photo by: Matt Tait

Free State seniors Maddi Beeley and Samantha Whittlessey hold the sub-state championship trophy and pose for a photo with their teammates following the Firebirds' 2-0 sub-state title match victory over Derby on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 at FSHS.

The Free State High volleyball program added to its school record of consecutive substate championships on Saturday by sweeping four sets from Haysville Campus and Derby at FSHS.

The Firebirds (24-9) will head to the Class 6A state tournament next week for the third year in a row.

“Playing under pressure and playing with what we have is a privilege,” said FSHS coach Jayme Savage. “And we’re just insanely excited and grateful to be able to go back to state.”

While talent and teamwork played a huge part in the program’s most recent substate triumph, this Firebirds team also prides itself on having fun.

That was evident throughout Saturday’s substate championship match, with smiles and laughter lighting up the floor from start to finish.

“All the work you put in all season in the months leading up to the season all comes down to this moment,” senior captain Madi Beeley said of the emotions after the victory. “And it’s really incredible just knowing that all your hard work did something.”

In the championship match, the fourth-seeded Firebirds jumped out to a 6-1 lead in the first set and never trailed the rest of the day.

Fifth-seeded Derby (25-12) pulled to within two midway through the set before Free State regained its footing and cruised to victory.

The Firebirds controlled the match on both offense and defense and simply had better pace and more power than the Panthers.

“Playing in unison and playing with chemistry and trusting one another, that was the main thing,” Savage said. “When we do those things and we play with a full team effort, we’re pretty hard to beat.”

Senior captain Kenzie Marcum, who played a big role in Free State’s dominance at the net, said getting to punch their ticket to state on their home floor merely added to the experience.

“It just keeps getting better,” she said. “We got to host this year and our student section was bigger; it was great.”

As for what comes next, Marcum and Beeley both said the team would enjoy the accomplishment for a day or two and then shift their focus to trying to deliver a similar celebration at the state tournament in Salina.

“Our practices won’t get any easier, and we’ll be pushing and preparing for Friday,” Marcum said.

Added Beeley: “I think if we can bring our energy and bring our enthusiasm to the court, we’re capable of anything.”

FSHS cross country cruises to big day

The Free State High boys and girls cross country teams joined the volleyball squad in earning a spot at state next week with a stellar showing at Saturday’s regional meet.

Behind the strength of four top-10 finishers — and five runners in the top 13 — the Free State boys took first and brought home a regional title trophy. The FSHS girls took third.

FSHS senior Ben Shryock finished first at Saturday’s meet by more than a second. He finished with a time of 16:03.30.

Fellow senior Jack Keathley-Helms took fourth at 16:41.60, sophomore Jacob Loos placed eighth at 17:06.90 and sophomore Blake Wohler took 10th at 17:10.80.

Not far behind, sophomore Ryan Whittlesey finished 13th at 17:17.80.

Junior Carson Marsh (17:38.40) and sophomore Jake Hedges (17:57.30) also placed in the top 25.

Senior Janice Werth (seventh place at 20:05.60), senior Allison Babbit (ninth, 20:13.30) and sophomore Isabelle Pro (10th, 20:16.50) placed in the top 10 for the Free State girls.

Freshmen Greta Barnett (21:12.60) and Brylee Burns (21:13.50) also placed in the top 25, with fellow freshman Cayman Barnes (21:48.50) and junior Olivia Goeser finishing in 26th and 27th place.

The 6A state meet will take place next Saturday at 4 Mile Creek Resort in Augusta. The boys will run at 10:40 a.m. and the girls will hit the course at noon.

3 LHS runners crack top 10

The Lawrence High boys took fifth and the girls took sixth at their regional meet on Saturday, but three Lions placed in their respective top 10s.

Junior Natalie Kennedy took fifth place at 20:00.17 to lead the Lawrence High girls. And fellow junior Lucy Hardy took ninth at 20:14.98.

Seniors Madison DeWitt (21:13.55) and Grace Harader-Ellett (21:36.47) both cracked the top 30.

LHS senior Jack Ryan finished seventh with a time of 16:43.64 to lead the boys. Freshman Xavier Klish (17:59.22) also finished in the top 30 for the LHS boys.

LHS volleyball falls

After winning the first set, 25-15, on Saturday in the opening round of sub-state at Shawnee Mission Northwest, the LHS volleyball team dropped the next two sets to Olathe North and was eliminated from postseason play.

The Lions entered Saturday’s matchup with the seventh-seeded Eagles as the No. 10 seed and finished the year with a 13-16 overall record.