photo by: Contributed photo

Members of the Bishop Seabury soccer team line up for the National Anthem before their first ever match at their new field on Friday, Sept. 9, 2022.

The Bishop Seabury boys soccer program celebrated a special moment on Friday, Sept. 9, when it hosted a game at its own brand new field.

Located near the school’s campus, off of Clinton Parkway, the field is brand new this season and the Seahawks made sure the grand opening of the new pitch was a good one for the home team.

In addition to hosting what BSA coach Ivo Ivanov called “a record crowd,” the Seahawks delivered their share of excitement on the field, as well.

Down 2-0 at halftime, Seabury came roaring back in the second half to win 4-2.

Senior striker Beck Oldridge scored two goals and assisted on a third to lead Seabury. Senior midfielder Enzo Karam added a goal and two assists and junior midfielder Cole Shumaker scored an unassisted goal.

“It was a good beginning for us on a festive, historic day for the program,” Ivanov said of last week’s memorable match.

Last week’s home win on its new field moved Seabury to 3-0 on the season and on Monday they pushed their record to 4-0 with a road win at Bonner Springs. Oldridge recorded a hat trick in that win and he added two more goals in a 3-2 loss to Kansas City Christian on Tuesday.

Oldridge now has 12 goals through five games and the Seahawks will play again on Friday vs. Maranatha Academy at BSA.

Free State XC girls finish 3rd, boys 5th at Millard South Invite in Omaha

The Free State cross country team traveled to Omaha last Friday for the Millard South Invite, earning a third-place finish in the girls’ meet and a fifth-place effort from the boys.

Sophomore Brylee Burns’ 10th place finish set the bar for the girls’ team, with junior Olivia Goeser following her up in 11th. Junior Isabella Prô (39th) and sophomores Cayman Barnes (23rd), Daniela Quilez-Jardi (26th) and Taylor Stone (48th) rounded out the 109 team score.

Junior Blake Wohler led the Firebirds’ boys team, medaling in sixth. Fellow junior Jake Loos finished 11th, backed up by juniors Ryan Whittlesey (27th), Zach Hansen-Terry (34) and Ethan Mason (48). Freshmen Steven Jackson (46) and Jonah Frye (50) rounded out the 124 team score.

Bishop Seabury XC grinds through rainy Wamego Invite

The Bishop Seabury cross country team fought through Mother Nature at the Wamego Invitational on Saturday, landing one runner in the top 100.

Campbell Helling finished in 84th place and Madison Shanks took 124th place. On the boys’ side, Hayden Slough finished 144th, Roman Ardery crossed the finish line just after him in 147th and Riku Hickman took 161st.

Free State girls tennis takes first at Blazer Invitational

The Free State girls tennis team captured a first-place finish at the Gardner-Edgerton Blazer Invitational on Tuesday.

Doubles players Cami Lee, Zoe Cachiguango, Jada Fowler, and Wendo Kimori swept the board by winning all of their matches across both pools. Singles players Kinley VanPelt and Maya Lee finished the day 6-0 combined, fueling the 32-point team performance.

Next up, the Firebirds travel to the Shawnee Mission East quadrangular on Thursday.

Soccer Roundup

The Lawrence High boys soccer team defeated Gardner-Edgerton, 3-1, on Tuesday. Cale Scott scored all three goals against the Trailblazers, with assists coming from Asher Sikes, Alden Parker-Timms and Patrick Sandefur.

The Lions (4-0-1) will host Mill Valley at 7 p.m. Thursday.

In Shawnee, the Free State boys soccer team passed SM North 2-1 on a game-winning goal from Suyash Kumar on Tuesday night. Matthew Seelye scored the first goal for the Firebirds (3-0-1).

Next up, Free State will travel to SM South on Thursday with match time set for 7 p.m.

Free State volleyball splits

The Free State High volleyball team split a pair of Sunflower League matches this week, falling to Mill Valley, 25-19 and 26-24, and topping Shawnee Mission East, 25-21 and 25-15.

The Firebirds are now 2-4 on the season and they’ll play on Saturday at the Lee’s Summit West tournament.