photo by: Courtesy photo

Free State senior Austin Burenheide attempts to record the fall during the 182-pound weight class Monday night at Paola High School on Jan. 25, 2021.

Free State’s wrestling team started off a busy stretch with an impressive road victory over Paola on Monday.

The Firebirds dropped just three of their 13 scheduled varsity matches in a 48-18 win. It was the start of a significant stretch where FSHS will have a total of eight duals in seven days.

Free State, a team ranked No. 7 in Class 6A via the Kansas Wrestling Coaches Association, improved to 18-0 on the year after Monday’s win.

Eric Streeter (113-pound weight class), Darius Shields (120), Caleb Streeter (138), Ben Mellenbruch (145), Zach Shepley (152), Laython Biddle (160), Austin Burenheide (182), Alex Allison (195), Cole Rorick (220) and Tai Newhouse (285) all earned victories against Paola.

In addition, Madyson Gray (132-pound weight class) won by fall in the varsity girls division.

Free State had Tuesday off, but will be back at it on Wednesday for a quadrangular at Perry-Lecompton. FSHS will face PLHS, Shawnee Heights (No. 7 in Class 5A) and Atchison County in the event.

The meet will be available via live stream justagamelive.com, starting at 5 p.m.

Varsity boys: Free State 48, Paola 18

106: No Match

113: Streeter (FS) received a FF

120: Shields (FS) dec Younger (Paola)

126: Pankov (Paola) pin Birdashaw (FS)

132: Zeller (Paola) pin Goodman (FS)

138: Streeter (FS) maj dec Martin (Paola)

145: Mellenbruch (FS) maj dec Cutter Meade (Paola)

152: Shepley (FS) tech fall Faunce (Paola)

160: Biddle (FS) pin Gleghorn (Paola)

170: Timpe (Paola) pin Marcum (FS)

182: Burenheide (FS) tech fall Shore (Paola)

195: Allison (FS) pin Fleming (Paola)

220: Rorick (FS) dec Klingele (Paola)

285: Newhouse (FS) pin Newton (Paola)

Varsity girls

132: Gray (FS) pin Johnson (Paola)

132: Johnson (Paola) pin Benton (FS)