Free State High’s Matthew Marcum didn’t hear the crowd erupt around him. All he was thinking about was getting his photo taken while standing atop the podium.

Marcum, a junior, pinned previously undefeated Olathe South senior Blake Jouret in overtime to become the state champion in the 195-pound weight class Saturday at the KSHSAA 6A boys wrestling championships in Park City.

He was later joined by classmate Nolan Bradley, who beat Wichita North junior Richard Shields by 4-2 decision to become the state champion at 113 pounds.

The two became the third and fourth state champions in Free State history, joining Tate Steele, the champion at 132 pounds in 2016, and Elijah Jacobs, who won at 145 pounds in 2019.

Marcum and Bradley have been teammates since they were 6, when they began wrestling together at the Sunflower Kids Wrestling Club.

“It’s great, because me and him have never been state champions, and we both get it together,” Marcum said.

Free State coach Randy Streeter called Marcum’s victory “a gargantuan, gargantuan upset.” Jouret, the Class 6A champion at 170 pounds last year, entered 35-0 and had defeated Marcum three times this season.

Marcum said he spent the entire week watching film of Jouret, and the preparation paid off when he pinned him at 6:35. The result was so surprising that the crowd at Hartman Arena burst into an uproar.

“It just went straight through my mind,” Marcum said. “I was just thinking about that podium picture and everything.”

Marcum and Bradley helped the Firebirds finish with 134 points to take fourth in the competition, which was won by Topeka-Washburn for the second consecutive year.

Four other Free State wrestlers placed, with three claiming third. Senior Tai Newhouse finished third at 285 pounds when he pinned Olathe Northwest senior Jayden Oquendo in 2:39 of mat time; junior Eric Streeter beat Derby High’s Diego Gauna by 9-4 decision to finish third at 132; and freshman Grayson Hagen defeated Lawrence High sophomore Andrew Honas by 3-2 decision to claim third at 106. Senior Zach Shepley finished sixth at 160 when he was pinned by Dodge City’s Josh Gonzalez in 2:15.

Bradley, who was third at 106 pounds last year and fifth at 106 as a freshman, said he was “pretty nervous” heading into the final but had no problem overcoming it.

“It feels amazing,” he said. “I honestly didn’t think I’d ever be here. I just remember when I first started just looking at the kids who were wrestling in the finals and thinking, ‘Dang, I wish I was there.'”

Marcum and Bradley joined Free State High senior Madyson Gray, who won her third consecutive girls state wrestling title on Thursday.

Lawrence High, meanwhile, tied with Blue Valley West for 12th place with 57 points. Senior Kevin Honas lost by 1-0 decision to Topeka-Washburn senior Jacob Tangpricha to place fourth at 126 pounds, and junior Jack Elsten lost to Manhattan High freshman Logan Lagerman by 3-2 decision to place fourth at 120.

But by having six wrestlers place, including the first heavyweight in Newhouse, Free State broke a school record it set last year when it had five.

“We just wrestled really well today overall to get three thirds and two firsts and then a sixth,” Free State coach Randy Streeter said. “That was fantastic.”

Marcum said he felt like he has “set the bar real high” for his senior season. Bradley, too, knows his expectations will have been raised.

“It feels pretty good knowing I can do it now,” he said. “Hopefully, I can repeat that next year.”