photo by: Courtesy photo

Free State's Darius Shields battles for a takedown against Lawrence High's Kevin Honas during a match in the 120-pound weight class Saturday afternoon at Tonganoxie High on Jan. 23, 2021.

Because of a different postseason schedule this year, the stakes are even higher this week for the local wrestling programs.

Rather than the usual two-day regional meet, both Free State and Lawrence High will compete in a one-day regional event on Friday. Free State will be in action at the Wichita Southeast regional, while Lawrence will compete in the regional meet at Olathe East.

Only the top four wrestlers from each weight class will advance to sub-state, which will be held at Wichita Heights and Olathe North. There will then be an eight-wrestler bracket for each weight class at the state tournament, replacing what is normally a two-day event as well.

The changes were implemented this season to avoid large gatherings because of COVID-19, but it does mean that the postseason will be in full swing earlier than usual.

FSHS, which is ranked No. 5 in Class 6A via the latest poll by the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, is in an especially tough situation for its regional meet. Washburn Rural (No. 1 in Class 6A), Derby (No. 4 in Class 6A), Manhattan (No. 9 in Class 6A) and Junction City (No. 10 in Class 6A) will all be competing in that event.

Still, there are a number of FSHS wrestlers who have a strong shot of advancing past this week after helping the Firebirds post a 20-0 record in the regular season.

Sophomore Nolan Bradley, who placed fifth at the state tournament a year ago, is ranked No. 2 in the 106-pound weight class entering this week. He’s 18-1 on the year and will likely have to face Derby’s Cody Wood (No. 1 in 106-pound weight class) all three weekends.

Another sophomore, Eric Streeter, is ranked No. 5 in the 113-pound weight class after going 18-2 in the regular season. He will have to face three of the top-four wrestlers in his weight group during this week’s regional competition.

Junior Darius Shields, a defending state champion in 321A, is 16-0 entering the postseason and ranked No. 2 in the 120-pound weight class. Caleb Streeter, who is ranked No. 3 in the 138-pound weight class with a 16-2 record as a senior, is looking to finish his tenure out with some hardware after collecting his 100th career win last time out.

Freshman Laython Biddle has been exceptional during his first season, as he is 20-0 and listed at No. 5 in Class 6A in the 160-pound weight class. Sophomore Matthew Marcum, the No. 5 wrestler in the 170-pound weight class, has a 13-3 record entering the postseason.

In the 285-pound weight class, junior Tai Newhouse is 13-0 and ranked No. 3 in Class 6A during his first season wrestling at the high school level. Newhouse bested the top-ranked wrestler (5A) in his weight class earlier in the year, but his regional bracket will feature the top-two wrestlers in Class 6A.

Seniors Austin Burenheide (17-3, 182 weight class), Alex Allison (9-5, 195 weight class) and Cole Rorick (14-4, 220 weight class) will look to finish out their respective careers on a high note as well.

In addition, junior Madyson Gray is a heavy favorite to repeat as a state champion in girls wrestling. She is 9-0 against female wrestlers this year, while posting a 7-4 clip against male wrestlers.

The Lions have multiple wrestlers looking to keep their season alive as well. Sophomore Jack Elsten is ranked No. 3 in the 113-pound weight class after going 18-2 in the regular season. He placed sixth during his first trip to the state tourney as a freshman.

Junior Kevin Honas is also the No. 3-ranked wrestler in the 120-pound weight class. He went 16-4 during the regular season. Honas has placed in each of his two state tourney appearances, including a fourth-place finish last winter.

As the only other ranked LHS wrestler, senior Trey Medina has the most on the line since it his final season on the mat. Medina is ranked No. 2 in the 145-pound weight class entering the postseason, which comes after he posted a 12-0 clip in the regular season.

Senior Logan Farrell (132 weight class) is coming off a nine-win showing in the regular season. Junior Hunter Girard won eight matches in the 120-pound weight class. Senior Anthony Morales (170 weight group) and sophomore Tucker Corbin (182 weight class) each recorded seven victories for LHS.

Area wrestling teams have already started postseason play, with Class 4A and below having to compete in the district round last week.

Baldwin senior Josh Broyles recorded the 100th win of his career last weekend. Baldwin girls also won a district title as a team, led by individual champions Halley Flory, Audrey Darnell, Emma Grossoehme and Hayleigh Wempe.

Darnell, a sophomore, was named District 6 wrestler of the year for her performance.

Eudora senior Cael Lynch was also named District 6 wrestler of the year in the boys division. He picked up the 100th win of his career last weekend, too. EHS boys had 10 wrestlers advance to regionals.

Tonganoxie’s boys wrestling team won a team title at the Holton district meet last weekend. Every THS wrestler placed and advanced to regionals, which included a total of eight individual champions.

FSHS boys bowling wins road triangular

Free State’s boys bowling squad picked another team victory in a triangular at Olathe Lanes East on Tuesday.

The Firebirds scored 2,683 as a team to place first in the varsity boys division. Mill Valley finished as runner-up in the event, while Olathe Northwest netted third place. It marks the third win in a row for the FSHS boys.

FSHS sophomore CJ Rickert was individual champion in the boys division after rolling a series score of 714. Junior Jacob Goos registered a series score of 621 to take third, and junior Warren Williams came in fourth with a 610. Koda Gosser and AJ Baker placed sixth and eighth, respectively.

On the girls side, Free State secured second in the team standings with a total score of 1,887. Olathe Northwest won the event with a 2,012.

Junior Ashley Edwinson led the way for FSHS recording a series score of 491 to take fifth. Senior Aleah Garber posted a 466 to finish in fifth place as an individual.

FSHS will be back in action at Royal Crest Lanes on Thursday. The event begins at 3 p.m.

Varsity boys team standings: 1. Free State 2683; 2. Mill Valley 2470; 3. Olathe Northwest 2319.

Individual champion: CJ Rickert, Free State, 714.

FSHS results: 1. Rickert 714; 3. Jacob Goos 621; 4. Warren Williams 610; 6. Koda Gosser 603; 8. AJ Baker 587; 16. Michael Tennyson III 515.

Varsity girls team standings: 1. Olathe Northwest 2012; 2. Free State 1887; 3. Mill Valley 1786

Individual champion: Kiara Gonzalez, Mill Valley, 545.

FSHS results: 4. Ashley Edwinson 491; 5. Aleah Garber 466; 9. Roberta Gonzales 450; 10. Rena Stoupakis 442; 11. Erin Rule 440; 18. June Aldamizetxebarra 282.

Veritas boys net third straight win

The win streak extended to three games for the Veritas boys basketball team after its 56-53 home win over Cair Paravel on Tuesday.

Veritas (11-6) used a 15-point fourth quarter, while also holding the opposition to just 9 points over that span, to record the narrow victory. The fourth period was the best defensive quarter by the Eagles, who haven’t lost in the month of February.

Will Rau once again led the offensive attack with a game-high 28 points on 8-of-14 shooting. Will Bartkoski knocked down five attempts from the floor to finish with 14 points to join Rau in double figures.

Rau also paced the team with nine rebounds and seven steals. Rau and Abel Brackenhoff both led the squad in assists with three dimes apiece. Aden-Jay Baker collected eight rebounds to go along with two blocks on the defensive end.

Veritas will travel to Metro Academy at 7 p.m. Friday.

Cair Paravel 17 11 16 9 — 53

Veritas 12 13 16 15 — 56

Veritas (56)

Abel Brackenhoff 3, Will Rau 28, Will Bartkoski 14, Jordan Donaldson 4, Owen Welch 3, Brennan Clements 4.