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.

Free State volleyball has punched its ticket to the state tournament for the third straight year, and the seventh-seeded Firebirds want to do more than just compete — they want to win.

The Firebirds (24-9) earned their tourney berth by defeating Derby this past Saturday at substate. When they head to Salina this weekend, they hope their veteran leadership and overall love of the sport will translate to a deep run.

“I think if we can bring our energy and our enthusiasm to the court, we’re capable of anything,” senior captain Madi Beeley said. “This team — as much as it has talent, it has joy, too. And as long as we’re having fun on the court, that’s when we’re playing our best.”

A year ago, the state tournament had an abnormal format because of COVID, and Free State played just one match — a five-set loss to Olathe Northwest. This year, it’s back to pool play and a complete tournament, and the Firebirds are looking forward to the bigger stage.

“To actually be able to go to a tournament, with all the teams there, and just to be in that environment — that crazy, loud environment — I think it’s going to be so much fun,” senior Samantha Whittlesey said.

Having fun is important to the Firebirds, and Whittlesey said that’s her favorite thing about the squad.

“I just love the way we can joke around with each other,” she said. “We have so many inside jokes and we just have so much fun together. But we also know we have to be on our A game (at state) and really make those connections that we have work for us.”

The Firebirds will open play at 4:30 p.m. Friday on Court B against second-seeded Wichita Northwest (39-1). After that, they’ll play third-seeded Blue Valley North (35-2) at 5:30 p.m. and No. 6 seed Blue Valley West (28-9) at 7:30 p.m.

The top two teams in each pool will advance to Saturday’s semifinals, with a chance to earn a spot in the state championship match later that day.

FSHS coach Jayme Savage said this team has talked a lot over the years about creating a legacy. That starts with setting an example and being good people and teammates. But the idea of adding a banner to the picture had everyone in green extra focused this week.

“We’re definitely excited to get back to state and to make a run at it,” Savage said. “We have all the pieces and we’re just ready to go to work.”

FSHS, LHS gymnasts wrap up season at state

The defending state champion Firebirds took fourth place at this year’s state gymnastics meet on Saturday at Shawnee Mission West.

Chaney Finkeldei was Free State’s highest finisher, taking fifth place in the beam with a score of 9.175. Avery Qualseth had a top-10 finish, too: ninth place in the floor exercise (9.0 points).

Finkeldei’s all-around score of 33.9 and Qualseth’s 33.55 helped the Firebirds score 100.75 as a team.

Lawrence High, meanwhile, finished eighth in the team standings with a score of 89.025. Ivori Jones had the best individual all-around score for the Lions with a 30.1. LHS’ Emily Brandt took 11th in the floor event with an 8.775.

Olathe North dominated at the meet, easily securing the team title with 110.475 points. O-North’s Ella Margheim swept the individual competitions, becoming the state champion in the vault, bar, beam and floor.

Seabury cross country season ends at regional

Bishop Seabury’s cross country runners ended their season Saturday at a Class 2A regional hosted by Central Heights High.

Seabury’s girls finished sixth out of seven teams at the regional. Freshman Josie Kim was the highest finisher for the Seahawks, racing to 16th place in 23:03.01. Senior Darby Harris took 19th with a time of 23:44.69.

The boys team had just one runner, sophomore Hayden Slough, who finished 47th (21:10.18).

Two pending coaching hires announced

On Wednesday, the Free State High athletic department announced two pending coaching hires for the winter and spring sports seasons.

Former FSHS softball assistant Charley Bowen has been chosen as the new head softball coach. He served as the interim head coach during last spring’s postseason while head coach Lee Ice was on administrative leave.

In addition, Free State announced that Darin Gray had been chosen as the head varsity coach of the girls wrestling programs at both Free State and Lawrence High.

Gray would be the first varsity girls wrestling coach. He is the father of senior Free State High standout Madyson Gray, a two-time state champion wrestler who also won an unsanctioned state title as a freshman.

Both hires are pending approval from the Lawrence school board, which will consider them at an upcoming meeting.