MANHATTAN — New year, same result. For the second season in a row, Manhattan High eliminated Free State in the 6A West playoffs in convincing fashion. MHS controlled the trenches on both sides of the ball in its 49-28 victory against FSHS Friday night at Bishop Stadium. “I thought we ...
The scoreboard at Free State remained the same for the duration of the summer. Visitors 41, Home 19. It wasn’t until just before the season opener against Olathe West that the scoreboard was finally cleared. It served as a daily reminder of how the 2018 season ended for the Free State ...
Free State’s boys soccer team finished just shy of qualifying for the 6A state tournament. FSHS suffered a 3-0 road loss Tuesday night to Wichita East in the Class 6A West Region finals, bringing an end to a strong season under first-year head coach Hussam Mohammed. The Firebirds finished ...
When Hussam Mohammed took over the Free State boys soccer program this past summer, he had a meeting with the parents of the players. At the meeting, parents showed Mohammed plenty of photos of his soon-to-be senior class from when many of them played on the same club team eight years ago. ...
As Free State senior Charlie Johnson hit the skyline portion of the course at Rim Rock Farm, he heard the familiar call in his head of former Kansas runner Billy Mills’ victory in the 1964 Olympic games. “I hear, ‘Look at Mills! Look at Mills!’” Johnson said. “I always think of ...
Free State's football team recorded a 34-12 win over Wichita South Friday night at FSHS. Photos by Carter Gaskins/Lawrence Journal-World
The Free State volleyball team was ultimately eliminated on the first day of the Class 6A state tournament Friday night at Tony’s Pizza Events Center in Salina. FSHS suffered three losses in as many matches to end its season with a 24-15 record under first-year head coach Jayme Savage. Free ...
It took just one quarter for Free State junior running back Tyler Bowden to break two school records and secure another multi-touchdown game. “We came out and we knew what we needed to do,” Bowden said. “We just tried to get it done quick.” Bowden’s explosive first quarter and Free ...
As senior defender Hayden Robinson’s penalty kick sailed into the back of the net, pandemonium ensued on Free State’s soccer field, with players and fans alike swarming the team in celebration “When Hayden made that (last kick), I just wanted to cry,” senior midfielder Peter Boncella ...
The Lawrence High football team is in unfamiliar territory, at least for this season. LHS is coming off a 31-30 loss to Free State in the regular-season finale, which marked the team’s lone defeat during what has been an impressive 2019 campaign. It was a result that caught the Lions (7-1, ...
All in or all out. That has been the motto of the Free State volleyball team since the first day of summer workouts. It is a slogan that was introduced by head coach Jayme Savage when she took over the program after being the team's assistant coach for nine years. And it has helped define the ...
Free State’s gymnastics team came home with some hardware to finish off the 2019 season. The Firebirds placed third at the state gymnastics meet Saturday afternoon at Olathe South after entering the meet in second place. FSHS finished finished inside the top three in all but one meet this ...
Free State earned a 31-30 win over Lawrence High in the 23rd edition of the City Showdown Friday night at LHS on Oct. 24, 2019. Photos by Mike Yoder/Lawrence Journal-World
As soon as Lawrence High quarterback Jackson Dooley’s fourth down pass attempt fell harmlessly to the turf, Free State’s defense sprinted to the sideline in celebration with 3:19 remaining in the game. The FSHS crowd roared in approval, as the failed conversion essentially capped off a ...
When Free State senior Turner Corcoran originally received the invite in June, he shouted at his phone in celebration. Four months later, it became official when Corcoran was given a jersey for the 2020 All-American Bowl during a ceremony Friday morning at FSHS. He will be competing in the ...
Regardless of what happens this weekend, head coach Katrina Farrow wants both her teams to be proud of what they accomplished in 2019. Entering the state gymnastics meet, which will be held at Olathe South on Saturday, Free State is ranked second in the team standings. Lawrence High, ...
Lawrence High senior Deshon Lewis still vividly remembers the chant. During the boys basketball version of the City Showdown this past winter, Free State’s student section broke out in a “Let’s play football” chant. It came two years after FSHS students painted their chests “56-7”, ...
The Lawrence High football team is no stranger to a big game. LHS, which is 7-0 and ranked No. 2 in Class 6A, has had its fair share of highly-anticipated matchups already this season. Lawrence has actually knocked off two teams that were ranked No. 2 at the time, including a 35-10 victory ...
A pair of area girls golf teams and one individual earned a medal during this year’s state tournament, which featured a new two-day format at all levels. Bishop Seabury’s Faith Hedges closed out an illustrious career with a runner-up finish in the Class 3-2-1A state golf tournament at ...
Free State’s girls golf team has been preparing for the state tournament all year, even if it didn’t realize it. The Firebirds have done a better job of getting more practice holes in on a daily basis this season. They have cut down their time on the driving range, working on specific ...