photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State's Drew Harrison, left, and Andrew McCall high-five during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

OLATHE — The Free State boys tennis team qualified all six members of its team for state while finishing second overall in the 6A Gardner Edgerton regional tournament in Olathe.

Through several rain delays, an impromptu Lawrence vs. Free State football scrimmage and five rounds of tennis, the Firebirds finished with 18 points, trailing only Blue Valley Northwest with 20 points. Lawrence qualified its top doubles team of Jack Bauch and Koh Brewer and finished tied with Olathe South for fourth in the regional.

“It was really fun,” Free State’s Ishaan Rao said. “All of our team qualified, and that was fun experiencing that as a team.”

The Firebirds entered with the top two singles players in Micah Ward and Rao, and the two Firebirds finished first and second. The pair are practice hitting partners and that time together has helped them both develop into two of the best in the state.

Ward, the No. 1 seed, won his first two matches in two sets, both without losing a game. His semifinal match against No. 4 seeded Luca Ospino from Blue Valley Northwest ended in a win in two sets (6-4, 6-5). That put him in the championship, which he won by default over Rao.

Rao won his first match in two sets, both 6-0. He carried that over into his second match, which he won in two sets, only dropping a game in the first set. For his semifinal match, Rao faced No. 3 Nolan Fosha from Olathe South and won both sets (6-1, 6-3) to reach the championship round.

Rao, a sophomore, transferred from Bishop Seabury to Free State this year and is enjoying the camaraderie that comes with being on a 6A team. Combining that with his dominant performance on the court has made it a good year for Rao.

“Being able to have that camaraderie helps level up our play,” Rao said. “We have that additional energy (from teammates).”

Lawrence’s two singles players lost their first match of the day. Oliver Hester lost 8-0 in the first round, and Julian Bricker lost his match in two sets (6-4, 6-1).

Lawrence’s Bauch and Brewer finished fourth and were in the final match of the day. Bauch, a senior, qualified for state for the first time since his freshman year, and Brewer, a freshman, got to start his high school tennis career one-for-one.

“I feel great,” Brewer said. “(I knew) we had a high percentage of making state, but I’m still glad we made it to state.”

After a first-round bye, the Lion pair won its second-round match in two sets (6-0,6-1). The duo then beat Free State’s doubles team of Aiden Hixson and Eli Risley in two sets (6-3, 6-4) to reach the semifinal. There, the Lions lost in two sets (6-2, 6-1), which secured their spot in the third-place match.

“I’m so excited,” Bauch said. “I didn’t think I’d qualify (for state) again, and doing so with a friend makes it that much more special… Knowing that my season is going to go another week — I’m excited to keep playing and see my friends at state.”

In the final match of the day Bauch and Brewer won the first set 6-4 over Blue Valley Northwest’s team but ultimately lost the following two sets 6-4 and 6-1.

The two have spent the entire season together developing their chemistry, and with playing more high-level matches across the two postseason tournaments, their chemistry is at its best.

“When it all matters, it’s been coming together,” Bauch said.

Lawrence’s other doubles team of Wyatt Freed and Eli Iskandrani lost their first match in two sets (6-0, 6-4).

The Firebirds got both of their doubles teams qualified, taking fifth and sixth in the regional. Drew Harrison and Andrew McCall beat Gardner Edgerton’s duo in two sets (6-1, 6-1) for their first match of the day. The two battled in their next match against Blue Valley Northwest but ultimately lost in three sets.

To qualify for state, the Firebird duo beat Olathe West’s doubles team in two sets (6-0, 6-0) and earned a default win over their other teammates in the fifth-place match.

Hixson and Risley started with a two-set win over Olathe West in the second round (6-2, 6-3) before losing in the next round to the Lawrence doubles team. Hixson and Risley bounced back to win in two sets over Olathe East’s doubles team (6-1, 6-4) to punch their ticket to the state tournament.

The six Firebirds and two Lions will be in Wichita for the two-day state tournament, starting on Friday at the Riverside Tennis Complex.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Aiden Hixson follows through on a serve during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Aiden Hixson, left, and Eli Risley prepare for a serve during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Drew Harrison extends to get the ball during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Andrew McCall swings during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Jack Bauch swings during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Eli Risley serves the ball during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Aiden Hixson shouts in celebration during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Drew Harrison watches the ball during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Andrew McCall watches a serve during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Koh Brewer, left, and Jack Bauch jump and collide in celebration during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Lawrence’s Koh Brewer watches a serve during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Ishaan Rao shuffles his feet during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Ishaan Rao watches the ball during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Ishaan Rao swings during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Ishaan Rao follows through on a swing during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Micah Ward shuffles his feet during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Micah Ward starts his swing during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.

photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Free State’s Micah Ward readies for a return during the Gardner Edgerton regional tennis tournament on Friday, May 8, 2026, in Olathe.