photo by: Contributed photo

Free State High senior Darius Shields goes for a pin while wrestling for the Firebirds in Manhattan.

Currently ranked No. 3 in the Class 6A rankings, Free State High’s wrestling team squared off with a number of the top-ranked teams in the state this past weekend in Manhattan, where FSHS senior Darius Shields surpassed 100 career victories.

A 126-pound veteran, Shields entered the weekend with 97 wins in his prep career, and picked up five victories in total to surpass the milestone.

Juniors Nolan Bradley (113) and Matthew Marcum (195) also posted 5-0 records on the day.

The Firebirds, upon advancing to the gold bracket at the MHS dual tournament, ran into Dodge City (No. 2), host Manhattan (No. 4) and Shawnee Heights (No. 3, 5A). FSHS was the only team to beat Manhattan, and lost to Dodge City and Shawnee Heights, all while missing a pair of usual starters.

In the morning pool, FSHS beat Bishop Carroll, Paola and Manhattan.

FSHS will be at the Johnson County Classic at Blue Valley High on Friday and Saturday.

City swimmers place at Olathe

Lawrence High’s Giuliano Lule-Paredes won the 200-yard medley (2:04.75) and Free State’s Elliot Ahlvers took first in 1-meter diving (418.6 points) this past weekend at the Olathe Invite.

The Lions finished sixth in the team standings at the meet, which was won by Olathe East, and the Firebirds took seventh.

For LHS, Maximilian Whittaker swam to second place in two events: the 50 freestyle (23.17) and 100 free (50.57).

Free State’s Dawson Bonnell took third place in the 200 medley (2:08.25).

Lule-Paredes also picked up a fourth-place finish in the 100 backstroke (57.23).

To cap the day, the Lions’ 400 free relay team of Christopher Oral, Ryan Christian, Lule-Paredes and Whittaker finished fourth (3:29.95).

Hoops roundup

The Free State boys basketball team opened Sunflower League play with a road victory Tuesday night. 

The Firebirds, ranked No. 1 in Class 6A in the latest Kansas Basketball Coaches Association poll, knocked off Mill Valley, 51-23, in the league opener.

Next up for the Firebirds (4-0) is their home opener on Friday, against eighth-ranked Shawnee Mission Northwest at FSHS. The Free State girls also will open their home schedule vs. SMNW on Friday night. 

At LHS on Tuesday, the Lions’ varsity girls knocked off Blue Valley West, 54-47, to move to 2-1 on the season. 

The Lawrence boys (3-1), coming off a fifth-place finish at the Blue Valley Shootout this past week, are currently ranked No. 4 in 6A. The Lions bounced back from their first-round loss at the BVHS tournament last week against eventual champion Lee’s Summit. LHS took fifth at the tournament with wins over Wyandotte and Grandview (Missouri).

LHS will play at Shawnee Mission North on Friday. 

LHS wrestling competes at Colby

Class 6A’s No. 1-ranked wrestler at 120 pounds, Lawrence senior Jack Elsten went a perfect 5-0 for the Lions this past weekend at the Eagle Invitational, in Colby.

LHS senior Kevin Honas (126) also racked up victories at the 18-team event, going 4-1. Honas is currently ranked No. 2 in 6A for his weight class.

As a team, LHS dropped all five of its duals in pool competition, with losses to Junction City, Monarch, Liberal, Hutchinson and Lexington.