photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Britton Snyder prepares to strike at the Lawrence High Invitational on Friday, April 21, 2023, at Lawrence High School.

The Free State and Lawrence High boys tennis teams competed in the annual Lawrence High Invitational on Friday. The Firebirds placed second with 27 total wins and LHS slid in right beneath their cross-town rivals in third place with 20 total wins.

In the first round of singles, Free State senior Britton Snyder won his opening match against Olathe Northwest’s Caden Moore, but fell in the next round to Shawnee Mission West’s Abhiraj Mukerjee. Snyder defeated LHS freshman Jack Bauch in the third-place match 8-2.

In the second round of singles, LHS senior Oliver Rubenstien defeated Olathe Northwest’s Ty Ellis to advance to the semifinal round against Free State freshman Drew Harrison. Harrison cut Rubenstien’s run short to advance to the championship match with Shawnee Mission East’s Jacob Podrebarac, falling 8-5.

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Lawrence High freshman Jack Bauch returns a serve during the Lawrence High Invitational on Friday, April 21, 2023 at Lawrence High School.

Rubenstien won the third-place championship, defeating Shawnee Mission South’s Fletcher Knowles 8-2.

Free State’s doubles team of juniors Jake Hedges and Felipe Reina-Salas flew straight to the championship match in the first round of the doubles. Hedges and Reina-Salas defeated Shawnee Mission East (Anderson/Apprill) in the final round 8-6 after taking out teams from Shawnee Mission South and Shawnee Mission West.

The meet concluded with the second doubles round, which saw the Free State doubles team of juniors Owen Thompson and Steven Duan fall in the semifinal match, but win the third-place championship defeating Blue Valley (Tallapragada/Walia) 8-3.

Free State and LHS next will prepare for the Sunflower League tournament scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday at the CBAC in Olathe.

Free State, LHS girls swim celebrates Senior Night

The Free State and Lawrence High girls swim and dive teams hosted their annual Senior Night meet at Thursday’s City Showdown, honoring and recognizing their senior teammates as Free State went on to defeat LHS through 12 events.

Free State opened the meeting claiming the top three spots in the 200-yard medley relay, including the first-place team of seniors Bradie Ward, Halle McCullough, Lolly Hindman, and Silvio Liu. LHS’ fourth-place team consisted of seniors Abi Jones, Lulu Myers-Arenth, Paige Unekis and Macie McDermott.

Individually, Ward claimed the 200-yard freestyle, McCullough placed first in the 200-yard medley, and senior Samantha Packard won the 50-yard freestyle. LHS junior Emily Brandt broke the Lady Lions’ dry spell with a first-place finish in the 1-meter dive, followed by junior teammates Meara Kingery and Sophie Wirth in second and third, respectively.

On the LHS side, the Lady Lions’ 200-yard freestyle relay team – Myers-Arenth, Brandt, Unekis and McDermott – captured the bronze. The LHS 400-yard freestyle relay team – Jones, sophomore Ava Kohart, Unekis and McDermott – placed third in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Additionally for Free State, Packard won the 100-yard freestyle and Ward won the 500-yard freestyle Free State junior Liza Engelbrecht added to the Lady Firebirds’ big night with first-place finishes in the 100-yard butterfly and 100-yard backstroke.

Free State, LHS and Washburn Rural will next meet at Chisholm Trail Middle School at 4 p.m. on Thursday.