In just one year, things are a lot different for Free State’s boys basketball team. Entering last season, the Firebirds were facing a massive roster turnover that involved promoting several players from the junior varsity team. This year, though, Free State brings back a ton of experience ...
Turner Corcoran does not plan on flipping his commitment. The Free State senior has no intention of straying away from his original collegiate destination. Corcoran, a left tackle, announced his verbal commitment to the University of Nebraska on April 13 via his personal Twitter account while ...
When he wasn’t on the field, it wasn’t hard to spot Free State’s soon-to-be senior Colter Maldonado. Throughout the two-day Kansas football camp in early June, Maldonado was constantly playing catch with a teammate when the Firebirds were not scrimmaging. For Maldonado, it was an ...
Evy Harrell recorded a block, but head coach Nick Wood stopped the drill anyway during the Free State girls basketball summer team camp. Wood asked the three players on defense, including Harrell, what they did wrong. The players answered immediately, admitting the lack of communication during ...
A trademark of so many Bob Lisher-coached Free State High football teams were the hard-hitting defenses. Those who attended the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association All-Star Game on Thursday at the College Boulevard Activity Center got to see some of those bone-jarring hits ...
This time next year, former Free State head football coach Bob Lisher could be coaching on the other sideline. For the second time in his career, Lisher will be the head coach of the Kansas team in the Greater Kansas City Football Coaches Association All-Star Game. The Kansas All-Stars will ...
Five Free State players and head coach Lee Ice received all-state honors after winning a second consecutive state title this past spring. Ice was named the Class 6A Coach of the Year, guiding Free State’s softball team to a 23-2 record and five shutouts in as many postseason contests. ...
For the second year in a row, Free State’s lone state title came on one of the final days of the high school sports season. The Firebirds captured their only team crown this year in the Class 6A state softball tournament, marking the second season in a row that Lee Ice’s squad has won the ...
Hussam Mohammed wasn’t sure what to expect when he applied to be the new Free State soccer coach. Mohammed, who has been playing the sport for as long as he can remember, has been coaching since graduating from Wichita State with a mechanical engineering degree three years ago. He’s served ...
Free State head coach Kevin Stewart called a quarterback draw on the final play Tuesday afternoon at the Anderson Family Football Complex. By then, it had been two full days of scrimmaging in the University of Kansas football team camp, which featured several high school football teams. FSHS ...
Free State’s first-year head coach Kevin Stewart wasn’t surprised so many of his players wanted to help. Stewart, who was introduced to the FSHS football team in January, has come to learn about how much pride his players take in the Lawrence community. So when members of the community ...
After winning another state title, Free State’s softball team swept the top Sunflower League awards. Sophomore pitcher Tatum Clopton was named the Player of the Year for her prolific presence in the circle this season. She tossed five shutouts in as many games during the postseason, ...
It was a sensational spring for Free State sophomore Tatum Clopton. Clopton enjoyed her first full year in the circle, helping the Firebirds secure a second consecutive state title. Clopton baffled opposing hitters all year and did not give up a single run in her five postseason performances, ...
With his daughter Tatum dominating on the mound, Aaron Clopton took in this year’s Class 6A state softball tournament from a drastically different vantage point than he saw Free State’s triumph in 2018 — from the Arrocha Ballpark bleachers. Last year, Aaron’s military deployment to ...