The Lawrence and Free State girls wrestling teams competed in the Sunflower League wrestling meet on Friday, with Free State taking third and the Lions placing eighth out of 13 teams.

Free State started with a dual match against Shawnee Mission North, which the Firebirds won 48-36. The Bison won the 100- and 105-pound weight classes, the latter by forfeit. Brielle Preston got the Firebirds a win with a pin in one minute, 18 seconds.

The Firebirds picked up three wins in the 115-, 120- and 125-pound weight classes with the Bison having those weights open. The Bison picked up an open win in the 130-pound weight class and won the 135-pound bout with a third-period pin. Shawnee Mission North got open wins in the 140- and 145-pound weight classes.

Free State got wins in the final four weight classes, three of which were open wins. Ellie Earl won the 155-pound bout with a pin in the first period.

The Lions started with a 30-24 win over Shawnee Mission West. The Vikings won the three bouts in the lightest weight classes, two of which were with Lawrence having an open forfeit. The Vikings won with a pin in the 120-pound bout, but the Lions won the 125-pound match with Ivy Ford pinning her opponent in 3:29.

Lawrence’s Imogen Matter got a pin in 44 seconds in the 145-pound match, and the Lions picked up open wins in the 135-, 170- and 235-pound matches.

For the second round, Free State beat Olathe South 42-30, winning four of the seven full matches. The Falcons won the 100-, 115- and 170-pound bouts in addition to getting two open wins.

Preston won the Firebirds the 110-pound match with a pin. Jessica Berg pinned her opponent in 43 seconds in the 120-pound bout, and Earl won her match with a late pin. Madilyn Pierson won with a pin in the 190-pound match in the first period. Along with the four wins, the Firebirds picked up three open wins to hit the 42-point mark.

The Lions lost 39-24 in their second-round dual against Olathe Northwest, putting the team in the consolation bracket. Lawrence won two full bouts, starting with Dorcas Fakunmoju with a pin in the 100-pound bout. Matter got another quick pin, winning her match in 27 seconds. Lawrence’s two other wins came in open bouts in the 120- and 235-pound weight classes.

Free State’s first championship bracket match came against Gardner Edgerton, which the Trailblazers won 78-6. The Trailblazers won all but the 235-pound match, which the Firebirds won in an open forfeit.

That loss put the Firebirds in the third-place match, which they won 36-30 over Olathe Northwest. Five of Free State’s match wins were open forfeits, with Pierson’s 2:42 pin in the 190-pound match being the Firebirds other win. The Ravens won four matches and picked up a fifth win with an open bout.

The Lions lost both of their consolation bracket duals to finish eighth. Lawrence lost 48-18 to Olathe North. Matter got the Lions a win in the 145-pound bout with a third-period pin. Lawrence’s two other wins came in the 100 and 135-pound weight classes as open wins.

Lawrence wrapped up the tournament in the seventh-place match against Olathe South, with the Falcons beating the Lions 51-12. The Lions won the 130 and 235-pound bouts with open wins. Matter avoided a pin in her loss in the 155-pound match, losing in a close 6-4 decision.

Both wrestling teams will compete in regional tournaments on Saturday before taking a week off ahead of the state tournament in Overland Park on Feb. 27 and 28. For the Lions, their regional will be at Shawnee Mission South, while the Firebirds will be at Wichita South.