photo by: Contributed photo

Class of 2000 Free State High grad Scott Smith, shown here with his wife, Jamie, and daughters, Iris and Hope, will be one of the featured alums at Wednesday's FSHS senior night celebration. Smith, who was the school's first state wrestling placer in 2000, was diagnosed with ALS a little more than a year ago and has been fighting the disease and promoting awareness ever since.

Free State wrestling coach Randy Streeter envisioned a way to honor all of the Firebirds state placers when he took over the program in 2020.

What he did not know was that things would come together so perfectly, and in such a profound way, on a January night less than two years later.

In addition to Wednesday being Senior Night for 11 Free State wrestlers, it also will be the night that Streeter unveils the new-look wrestling room that features small banners honoring all 45 state placers the Firebirds have ever had.

Both moments will share top billing with Free State’s plan to raise money and awareness for ALS through donations at the match, via donations through the Lawrence Schools Foundation or at the website iamals.org.

The tie that binds them is the fact that one of their own, Class of 2000 graduate Scott Smith, is now fighting the disease.

Smith was the Firebirds’ first ever state placer that year. He took fourth place in the 160-pound weight class and also was a standout football player, an avid musician, a member of the choir and a columnist for the Free State school paper.

Now that he’s battling ALS as hard as he ever fought off foes in the Sunflower League, Streeter thought bringing Smith and other FSHS wrestling alumni back for the special night was the perfect way to introduce the program’s newest tradition while honoring so much of its past.

“One of the big things I wanted to do when I took over was I wanted to go back in time,” said Streeter, who has been a fixture in Lawrence’s youth wrestling scene for more than two decades. “It’s a new thing for us, but we want to keep it going and make ALS awareness a part of our senior night every year.”

Streeter said the team plans to wear special T-Shirts, with “Free State Wrestling” written on the front and “Rise Above ALS” on the back.

Former FSHS athletic director Steve Grant plans to be there for this one, and he remembers Smith fondly from the early days of Free State’s existence.

“He was the epitome of what you want from a high school student,” Grant said of Smith, who was diagnosed with ALS a little over a year ago. “I don’t know that I would’ve ever called him the best wrestler or the best football player, but he did both in college and he’s a fighter, that’s for sure.”

After high school, Smith played football and wrestled at nearby Truman State. After that he formed a band and traveled the country living the life of a musician before returning to the Kansas City area to start a family and open a fitness club.

Streeter said he’s expecting a great turnout for Wednesday’s event, and he’s eager to bring some added energy and excitement to a sport that means so much to so many current and former Firebirds.

The night will feature a double dual with Free State wrestling Basehor-Linwood at 5 p.m. and Shawnee Mission Northwest at 6:45 p.m.

The 11 seniors who will be honored at 6:15 p.m. are: Darius Shields (120 pounds), Ezra Bradshaw (132), Trey Shanks (145), Ben Mellenbruch (152), Zach Shepley (160), Quez Lee (182), Brian Lane (220), Preston Tran (220), Tai Newhouse (285), Miles Collins (285) and three-time girls state champion Madyson Gray.

After the matches, Smith and other former FSHS wrestlers in attendance will be recognized, with a reception to follow at 8 p.m. in the wrestling room.

“It’s going to be an awesome night,” Streeter said. “It’s a great way to honor our program while also raising awareness for one of the most horrific diseases out there.”