photo by: Carter Gaskins

The Free State softball team sings the alma mater with their fans in the stands following a 1-0 victory over Washburn Rural in the Class 6A state title game Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Arrocha Ballpark.

The spring sports season is finally here after an unusually long absence.

Due to the 2020 season being canceled because of COVID-19, there has not been a spring sports event involving an area team since the state track meet concluded on May 26, 2019. It means that Free State’s home swim meet on Wednesday will be the first spring sports event in more than 660 days.

Free State’s girls swim and dive program will kick the season off, while FSHS baseball will have back-to-back home games later this week. The rest of the FSHS spring sports program will get things started later this month, but let’s take a look at each team entering 2021:

Baseball

The Firebirds had a stellar season on the baseball diamond the last time they were in action.

In 2019, Free State went 21-4 on its way to a Sunflower League title with a 12-1 clip against league foes. It marked the ninth league crown in program history and first since 2013. FSHS eventually fell in the state championship game, finishing as the 6A runner-up.

Because of the gap year, right-handed pitcher Michael Uhler is the only player on this year’s team with any varsity experience. And he threw just 8 1/3 innings for the Firebirds during the 2019 campaign.

photo by: Courtesy photo

Michael Uhler, Free State senior pitcher. Photo courtesy of Noelle Uhler.

Still, the Firebirds have consistently had a strong squad under Mike Hill and that expectation remains the same entering 2021.

“We have a great group of 10 seniors who are working hard and leading a large contingent of younger players,” Hill said. “Our focus right now is learning how to practice in a manner consistent with the expectations of our program. We are excited to start the season.”

FSHS will open the year with a home meeting against Sioux Falls Washington at 4:15 p.m. Friday. Free State will then host Sioux Falls Lincoln at 10 a.m. Saturday.

Softball

Free State’s softball team has been longing for the chance to defend its throne.

Entering 2021, FSHS has won back-to-back state titles in Class 6A softball and was arguably the favorite for a third championship in 2020 before the season was canceled. It is a group that went 23-2 in 2019, which included a 12-0 clip against Sunflower League opponents to win its third league title in program history.

Leading the way this season, FSHS has three seniors signed to play Division I softball after high school. Tatum Clopton, a two-time Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year, will pitch for the Firebirds for one more year before going to Oklahoma State.

photo by: Carter Gaskins

In this file photo, Free State players Sara Roszak (23) and Tatum Clopton (16) celebrate Roszak’s diving catch that ended the sixth inning of a 1-0 win over Washburn Rural and set the stage for the Firebirds’ second consecutive Class 6A state title on Saturday, May 25, 2019, at Arrocha Ballpark.

Shortstop Sara Roszak is signed to play for the University of Kansas, while first baseman/catcher Georgia Rea has inked her intention to play softball for Western Illinois. Juniors Jasmine Brixius and Kay Lee Richardson are also returning letter-winners for the Firebirds.

Free State will travel to Olathe Northwest on Tuesday, March 30 for the season opener.

“Every team has to develop their own team chemistry,” said FSHS head coach Lee Ice, who is in his 12th season at the helm. “Development of that team chemistry throughout the season will be instrumental in the success of this team.”

photo by: Courtesy photo

Yoav Gillath, Free State track senior.

Track

Free State’s track team will start its season with the Early Bird Invite at FSHS on Friday, March 26.

The boys distance squad should be especially interesting to watch after FSHS won a cross-country state title this past fall. Many of those standouts — senior Brock Cordova, senior Ethan Sharp, junior Ben Shryock and junior Jack Keathley-Helms — are the top returners for the Firebirds this year.

photo by: Courtesy photo

Ruth Mutuku, Free State track senior thrower. Courtesy photo by Emma Johnson.

Junior Ella Marshall is also poised to have a successful season as a distance runner. Sophomore Marrah Spriggs should do well in hurdles in sprints, while senior Lauren Sinclair will also be a key sprinter for FSHS. Junior Ta’Mya Douglas (sprinter) will also be one of Free State’s top scorers.

Seniors Yoav Gillath (hurdler) and Ruth Mutuku (thrower) also hope to end their careers on a high note.

“We are looking forward to our season and are grateful for the chance to get the opportunity to compete this year,” head coach Jordan Rose, who has led the program for eight years, said. “Half of the kids on our team are experiencing high school track and field for the first time, and we’re excited to continue to build a welcoming and inclusive program for our athletes.”

photo by: Courtesy photo

Ryan Malloy, Free State soccer senior.

Girls soccer

Nathan Mangold will take over the FSHS girls soccer program this spring after spending one season as an assistant coach.

The Firebirds went 2-14 in 2019, but have a strong core group to work with on this year’s squad. Not only will senior Ryan Malloy provide great defense as a defender, but she will be counted on from a leadership perspective this spring.

Junior midfielder Madi Beeley, who committed to Missouri Southern State University prior to this season, will be a crucial part of Free State’s success. Sophomore midfielder Ella McCleary figures to have an important role as the facilitator on the team.

“This team is versatile and holds some surprises,” Mangold said. “One thing is for certain though, our togetherness is our identity. We come to compete.”

Free State will travel to Topeka Hayden on Monday, March 29.

photo by: Courtesy photo

Nethni Weerasekara, Free State swim senior.

Girls swim and dive

The swim team will get the spring season underway, and it will be significant for FSHS because it will be the first swim and dive meet at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center in over a year. No spectators will be allowed, but it will be live streamed.

It will be the first chance to get a look at the new Free State team, which finished sixth in the Sunflower League two years ago. Senior Alayna Baker, who is a state qualifier, is one of six returning seniors along with Kate Bartle, Clare Benton, Rudy Benton, Tori Crockett and Nethni Weerasekara.

Juniors Emma Day, Audrey Hoey-Kummerow, Abbey Hossler, Mina Khosh, Nisa Khosh and Savannah Randall are also key returners for FSHS. Sophomores Lolly Hindmann, Maya Huang, Silvia Liu and Evie Stull will also contribute for the Firebirds this spring.

“The girls are excited to be back in the water and on the boards,” 15th-year head coach Annette McDonald said. “They are focused on the team dynamics and how everyone contributes to the team’s success: swimmers getting faster and divers learning new and higher dd dives.”

Diving will begin at 1:30 p.m., while swimming events are slated to start at 3:30 p.m.

photo by: Courtesy photo

Ben Melvin, Free State tennis senior.

Boys tennis

Everyone who qualified for state two years ago has since graduated, but FSHS has a lot to offer on the tennis court this spring.

The Firebirds might be young, but they have a few key players that they can count on. Ben Melvin is the team’s lone senior, while sophomores George Thornton and Britton Snyder also figure to be important players for FSHS.

Free State will look to continue the success it had two years ago, when it finished fourth in the Sunflower League before netting third place at regionals and sixth at the state meet.

“Although we are young this year in our top-six varsity, I believe there is a great opportunity to sneak up and surprise some teams,” fourth-year head coach Aaron Clark said. “At the end of the year, I’m confident we can compete with some of the best teams in the league.”

Free State will compete in the Emporia Invitational at Emporia High School on Saturday, April 3.

Boys golf

The Firebirds have just one player who has ever played in a high school varsity golf tournament entering the season. But that shouldn’t take away from what could be a promising season.

Senior Nate Pilakowski was a state qualifier in 2019 and is the only returning letterman for Free State. FSHS also had three other seniors and a freshman expected to be in the mix at most meets this season.

“We have some guys who really want to be good, and guys that will push one another in practice to get better,” sixth-year head coach Chuck Law said. “We look forward to watching their development and believe we will be a good team once we get a few varsity rounds in the books.”

Free State will compete in the Shawnee Mission West Invitational at Canyon Farms Golf Club on Monday, March 29 to begin the 2021 campaign.