photo by: Conner Becker

Free State senior Matthew Marcum fighting his way to victory over Olathe Northwest's Lucas Conover in the first-place match at state on February 25, 2023 in Park City, Kansas.

Park City – Free State seniors Matthew Marcum and Eric Streeter will return home as state champions after winning first-place matches at the Class 6A state wrestling championships on Saturday.

It’s the first time Free State has fronted two state champions in consecutive years. The Firebirds placed eighth among 35 schools with 94.0 team points and eight pins. Also making the trip, Lawrence High finished the tournament 13th overall with 39.0 team points and four pins.

Marcum (215 pounds), picking up his second state title as a Firebird, defeated Olathe Northwest’s Lucas Conover to finish his senior campaign 48-0. Marcum picked up a win over LHS senior Tucker Corbin in the quarterfinals en route to his first-place win.

“I went out there and finished my business,” Marcum said after his win. “I love having everybody around. It sucks we couldn’t place everybody but you take what you can get.”

Overcoming a mid-season, high-ankle sprain, Streeter (144 pounds) regrouped at regionals to join his fellow seniors and younger brother, Drew (106 pounds), at state. Eric Streeter went undefeated at state, rolling to victory in the first-place match over Derby’s Troy Allen.

Free State coach Randy Streeter knew the road trip was crucial to his son, Eric, and knew his injury that once looked season-ending wasn’t going to slow him down on the big stage. Randy was the first face to greet Eric after his first-place win.

“This is the greatest,” Randy Streeter said. “(Eric) was just jacked. He was ready to tear someone’s head off. Every single minute is another stair on the staircase for him.”

photo by: Conner Becker/Journal-World

Free State senior Eric Streeter hugs his father, wrestling coach Randy Streeter after winning his fifth match in a row for a first-place crown Saturday, February 25, 2023, at the 6A state wrestling tournament.

Fellow senior Nolan Bradley (113) won the third-place championship for the Firebirds, besting Olathe North’s Blake Samuelson to join his teammates on the block. Sophomore Grayson Hagen (126) placed fifth, falling to LHS junior Andrew Honas in the third-place semifinal. Drew Streeter finished the tournament with sixth-place honors.

Honas, along with LHS freshman Lou Elsten (106 pounds), finished fourth at state. Honas made it to the third-place championship, falling to Manhattan’s Logan Lagerman. Elsten, after finishing fourth at regionals last weekend, also worked his way into the third-place championship and fell to Derby’s Jayden Grijalva.

Full results from Saturday’s state tournament can be found through KSHSAA.