photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Zane Shaw avoids a takedown on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

OVERLAND PARK — Free State put three wrestlers on the podium, while Lawrence got one in the 6A state boys wrestling tournament at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk over the weekend.

Free State finished 11th overall in team score with 52.5 points, while Lawrence came in 22nd with 23.0 points.

Senior Zane Shaw not only reached the podium but finished his wrestling career as the runner-up in the 190-pound weight class, accomplishing his goal of reaching the championship match.

“My goal was state finalist, but I feel like that was almost my expectation,” Shaw said. “I felt like I was the second-best guy in 6A all year. But the No. 1 guy, I wrestled him twice and just couldn’t do anything.”

Shaw went 3-1 in the state tournament and started with a 21-5 technical fall win in the first round. A 14-3 major decision win put him in the semifinal, where Shaw won in a 3-2 ultimate tie breaker over Lawrence senior Jadin Harrell.

In the first-place match, Shaw lost by a technical fall to Maize’s Everett Joyce, who went undefeated in his state championship year.

“It’s a little surreal,” Shaw said. “I was talking with my dad about this, if I would feel sad. It didn’t hit me until after the match, but I’ve got (baseball) to do in college. It was a fun year. I did better than I thought.”

Two other Firebirds got on the podium with a sixth-place finish. Damian Quick was sixth in the 120-pound weight class, while Tristen Moore was sixth in the 132-pound weight class.

Quick went 2-3 and started with two wins. He got a pin in the first round before a 16-1 technical fall in the second round put Quick in the semifinal match. There, he lost in a 13-0 major decision, which put him in the consolation semifinal. A 5-3 decision loss there got Quick to the fifth-place match, which he lost in a 5-0 decision.

Moore started with a pin but was pinned in the quarterfinal. Moore rebounded with a technical fall win in the second consolation round and a 4-1 decision win in the third consolation round. A technical fall loss in the consolation semifinal put Moore in the fifth-place match, which he lost in a 10-5 decision.

Five other Free State wrestlers competed in the tournament. Brogan Hagen went 2-2 in the 144-pound weight class and picked up two major decision wins following an opening round loss. A technical fall loss in the third consolation round ended his tournament run.

Ben Lyles at 175 went 1-2 with a pin in the first consolation round, and Cameron Salb at 215 went 1-2 with a pin in the opening round. Hudson Andrew at 150 pounds and Coghlan Odom at 157 pounds both went 0-2 in the tournament.

Lawrence sent four wrestlers to the tournament and got Harrell on the podium. He got pins in the first two rounds to put him in the semifinal bout against Shaw. After the loss, Harrell rebounded with a sudden victory in the consolation semifinal to get to the third-place match.

Harrell had a tear in his right labrum throughout the season, and the injury kept him from being fully healthy. At the state tournament, the pain was prevalent, and it made it even more difficult.

In the consolation semifinal match, Harrell was down 9-4 with around 30 seconds left in the third period. Despite the pain, he closed hard on Shawnee Mission West’s Blake Thomas, tying the match right as time expired.

“I kept telling myself that I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I lost to him,” Harrell said. “I pinned him in 52 seconds in regionals. I just had to find it in me to beat him, and that’s what I did. I don’t know where it came from, or what happened. All I know is I got a takedown and got it to overtime.”

Once he got to overtime, Harrell knew he would win. Shortly after, Harrell got a takedown to win 12-9 in sudden victory.

“He was gassed,” Harrell said. “So was I, but I knew that at the end of the day, I was built for that kind of moment. I knew what I had to do. That was probably one of the coolest moments of my life.”

The pain almost kept Harrell from wrestling in the third-place match. But a quick talk with Lawrence coach Patrick Naughton and Free State coach Randy Streeter got him to give it a shot and leave it all out on the mat.

“It was awesome,” Lawrence coach Patrick Naughton said. “He was able to wear the brace, which held him out through regionals. Got through regionals and was doing well out here. He was able to come back today and finish the job. It just shows what he’s been doing has been amazing.”

Harrell was pinned after his legs were swept up on a high-risk, high-reward move, but Harrell got to finish his career with no regrets.

“I knew going out there either he was getting thrown to his back or I’m going to fall on my back,” Harrell said. “I’m not too upset about the ending. I’m just glad I went out there and tried.”

The three other Lawrence wrestlers at the tournament were all sophomores, and all three picked up a tournament win. Logan Druen at 106 pounds, Jacek Abner at 113 pounds and Drennen Shorter at 132 pounds all won in the first consolation round with a pin.

The young wrestlers making it to the tournament and getting wins is a major positive for the wrestling program. Harrell said he’s pleased to see a new wave of wrestlers coming up after he and fellow senior Lou Elsten graduate.

“We’re really on the way up,” Naughton said of the Lions. “We’re definitely going to build on that for next year, and the thing about that is next year starts on Monday.”

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Zane Shaw moves around the mat on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence wrestler Jadin Harrell gets on top of his opponent on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Damian Quick grabs his opponent on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Brogan Hagen grabs his opponent on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Tristen Moore gets on top of his opponent on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Tristen Moore moves around the mat on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Zane Shaw gets an escape on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State wrestler Zane Shaw avoids a takedown on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence wrestler Jadin Harrell moves around the mat on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence wrestler Drennen Shorter moves around the mat on the second day of the 6A state wrestling tournament on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026, at AdventHealth Sports Park at Bluhawk in Overland Park.