Mac Moore/Lawrence Sports

The FireLions, the combined girls gymnastics team of Free State and Lawrence High student-athletes, competed at their last State meet on Oct. 25, 2025. Free State freshman Harper Huston, center, placed third overall, and her three-person team placed fifth.

The combined Lawrence high school girls gymnastics program ceases to exist following the team’s final bow on the mat over the weekend.

In December 2021, the Lawrence school district had proposed nixing the program. Supporters rallied to save it, but its fate remained in limbo while the district mulled budget cuts. In April 2022, girls gymnastics was saved after a four-year analysis of athletics participation data led to a recommendation that the program remain in place.

But a few years later, the Sunflower League announced it would cut girls gymnastics as an official league sport after the fall 2025 season. The league cited dwindling participation, the LHS Budget reported.

The state gymnastics competition on Saturday was Harper Huston’s last go with the sport after participating competitively since she was 7 and recreationally since she was a toddler.

The Free State High School freshman had already decided to retire from club gymnastics and competed in her final regionals in May.

“Gymnastics has been such a big part of my life, and I was really excited for it to be able to continue through high school, even if I’m not doing club,” Huston said. “And now that they’re getting rid of it, it’s upsetting that I won’t have that.”

Free State and Lawrence High School student-athletes had competed on the joint team — named after a combination of their respective mascots, the Firebirds and the Lions — since the 2010s. The FireLions this season had seven members: four from Free State and three from LHS. Head coach Alexis Gonzales, Free State Class of 2011, led the team through its final three years.

Photographer/Outlet

Free State’s Harper Huston smiles toward her coach and teammates after finishing the floor exercise during the state gymnastics meet.

Six team members competed in the all-arounds at State. Free State placed fifth among the other schools. Huston personally scored third all around while also securing sixth on vault, fourth on floor and third on bars.

”It’s been so much fun,” Huston said about her first and last high school season.

“It’s a lot more laid back than club gymnastics, which has been good. And the team environment is absolutely amazing — so many amazing friends. And with the team being so small, we’re all able to be a lot closer in friendship with each other, and get to know each other even better. The conversations, like on the van rides to meets, are always so much fun.”

Cleo Hazlett-Trigg, a sophomore at Free State, said the freshmen provided the boost the team needed this season.

One of the few returners this season, Hazlett-Trigg said she valued her role as a mentor, even for the short time. She had only started gymnastics three years ago but said the high school program lent itself to all skill levels, and the frequency of practices and meets helped her grow.

“People who haven’t been doing it very long can start doing it almost right away,” Hazlett-Trigg said. “I am able to do all the skills I can just because of high school gymnastics. And I think having that cut short is a loss, not just for me, but for everyone, because a lot of people don’t do club gymnastics as well, and playing in high school means they’re not missing out.”

Hazlett-Trigg plans to resume with her club, Jayhawk Gymnastics, in the winter.

Becca Liljestrom, a freshman at LHS, also trains at Jayhawk Gymnastics. She plans to continue there for another year or so before trying her hand at coaching kids around the pre-teen ages. That’s an opportunity she seized when she learned her high school experience was cut short.

“I feel like it gives me more opportunities to see what I like to do, but it is kind of sad to see it leave,” Liljestrom said.

Editor’s note: This article originally ran in the Lawrence Times.

Photographer/Outlet

Free State’s Cleo Trigg celebrates landing her dismount in the beam event during the state gymnastics meet.

Photographer/Outlet

Lawrence’s Becca Liljestrom and her coach Alexis Gonzales celebrate after Liljestrom’s floor routine during the state gymnastics meet.

Photographer/Outlet

Free State’s Lucy Koch performs her floor routine during the state gymnastics meet.

Photographer/Outlet

Lawrence’s Naomi Klopfenstein jumps into the air as part of her performance in the beam event during the state gymnastics meet.