photo by: Courtesy photo

Free State's state qualifiers pose for a photo ahead of this year's state wrestling tournament. The Firebirds are sending Eric Streeter, Darius Shields, Caleb Streeter, Alex Allison, Matthew Marcum and Nolan Bradley to the state meet this season. Madyson Gray (far right) competes in the state girls wrestling meet on Thursday.

Changing a program doesn’t happen overnight, but Free State’s wrestling team took a big step in that direction during Year One of the Randy Streeter era.

The Firebirds went from unranked entering the season all the way up to No. 4 in Class 6A ahead of last week’s substate meet. FSHS is now sitting in sixth in the updated rankings prior to this week’s state tournament, which will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday in Hartman Arena.

Free State, which went 20-0 in the regular season, will be sending six wrestlers to the state tourney this week.

“The goal from the beginning has been top five,” Streeter said of his expectations for his team at the state tourney. “I don’t think we can do much better than that, based on the number of kids we have.”

More than all the accolades, though, the Firebirds have acted like a team this year. All six state qualifiers spoke highly of the camaraderie on the FSHS wrestling squad, and how that played a big part in all the success this year.

“We’ve just been more of a team this year,” senior Caleb Streeter said. “We’ve been more of a family. We are there for each other. We’ve come more together, and I think that’s what has resulted in our good season so far.”

That support is especially evident during any match. Whenever a Free State wrestler is competing on the mat, the rest of the team is nearby to offer support.

It is something that the Firebirds plan to do during Saturday’s state meet, as six different male wrestlers aim to find the podium. Each weight class will feature an eight-man bracket, which means one win would lead to a placing for any state qualifier.

“I think everyone can place,” sophomore Eric Streeter said.

While six podium finishes would be a strong showing, some Free State wrestlers have even higher expectations than that. Here is a look at each FSHS state qualifier entering Saturday’s Class 6A state tournament:

Nolan Bradley, sophomore — 106-pound weight class

After finishing fifth at state as a freshman, Bradley seeks a much higher finish this weekend.

“I am hoping to bring home a title,” said Bradley, who is ranked No. 3 in Class 6A in the 106-pound weight class.

In order to do that, Bradley (22-3) will have to take care of business against Lawrence High freshman Andrew Honas (14-11, No. 6 in Class 6A) in the opening round. Bradley then would likely face Derby senior Cody Woods (32-5, No. 1 in Class 6A) in the semifinals for the second week in a row.

Bradley was up on Woods in the substate semifinals last week, but ultimately dropped a 6-4 decision. He then battled his way through the consolation side of the bracket to take third, but felt like he let an opportunity slip away.

“I just need to turn it around,” said Bradley, who also lost to Woods twice last year. “I have to keep my head in it the whole match. I was up, and let the match slip away from me because I wasn’t as focused as I need to be.”

“I know I can beat him,” Bradley added.

Eric Streeter, sophomore — 113-pound weight class

Streeter wants to take a big leap in his second trip to the state meet.

After not placing last season, Streeter wants more than just his first podium finish at state. Since the start of the season, Streeter (21-4, No. 4 in Class 6A) has been shooting for a top-three finish during the final weekend.

“It’s a really high goal for me,” Streeter said. “I think we just work hard in here everyday, and get better here everyday.”

Streeter’s semifinal matchup should be a big one, assuming he’s able to defeat Blue Valley West junior Ben Darling (28-4) in the opening round. Streeter would then likely face Olathe North sophomore Cael Alderman (21-2, No. 2 in Class 6A) with a trip to the finals on the line.

Streeter hasn’t wrestled Alderman, but he has the utmost confidence because of an improved mindset. Streeter said he is just focused on wrestling, and not letting things get to his head anymore.

Darius Shields, junior — 120-pound weight class

Shields is trying to prove that there isn’t much of a difference between Class 6A and the lower classes.

Last year, Shields secured a state title in the Class 321A state meet as a member of the Norton Community wrestling program. He got pinned in the regional finals before beating that same kid in the state championship match.

“I don’t think there is a difference between 6A and 321A,” Shields said. “My skill set really transfers over. It’s not like DI and DII in college. You are just as good in one classification as you are in the other.”

This season, Shields is hoping to do much of the same. Shields (19-2, No. 2 in 6A) lost by a 7-0 decision to Washburn Rural’s Bishop Murray (26-1, No. 1 in 6A) in the substate championship match last weekend.

The two wrestlers are on the opposite sides of the bracket at state, so a rematch could take place in the finals.

“My goal is to win it again,” Shields said. “The last two weeks didn’t end the way I wanted, I got second in both of them. But I think I can pull something out this week.”

Shields will face Blue Valley North junior Sam Perez (29-9) in the opening round.

Caleb Streeter, senior — 138-pound weight class

After three state berths that ended with losses in the consolation bracket, Streeter is determined to end his high school career by finding the podium.

“I’m hoping to win a state championship,” Streeter said. “I’m hoping to go in there and really show everyone what I got in my last year.”

It will take a big jump for Streeter to go from not placing in any of his previous three state appearances to going out with a state crown. But that is not inconceivable either, as Streeter is ranked No. 3 in his respective weight class entering this weekend.

Streeter (21-4) will start by facing Olathe North senior Gabe Barron (12-4) in the first round. With a win, Streeter should go up against Garden City junior Erick Dominguez (21-2, No. 1 in 6A) in the semifinals.

Streeter watched some tape on Dominguez last weekend in preparation for the match. He is also hoping for a rematch with Washburn Rural senior Bowan Murray (28-3, No. 2 in 6A), who is on the other side of the bracket.

Mostly, Streeter plans to be more prepared this weekend than he’s ever been. He is being more strict with his diet, doing a lot of self-scouting and cleaned up holes in his game during practice this week.

“I’m hoping to get to the top this year,” Streeter said.

Matthew Marcum, sophomore — 170-pound weight class

Marcum will have his hands full right from the start, when he opens with Olathe South junior Blake Jouret in the opening round. Jouret is 32-0 and ranked No. 1 in the weight class, while Marcum is listed at No. 6 in Class 6A.

But Marcum (17-6) likes the idea of starting with the best, especially since he wrestled Jouret earlier this year.

“It went to the second round, but I think I’ll do better this time,” Marcum said. “You can get the best wrestler out of the way first, and go on from there.”

Regardless of what happens, it has been a strong sophomore season for Marcum. He posted a winning record after not doing so last year, while jumping up a weight class in the process. This is also his first trip to the state meet after not making it out of regionals a season ago.

Alex Allison, senior — 195-pound weight class

It was about two weeks before regionals when Allison decided to get his head right.

Allison chose to put all his effort into wrestling, thanks in large part to a conversation he had with his older brother. Troy Allison wrestled at Blue Valley Southwest when he was in high school, but Alex still took his advice heading into the postseason.

“He was a good wrestler, and told me I have what it takes,” Allison.

That’s all Allison needed to hear. He started working on his conditioning so that he wouldn’t get tired in the third round. He also improved his mindset, and it has led to more calculated moves in every match.

“I’m more focused during the match (now) and I know what I’m doing,” Allison said.

It allowed Allison (15-7) to earn his first state berth during his lone season at FSHS. Allison spent the previous two years at Eudora and was at Wellsville as a freshman. Allison will face Blue Valley North junior Ty Farrington (33-4) in the first round.

“I am really hoping to place,” Allison said. “I want to do the best I can and push myself as hard as I can.”