photo by: Carter Gaskins/Special to the Journal-World

Free State's Wesley Edison (7) looks for a receiver Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, at Shawnee Mission South High School.

Free State senior star Wesley Edison took his next big step with a commitment via social media to the Kansas football program.

Edison, doubling as the starting quarterback and linebacker for the Firebirds the last two years, will be shifting over to defense full-time with the Jayhawks. A visit to practice alongside KU linebackers coach Chris Simpson ultimately won him over, Edison told the Journal-World.

The All-Area quarterback passed up offers from Kansas State, Pittsburgh State, Washburn, Missouri Southern and Northern Arizona.

“I felt it was the right place for me to be,” Edison said. “I felt like there’s an opportunity there so I just shot my shot.”

The growing reputation of the KU program slowly grew on Edison during his time at FSHS. Earlier this season, Edison received the opportunity to evaluate the team’s newly added strength and conditioning facilities up close.

Growing up in Wichita, Edison didn’t entertain the idea of KU football until his sophomore year of high school. Edison said the job KU head coach Lance Leipold has done has been nothing short of impressive.

“It’s no joke,” Edison said. “I think KU is the best chance for me to excel if I’m going to be honest… what (Leipold)’s done with that program and all the coaches he brought with him – I’m just excited to go there and be a part of it.”

Edison led FSHS to a 6-0 start this fall, throwing for 1,904 yards and 11 touchdowns.

FSHS wrestlers place first at Johnson County Classic

Building on their strong start to the season, Free State wrestlers nailed down the Johnson County Classic title Saturday at Blue Valley High School. The Firebirds grossed 465.5 team points on their way to the top of a 26-team field at the two-day tournament.

FSHS, claiming the tournament title for a second consecutive year, landed above Wichita area powers Andover High (2nd, 440 points) and Derby High (3rd, 426 points).

Three runner-up finishes – senior D’onte Goodman (144 pounds), junior Gabe Swoyer (157 pounds) junior Cole Wright (165 pounds) – led the way for the first-place team finish.

Padding the numbers, juniors Brayden Wilcox (113 pounds) and Grayson Hagen (150 pounds) left the tourney with third-place individual finishes.

Next up, FSHS travels to Derby High on Jan. 6.

FSHS, LHS swimmers go head-to-head at Lawrence Triangular

Traveling across town to rival Lawrence High, the Free State boys swim and dive team won the Lawrence Triangular with LHS and Shawnee Mission North last Wednesday. The Firebirds won eight of 12 events on their way to the first-place team finish.

FSHS won all three relays – 200-yard medley, 200-yard freestyle and 400-yard freestyle – behind junior Sina Khosh, junior Ari Mattes, senior Dawson Bonnell, senior Lucas Fearn, freshman Anderson Bateman, senior Jake King and junior Jack Kempf.

Bonnell won the 200-yard individual medley (2:09.93), sophomore Joseph Flachsbarth won the 500-yard individual freestyle (5:54.43), Khosh won the 100-yard individual backstroke (1:00.26) and Mattes won the 100-yard individual breaststroke (1:09.32).

On the LHS side, junior Ryan Lane won the 50-yard (23.37) and the 100-yard individual freestyle races (52.51). The Chesty Lions’ 200-yard medley team – Lane, junior Ike Adams, senior Jack Tell and senior Luke Velte – placed third. (1:51.72)

FSHS and LHS return to the water with Shawnee Mission North, Shawnee Mission East and Shawnee Mission West at the Lenexa Aquatic Center on Jan. 5.

LHS alum to compete in FCS Football Championship

Former Lawrence High placekicker Grant Glasgow will make the trip with Montana to take on unbeaten South Dakota State in the FCS Championship in Frisco, Texas on Jan. 7.

Glasgow nailed a 46-yarder in the second quarter of the Grizzlies’ 31-29 double-overtime win over North Dakota State in the FCS Championships Semifinals in Missoula, Montana.

Glasgow, transferring to Montana (13-1, 7-1 Big Sky) from Kansas this fall, is 8 of 14 this season for 43 points and a 95.0% extra-point percentage.

Montana and SDSU are slated to kickoff at 1 p.m. CT on ABC.

Thomas signs with Wheeling Lacrosse

Lawrence High senior Zander Thomas signed his letter of intent to continue his lacrosse career at Wheeling University on Monday at Set ‘Em Up Jacks.

On the gridiron, Zander made a name for himself at LHS on the defensive side of the ball. The All-Area selection led the Sunflower League with 121 total tackles at safety in his final season with the Chesty Lions, pulling down three interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown, along the way.