jack Tell, Lawrence, 59.94; 8. Quinn Pleskac, Lawrence, 1:01.71; 12. Jackson Waggoner, Free State, 1:04.06; 15. Jackson Rea, Free State, 1:05.57; 18. Aidan Hanna, Free State, 1:16.71; 19. Tiger Sievers, Free State, 1:17.26; 20. Carson Schraad, Lawrence, 1:18.26.

Event 8 Boys 500 Yard Freestyle: 1 Ryan Christian, Lawrence, 5:32.53; 3. Trenton Snyder, Lawrence, 6:04.38; 4. Jacob Heinz, Free State, 6:10.38 5. Gabe Clark, Free State, 6:34.13; 7. Cole Grassy, Free State, 7:26.35.

Event 9 Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay: 2. Free State (Alexander Moore, Max Bates, Noah Mast, Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck) 1:41.52; 3. Lawrence Jack Tell, Keyan Crawford, Ryan Christian, Trenton Snyder) 1:44.16.

Event 10 Boys 100 Yard Backstroke: 1. Giuliano Lule-Paredes, Lawrence, 1:01.29; 2. Alexander Moore, Free State, 1:02.87; 4. Noah Mast, Free State, 1:08.79; 7. Levi Bates, Free State, 1:18.69.

Event 11 Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke: 1. Riley Sirimongkhon-Dyck, Free State, 1:03.19; 5. Jack Tell, Lawrence, 1:17.22; 7. Giovani Lule-Paredes, Lawrence, 1:18.87; 9. Owen Polson, Free State, 1:25.91; 10. Cole Grassy, Free State, 1:29.00; 12. Drake Khatib, Lawrence, 1:38.00.

Event 12 Boys 400 Yard Freestyle Relay: 2. Lawrence (Christopher Oral, Ryan Christian, Giuliano Lule-Paredes, Maximilian Whittaker) 3:37.34 3. Free State (Dawson Bonnell, Jacob Heinz, Max Bates, Finn VanDyke) 3:50.43.