photo by: David Rodish/Journal-World

Twenty-nine Free State athletes signed their letters of intent to play sports in college on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, in the Free State gymnasium.

Twenty-nine Free State Firebirds signed their college letters of intent at the Free State gymnasium on Wednesday.

Four Firebirds signed with Division I programs, five signed with Division II teams, 10 with junior colleges and 10 with NAIA schools. The football team had the most representatives with seven, and the baseball team was second with six.

Cayman Cook, Wesley Cupps, Blaine Larkin, Isaiah Wiedeman, Cole Wright and Andrew Zimmerschied were the six baseball players who signed with colleges. Cook, a four-year player for the Firebirds, signed with Barton Community College. Cupps, who also competed with the bowling team, signed with Ohio University, and Larkin signed with Central Missouri. Larkin wrestled and played football for the Firebirds as well.

Wiedeman will attend Ottawa University and play baseball. Wright, who played football and wrestled in addition to baseball, will attend Fort Scott Community College for baseball. Zimmerschied was the sixth baseball player to sign, and he will play at Benedictine College.

Korbin Dowdell signed with Seward County Community College to play basketball, a program whose head coach coached Dowdell as a freshman at Free State.

Kira Shepard will dance with Baker University after competing with the Free state dance team and spirit squad. Shepard also played volleyball for three years with the Firebirds.

Crow Bengoa led off the football signees, and he will play for Dodge City Community College. He will graduate as the school’s all-time leader in tackles after leading the Firebirds in tackles his junior and senior years. Yusef Iskandrani, a goalkeeper for the Free State boys soccer team and placekicker and punter for the football team, signed with Butler Community College. Hiram Kahungura signed with Baker University for football after having also spent time wrestling and competing in track and field.

Landon Leipold signed with University of Nebraska-Kearney, where he will be joined by fellow Free State football senior Noah Rupp. Parker Moore, a linebacker for the Firebirds, signed with the University of Wyoming, and Noah Simpson signed with Butler Community College.

Aiden Graff-Hannah signed with Crowder College in Missouri to compete in golf. Graff-Hannah played a key role in the Firebirds’ 2022 state tournament appearance.

Jeremiah Jones, a four-year soccer player, will play for Baker University. Jones also spent time wrestling and on the track and field teams while at Free State. He was a team captain for the Firebirds this season.

The girls soccer team had two signees. Amelia Wiles signed with Baker University after starting for the Firebirds through her four-year career. Taylor Woods, the other Firebird soccer player, signed with Wayne State College. She has been the team’s go-to goal scorer the last four seasons.

With the softball team, Delaney Bruhns signed with Neosho County Community College after playing a big role in the team’s back-to-back regional championships. Kendall Feurt also signed with Highland Community College’s softball team. Feurt was also a competitive powerlifter through high school.

Jocelyn Wilson, a swimmer with the Firebirds, signed with South Dakota State. She helped the Firebirds win state championships in 2022 and 2023.

Kinley VanPelt signed with the Kansas tennis team after being ranked the No. 21 tennis player in the 2025 recruiting class. She won a 6A state championship, regional championship and Sunflower League championship her sophomore year and was 33-0 while competing with Free State.

Three track and field runners signed. Austin Drewry signed with Baker University after running in mostly distance races with Free State. Josiah Smith signed with Ottawa University after running primarily the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash. Cayman Barnes signed with Drury University to compete in triathlon. Free State announced that she is likely the first Firebird to earn a scholarship in triathlon.

Two boys wrestlers signed with colleges. Grayson Hagen, who leaves Free State with the school’s all-time career wins record, signed with Doane University. He finished his career as a state runner-up and four-time state qualifier. Gabe Swoyer will wrestle for Barton County Community College after qualifying for the state tournament twice with the Firebirds. Swoyer also played with the football team and finished with 100 career wins.

Daijah Preston signed with Avila University to compete with the girls wrestling team after helping build the school’s wrestling program for four seasons and earning seven school records.