There is no way of knowing now, but Free State’s softball team seemed poised for a third consecutive state title this year before the 2020 season was canceled due to the threat of coronavirus. The Firebirds brought back plenty of production from a team that went 23-2 a season ago to defend ...
Around this time of year, Free State boys basketball head coach Sam Stroh would normally be sitting down with his players for postseason evaluations. He’d meet with returners to discuss the future and have an exit meeting with his seniors. Thanks to technology, he can still do so, but the ...
After each high school sports season, the Journal-World recognizes outstanding athletes with its All-Area Teams. Because of statewide precautions taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19, the annual All-Area winter group photos were not able to be taken this year. The teams still were selected ...
Wrestler of the year: Connor Searcy, Tonganoxie The encore by Searcy was perhaps even more impressive. After making history by becoming the program’s first state champion along with another teammate last year, Searcy defended his title to cap off his senior campaign. Searcy went 44-1 and ...
Wrestler of the year: Madyson Gray, Free State Gray became the Journal-World's first girls wrestler of the year after a monumental year in the inaugural season of sanctioned girls wrestling. Gray, a sophomore, became Free State’s first-ever girls wrestling state champion this winter. She won ...
Player of the year: Harper Schreiner, Eudora Emerging as one of the better players in the state, Schreiner averaged 15.6 points per game to go along with an average of 4.2 assists, 4.0 steals and 5.7 rebounds per outing during her sophomore season. Schreiner was named to the All-Frontier ...
Player of the year: Zeke Mayo, Lawrence High Mayo was the best player on the court on a nightly basis during his junior campaign. He was a well-rounded player, leading the Lions in scoring, rebounds and assists this past season. Mayo averaged 16.0 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds ...
With his first season as head coach of Free State girls basketball now in the books, Nick Wood made sure to reflect on how both he and the Firebirds performed this past season. “You’re looking at every aspect of our basketball program and looking at how we can improve upon it,” Wood ...
Of all of the unexpected sports ramifications of the coronavirus crisis, learning how people define streaks ranks right up there as one of the wildest. Ever since the NCAA decided to shut down March Madness a little more than a week ago — say that out loud until you believe that it’s been ...
Nebraska freshman pitcher Ethan Bradford was sitting alone in his room when he found out that the 2020 season was no more due to the threat of coronavirus. About two hours earlier, Nebraska’s road series with Wichita State had been canceled just before the team was about to get on the bus. ...
There will not be a spring sports season in 2020. Due to the threat of coronavirus, KSHSAA announced on Wednesday that all spring championships, competitions and festivals for the remainder of this school year were canceled. The announcement came one day after Gov. Laura Kelly closed Kansas’ ...
There will not be spring sports for at least one week. On Sunday, KSHSAA announced that all spring sports and activities are suspended through March 22 due to the threat of coronavirus. It includes cancelation of all practices and events during the opening week of the spring sports ...
A pair of city bowlers made the All-Sunflower League second team to highlight the postseason accolades for bowling this year. Free State senior Porter Neidow made the second team in the boys division, while Lawrence High senior Emilie Rodman received a second-team selection on the girls side. ...
A pair of city standouts made the first team to highlight the All-Sunflower League accolades for the 2019-20 season. Lawrence High junior Zeke Mayo and Free State senior DK Middleton were both named to the first on the All-Sunflower League boys squad. Both players helped their respective teams ...
At the moment, it would appear that the high school spring sports season is still on schedule. On Friday, KSHSAA released a statement regarding the status of spring sports. Despite the threat of coronavirus that led to canceling the state basketball tournament this weekend, the spring sports ...
Free State and Lawrence High competed in the opening round of the Class 6A state tournament on Thursday at Wichita State University. Photos by Shane Jackson/Lawrence Journal-World
WICHITA — There will be no state champion in high school basketball this season at any level. Late Thursday night, during the final games of the opening round of the state tournament, KSHSAA canceled the state tourney at all six sites due to threat of coronavirus. No division — boys or ...
Wichita — The result might not have been what Free State’s boys basketball team wanted, but sometimes it is bigger than what takes place on the hardwood. Free State had every chance to knock off three-time state champion Blue Valley Northwest during the opening round of the Class 6A state ...
Updated story - Kansas high school basketball tournament canceled after completing quarterfinal round High school state basketball tournaments are taking place and will allow spectators despite the growing concern over the new coronavirus, organizers of the tournament announced ...
With plenty of state tournament veterans and senior leaders on its roster, Free State is looking to make an impact in its fourth straight trip to state. But in order to pull off a deep run, the sixth-seeded Firebirds will have to get past a team that stonewalled them in their last two trips: ...