photo by: Contributed photo

The Lawrence High boys wrestling team poses for a group picture after placing second overall at the Joel Rios Invite at Shawnee Mission South High School on Jan. 5, 2023.

Even with four open weight classes, the Lawrence High boys wrestling team claimed the runner-up title at the Joel Rios Invitational over the weekend at Shawnee Mission South.

The Chesty Lions, overall, finished just 17 points behind first-place Oak Park High and five points above neighboring Free State in third place.

Two LHS team captains – senior Andrew Honas (132 pounds) and sophomore Lou Elsten (113 pounds) – won their respective classes alongside freshman Galen Dewhirst (106 pounds) to bring home three individual titles for the Lions.

Honas, Elsten and Dewhirst defeated three Firebirds – Lincoln Norris (132 pounds), Quinton Hice (113 pounds) and Michael Hernandez (106 pounds) – en route to their individual titles.

LHS coach Patrick Naughton said his leadership circle is coming together at the right time.

“The best part of it is each one of those guys, and some others on our team, have taken the new guys under their wings and helped them along,” Naughton said. “They’ve spent some extra time with them on learning how to manage going through the season being a student on one side in the classroom, but also in the wrestling room.”

Senior captains Harrison Kirkwood (165 pounds) and Brandt Wollesen (175 pounds) joined senior Arlo Collier in adding three third-place finishes to the Lions’ resume. Junior Kenneth Marcial (144 pounds) boosted the team score with a fourth-place finish.

LHS packs its bags for a vigorous test at the Newton Tournament of Champions on Thursday. The Newton tournament is set to feature seven of the top 10 teams in 6A, as well as teams from Missouri and Oklahoma.

“They’re excited for the competition,” Naughton said. “It’s going to be stiff and a good litmus test to see how we’ll be able to do at our state tournament.”

Winter weather postpones area hoops and more

Gymnasium doors were shuttered Monday and Tuesday due to severe weather, postponing several basketball matchups and other activities slated for Tuesday night. The upcoming schedule now looks like this:

• LHS girls basketball (3-3) at Olathe East (2-4), Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 4 p.m.

• LHS boys basketball (1-4) at Olathe East (2-4), Wednesday, Jan. 10, after the girls game.

• FSHS girls basketball (0-6) home vs. Olathe North (2-4), Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 5:30 p.m.

• FSHS boys basketball (3-3) home vs. Olathe North (1-2), Wednesday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m.

• LHS bowling at Royal Crest Lanes, TBD.

• LHS wrestling at Baldwin High, Wednesday, Jan. 10, canceled.

We will update this section as make-up dates and times are released.

FSHS-LHS girls wrestling sets new season record

The Free State-Lawrence High girls wrestling team endured a true test over the weekend during the Joel Rios Invitational at Shawnee Mission South. The Chesty Lions finished eighth and the Firebirds finished 10th among 15 total teams.

Four LHS wrestlers – junior Avery Sutton (130 pounds, third), junior Reann Rodriguez (135 pounds, fourth), freshman Daisy Mosso-Ramos (105 pounds, fourth) and junior Lizzy Cano-Cruz (105 pounds, fourth) – headlined the meet with top-five finishes.

Following the SM South meet, Sutton, Rodriguez and Cano-Cruz have now placed in the top four in three separate tournaments this season.

On the FSHS side, junior Zoe Milburn (130 pounds) and sophomore Madilyn Pierson (155 pounds) led the Firebirds with two fifth-place individual finishes.

LHS freshman Elizabeth Mock (140 pounds), on her way to a sixth-place individual finish, broke the school fastest-pin record (19 seconds set by Mock in December) with a 17-second pin.

FSHS and LHS travel to Wichita West on Friday.

FSHS swimmers take second at SM East meet; LHS finishes fourth

The Free State and Lawrence High boys swim teams placed second and fourth, respectively, at the Shawnee Mission East meet over the weekend at the Shawnee Mission District Aquatic Center.

The Firebirds (595 team points) won three of 12 total events, including the 200-yard medley relay (1:44.03). Individually, junior Ari Mattes won the 200-yard medley (2:09.95) and senior Dawson Bonnell won the 100-yard butterfly (54.66).

The Chesty Lions (313) landed multiple strong finishes, including a third-place finish in the 200-yard medley (1:49.03) and 200-yard freestyle (1:36.68) relays.

Individually, LHS senior Luke Velte placed second in the 50-yard freestyle (23.07), junior Ryan Lane placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (51.84), sophomore Hugo Cowardin placed third in the 500-yard freestyle.

FSHS and LHS return to action Thursday at the Lawrence Indoor Aquatic Center to challenge Bonner Springs, Manhattan and Turner.