photo by: Courtesy photo

Free State's Nolan Bradley competes in a match in the 106-pound weight class during Friday's wrestling meet at Basehor-Linwood on Dec. 11, 2020. The Firebirds are 5-0 to start the 2020-21 campaign.

Despite missing a key wrestler in its lineup, Free State’s wrestling team rose to the challenge and earned two big victories over Basehor-Linwood and Louisburg during Friday’s meet at Basehor-Linwood.

FSHS is now 5-0 to start the season under first-year head coach Randy Streeter.

The Firebirds, who were without senior captain Caleb Streeter, did not disappoint and relied on a balanced attack on Friday. Free State earned a 46-33 win over Louisburg (No. 4 team in Class 4A) and a 45-33 victory over Basehor-Linwood.

Nolan Bradley (106-pound weight class), Eric Streeter (113-pound weight class), Laythan Biddle (160-pound weight class), Matthew Marcum (170-pound weight class) and Cole Rorick (195-pound weight class) all came away with wins in both duals.

Ezra Birdashaw, D’onte Goodman, Madyson Gray, Ben Mellenbruch, Zach Shepley and Austin Burenheide also won a match at the event.

Free State will compete in another double at Atchison County next Wednesday. The match will be streamed on justagamelive.com.

Free State 46 Louisburg 33

106: Nolan Bradley (FS) by fall over Cotter (LS)

113: Eric Streeter (FS) received a FF

120: Owens (LS) dec Ezra Birdashaw (FS) 4-3

126: Holtzen (LS) by fall over D’onte Goodman (FS)

132: Bartlett (LS) by fall over Jett Barton (FS)

138: Mady Gray (FS) by fall over Noll (LS)

145: Ben Mellenbruch (FS) by fall over Hoyle (LS)

152: Zach Shepley (FS) by tech fall over Murphy (LS)

160: Laythan Biddle received a FF

170: Matthew Marcum (FS) by fall over Briley (LS)

182: Barker (LS) by fall over Austin Burenheide (FS)

195: Cole Rorick (FS) by fall over Keegan-Childs (LS)

220: Youngren (LS) by fall over Gavin Blanchard (FS)

285: Eslinger (LS) received a FF

Free State 45 Basehor-Linwood 33

106: Nolan Bradley (FS) by fall over Vielauer (BL)

113: Eric Streeter (FS) by fall over Strahm (BL)

120: Ezra Birdashaw (FS) received a FF

126: D’onte Goodman (FS) dec Smith-Mendez (BL)

132: McMillin (BL) by fall over Mady Gray (FS)

138: Suchy (BL) by fall over Jett Barton (FS

145: Aiden Baker (BL) by fall over Ben Mellenbruch (FS)

152: Tyler Elven (BL) by fall over Zach Shepley (FS)

160: Laythan Biddle received a FF

170: Matthew Marcum (FS) by fall over Plum (BL)

182: Austin Burenheide (FS) received a FF

195: Cole Rorick (FS) by fall over Hicks (BL)

220: Vasquez (BL) dec Gavin Blanchard (FS)

285: Kinkaid (BL) received a FF

Veritas boys basketball wins opener

The Veritas boys basketball team cruised to a 63-27 road win over Cornerstone in the season opener on Friday.

Veritas jumped out to a 19-4 lead after one quarter, and the game was never really in question after that. The Eagles added 22 points in the second quarter and 20 more points in the third period on their way to a convincing performance in the first game of the 2020-21 campaign.

Four different players reached double figures for Veritas in the win. Will Bartkoski paced the balanced attack with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting, while Brennan Clements went 7-for-11 from the floor during a 14-point performance.

Will Rau registered 13 points, knocking down all but one of his six attempts from the floor. Jordan Donaldson added 12 points in the win, going 5-of-9 from the field.

Bartkoski led the team with 11 rebounds. He and Rau each finished with five assists, which trailed only Aden-Jay Baker’s mark of seven assists. Baker also paced the squad with four steals.

Veritas will play host to Manhattan Chief on Monday in its home varsity game in the team’s new gym.

Veritas 19 22 20 2 — 63

Cornerstone 4 12 10 1 — 27

Veritas (63)

Quinton Stegall 2, Will Rau 13, Will Bartkoski 19, Jordan Donaldson 12, Aden-Jay Baker 3, Brennan Clements 14.