Free State High boys soccer players were pumped when they won the first chapter of the City Showdown a few weeks ago. That was nothing. Playing against Lawrence High in the first round of regionals Monday meant so much more. The intensity was raised. Every play had so much riding on it.With all ...
Overland Park ? People say the toughest thing to do in sports is to defend a championship. Free State High’s gymnasts learned of the difficulties during the regular season, when they just coudn’t find a way to beat Olathe East. But when it mattered most and the lights shined the brightest, ...
Free State High’s boys soccer team beat Lawrence High a few weeks ago, but the next City Showdown will have much higher stakes. The Firebirds (8-7-1) earned a No. 9 seed in the Class 6A Northeast regional, and will go on the road to face the eighth-seeded Lions (8-6-2) at 6:30 p.m. on Monday ...
Shawnee ? Free State cross country runners Emily Venters and Ryan Liston followed up their individual Sunflower League titles by winning their respective races Saturday at the 6A regional championship meet hosted at Shawnee Mission Park.The Firebird standouts helped Free State to sweep the ...
Olathe ? There are a couple of tricks to getting through a sub-state volleyball tournament and into the promised land that is known by a single word: state. One is peaking at the right time. The other is drawing a favorable matchup.Both Free State’s and Lawrence’s volleyball teams left the ...
Manhattan ? There wasn’t any champagne in Free State’s locker room or fireworks in the sky after Friday’s game against Manhattan, but that didn’t mean the celebration was any less spirited for the Firebirds. They clinched a spot in the playoffs. The Firebirds dominated early and held ...
Free State High’s three senior gymnasts, Grace Bartle, Carrie Howland and Haley Johnson, have been competing with one another since the first grade. In their final meet together, they’re looking to end on the highest note by repeating as Class 6A state champions. That chance to turn a dream ...
In the last two weeks, Free State High junior quarterback Bryce Torneden has rushed for 314 yards and four touchdowns. It’s no surprise the Firebirds have won both of those games. Add in Free State’s gang of running backs, led by junior Khaury El-Amin and senior Joe Lane, and it’s a big ...
Olathe ? Free State High’s boys soccer team scored two goals in the first half against Olathe South, but lost, 3-2, in overtime on Thursday. The Firebirds (8-6-1) will learn their sub-state opponent on Saturday.
Nobody informed Free State High’s volleyball team that the City Showdown is supposed to provide plenty of drama and entertain the loud student sections. Instead, the Firebirds stepped on the court Thursday with laser-like focus in warmups and kept it up throughout the entire match, while ...
The City Showdown between Lawrence High and Free State volleyball teams at 6 tonight at FSHS will also serve as a sub-state preview. The Firebirds (17-18) earned a No. 3 seed in the Class 6A Olathe South regional and will face the sixth-seeded Lions (13-23) on Saturday afternoon at O-South. The ...
Stilwell ? Free State High split a pair of volleyball matches on Tuesday at Blue Valley West.FSHS beat Topeka High, 25-9, 25-11, but fell to BV West, 25-17, 25-14.The Firebirds will host Lawrence High in the City Showdown at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Topeka ? Free State High’s five senior girls golfers had hoped to dominate play in the last act of their high school golf careers at the Class 6A state tournament on Monday afternoon. However, it wasn’t in the cards, as the Firebirds struggled with consistency and finished 10th among 12 ...
At the beginning of the season, Free State High girls golfers struggled with their swings and put up inconsistent scores. That changed in the last few weeks, when the Firebirds improved their play, and it led to strong scores at their regional, when they qualified as a team for the Class 6A ...
Emporia ? The Free State volleyball team beat Lawrence High on Saturday at the Emporia tournament, defeating the Lions in three sets 15-25, 25-14, 25-22.Free State went 4-2 overall on the day for a fifth-place finish. The Firebirds’ three other wins came against Pittsburg, Leavenworth and ...
When Free State High senior Ryan Liston crossed the finish line at the Sunflower League cross country meet on Saturday morning, he raised both of his arms over his head in triumph. It was a big day for him and the entire Firebirds cross country program at Rim Rock Farm. Liston became the first ...
Topeka ? Lawrence High’s Anna Birt and Yelena Birt placed eighth, and Free State’s Taylor Hawkins and Rachel Walters took 12th in doubles Saturday at the Class 6A girls state tennis tournament.The Birt sisters defeated Topeka Washburn Rural, 9-7, and lost to Shawnee Mission East, 9-3, and ...
Topeka ? Lawrence High sisters Anna Birt and Yelena Birt and Free State’s Taylor Hawkins and Rachel Walters advanced Friday to the second day of the Class 6A state girls tennis tournament.The Birts lost to Shawnee Mission West, 7-5, 2-6, then defeated Derby, 9-2, and Washburn Rural, ...
It wasn’t that Free State High’s football players felt disappointed about opening district play with a victory Friday night at home. The Firebirds just knew their 42-14 victory over Washburn Rural wouldn’t exactly have coach Bob Lisher scheduling a parade for them.FSHS (4-3) racked up 457 ...
Free State High’s football team has gone through its ups and downs this season, but there’s been one thing missing — a victory at FSHS. The Firebirds will look to change that against Topeka Washburn Rural at 7 tonight in the first week of districts. It’s the first meeting between the ...