The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

The student-run news site of Lawrence Free State High School

Free Press Online

2022-2023 Staff

Natasha Torkzaban
News Co-Editor in Chief

Natasha Torkzaban

Natasha Torkzaban is a junior at Free State. This is Natasha's second year on staff and she is the Co-Editor in Chief of the Free Press Newspaper and Online. Outside of journalism, she is involved in Link Crew and NHS. Outside...

Allison Mayhew
News Co-Editor in Chief

Allison Mayhew

Allison Mayhew is a junior at Free State and she is the Co-Editor in Chief of the Free Press Newspaper and Online. Outside of journalism, she is in NHS and FiberBirds. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with her cats and...

Cici Hunter
Ybk Editor in Chief

Cici Hunter

Cici Hunter is a senior at Free State. Cici is the Editor in Chief of the Talon Yearbook. Outside of journalism, she is on the soccer team and is involved in clubs like Debate, Forensics, NHS and serves as the senior class representative...

Lilly Wall
News Managing Editor

Lilly Wall

Lilly Wall is a sophomore at Free State and a Managing Editor for the Free Press Newspaper. Outside of class, she enjoys reading, hanging out with friends, playing volleyball, and listening to music.

Lauren Tao
Ybk Managing Editor

Lauren Tao

Lauren Tao is a senior at Free State and is the Business Managing Editor for the Talon Yearbook. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and painting and drawing.

Olivia Nagel
Ybk Managing Editor

Olivia Nagel

Olivia Nagel is a Junior at Free State and the Managing Editor of the Talon Yearbook. Olivia is involved with Model UN, NHS, and Track. Outside of school, she likes to draw and play with her cats.

Alicia Narum
News Copy Editor

Alicia Narum

Alicia Narum is a senior at Free State and the Copy Editor for the Free Press Newspaper. Outside the journalism room, she is involved in theatre, orchestra, tennis, and soccer. Outside of school, Alicia enjoys traveling and cooking...

Lady Ortega-Perez
News Photo Editor

Lady Ortega-Perez

Lady Ortega-Perez is a Junior at Free State and is in her second year of journalism with the title of Photo Editor for the Free Press Newspaper. Outside of journalism, she is co-president of Key club, webmaster for the Kansas...

Isabelle Prô
Ybk Photo Editor

Isabelle Prô

Isabelle Prô is a junior at Free State and is the photo editor of the Talon Yearbook as well as a member of the cross country and track team, LINK crew, NHS, and SALT. Outside of school she enjoys photography, outdoors, and traveling.

Evan White
News design editor

Evan White

Evan White is a senior at Free State, and this will be her second year on the journalism staff. This year Evan is the Design Editor for the Free Press. At FSHS, Evan is involved in the Spirit Squad, Golf Team, Soccer Team, Link...

Hannah Stone
Ybk Design Editor

Hannah Stone

Hannah Stone is a junior at Free State. She is the Design Editor of the Talon Yearbook and is involved with NHS, Key Club, Women in STEM, HYPE, Link Crew, Equity Advisory Council, and FSHS golf. Hannah's favorite things include...

Maya Lee
Social Media Editor

Maya Lee

Maya Lee is a Junior at Free State and is the Social Media Editor. She is on the tennis team and enjoys reading and travel.

Ember Klein
Sports Manager

Ember Klein

Ember Klein is a sophomore at Free State and Sports Editor for the journalism staff. They are involved in theatre, band and football outside of journalism. Outside of school, they enjoy painting and watching movies with friends.

Simon Williams
Reporter

Simon Williams

Simon Williams is a sophomore at Free State, and a reporter on staff. In school she is apart LINK Crew and Debate and Forensics, where she serves on the NSDA Leadership Board. Outside of school Simon enjoys nature, outdo...

Emma Wiley
Reporter

Emma Wiley

Emma Wiley is a sophomore at Free State, and a reporter for Free State Journalism. She loves shopping, playing volleyball and drinking Starbucks.      

Emi Stone
Reporter

Emi Stone

Emi Stone is a freshman at Free State and is a reporter. She’s involved with gymnastics, track, and on the spirit squad. Outside of school, Emi enjoys playing music and loves baking.

Maria Mosconi
Reporter

Maria Mosconi

Maria Mosconi is a freshman at Free State. It's her first year as a reporter for Free State Journalism. Outside of school, she dances ballet with a professional company and enjoys hanging out with friends and baking. ...

Phoebe Morris
Reporter

Phoebe Morris

Phoebe Morris is a Freshman at Free State. This is Phoebe's first year as a reporter for Free State Journalism. Outside school, she mostly dances as a pre-professional company member at the Lawrence Art Center.

Thomas Patton
Reporter

Thomas Patton

Thomas Patton is a junior at Free State and a reporter on staff. He plays on the baseball team and is involved in National Honor Society. He loves to watch and play sports in his free time.

Arianna Waller
Reporter

Arianna Waller

Arianna Waller is a 14 year old freshman at Free State. She is a competition dancer at Dance Gallery here in Lawrence. In addition to dance, Arianna also enjoys acting and was most recently a dance captain for the Free State Theatre...

Evie Chancy
Reporter

Evie Chancy

Evie Chancy is a freshman and a reporter for Free State Journalism. Outside of journalism, she is involved with the Free State debate and forensics teams. When she's not in school, she loves design, clothes, tailoring, and all...

Conrad Hill
Reporter

Conrad Hill

Conrad Hill is freshman and a reporter for Free State Journalism. He is involved with the choir and the debate squad in Free State. Outside of school he is in team steam robotics, often reads and likes to hang out with friends.

Nick Sprecker
Reporter

Nick Sprecker

Nick Sprecker is a sophomore at Free State High School and is a first year sports reporter on staff. Outside of journalism, he is a member of the boys soccer team and is involved with spikeball club. In his free time, he enjoys...

Gabriella Kellison
Reporter

Gabriella Kellison

Gabriella Kellison is a senior at Free State and a reporter for Free State Journalism. She is the director of community outreach for the Student Equity Council, and loves to work outside of school. She also enjoys cooking and...

Greyson Heiman
Reporter

Greyson Heiman

Greyson Heiman is a junior at Free State and is a reporter for Free State Journalism. He is involved with NHS and the soccer team. In his free time he enjoys playing golf and hanging out with his friends.

Maeve Nichols
Reporter

Maeve Nichols

Maeve Nichols is a sophomore at Free State and a reporter for Free State Journalism. She is involved in soccer and cross country. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with family and shopping.

Stella Mosier
Reporter

Stella Mosier

Stella Mosier is a Junior at Free State and a reporter for Free State Journalism. She runs cross country and track, as well as choir.

Maura Langland
Reporter

Maura Langland

Maura Langland is a junior at Free State High School and is a reporter for Free State Journalism. At Free State, she is involved in NHS and Link Crew. Outside of school, she dances competitively and enjoys reading and spending...

Elizabeth Hare
Reporter

Elizabeth Hare

Elizabeth Hare is a junior and a reporter for Free State Journalism. She is on the Free State volleyball and softball teams and link crew. Outside of school, she likes to weight lift, play volleyball, read and spend time with...

Becky Coston
Reporter

Becky Coston

Becky Coston is a junior and a reporter for Free State Journalism. At Free State, they are active in the theatre program. Outside of school, they are a girl scout with four cats and enjoy talking to people from across the world.

Katie Campbell
Designer

Katie Campbell

Katie Campbell is a freshman at Free State High school. She is a designer on Journalism Staff. At school, she participates in girls soccer and KEY club. Outside of school, she enjoys reading, travel, and spending time with friends...

Avery Smiley
Designer

Avery Smiley

Avery Smiley is a freshman at Free State and is a designer for Free State Journalism. She plays girls soccer, and is involved with Key club. Outside of school, she enjoys traveling and spending time with friends.

Mylie Brillhart
Designer

Mylie Brillhart

Mylie Brillhart is a junior at Free State and a Designer for Free State Journalism. She enjoys listening to music, drawing, painting, and hanging out with friends and family over the weekends.

Daisy Hernandez-Marrufo
Designer

Daisy Hernandez-Marrufo

Daisy Hernandez-Marrufo is a sophomore and designer for Free State Journalism. Outside of school they love to listen to music, travel, and hangout with their friends.

Sarah Masterson
Designer

Sarah Masterson

Sarah Masterson is a junior and is a designer for Free State Journalism. She is on the volleyball team, Model UN, and NHS. Outside of school she enjoys hanging out with her friends, drawing, and playing volleyball.

Vivi Riffel
Designer

Vivi Riffel

Viviana Riffel is a sophomore and is a designer for Free State Journalism. She is on the Free State cheer team and is so excited to be on staff! Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with friends, art, and music!

Rylee Miller
Designer

Rylee Miller

Rylee Miller is a senior at Free State and a designer for Free State Journalism staff. At school, she is involved in the hype club and girls golf. She really loves showing school spirit by dressing up for games and watching all...

Richard Li
Designer

Richard Li

Richard Li is a sophomore at FSHS and is a designer for Free State Journalism. He is in multiple clubs and extracurriculars. In his free time, he enjoys reading and playing games with friends.

Raelynn Keefer
Designer

Raelynn Keefer

Raelynn Keefer is a senior and a designer for Free State Journalism. She plays girls soccer, is involved in NHS and LINK, and is in multiple clubs at Free State. Outside of school, she spends a lot of time outdoors, going to concerts,...

Maile Hickman
Designer

Maile Hickman

Maile Hickman is a junior at Free State High School and is a designer for Free State Journalism staff. She is also a member of NHS and the tennis team. Outside of school Maile enjoys reading and creating collage art.

Lola Cloud
Designer

Lola Cloud

Lola Cloud is a Junior at Free State High School and is a designer on staff. She is involved in the theater department at Freestate. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with friends and rollerskating.

Amy Bontrager
Designer

Amy Bontrager

Amy Bontrager is a senior at Free State High School and is a designer on staff. She plays on the volleyball and soccer teams and is involved in NHS. She loves the color orange and enjoys spending time with friends and family.

Liv Hazlett
Photographer

Liv Hazlett

Liv Hazlett is a sophomore at Free State. She is a photographer for Free State Journalism and is on the soccer team. Outside of school, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family, sailing, and running.

Riley Williams
Photographer

Riley Williams

Riley Williams is a freshman and photographer at Free State. Outside of school she loves to go on runs and hangout with her animals. She also loves helping the environment in any way she can.

Willow Marable
Photographer

Willow Marable

Willow Marable is a freshman at Free state and is joining staff as a photographer. She loves her friends and all things fashion. Outside of school she paints, runs and volunteers/attends classes at the Lawrence Arts Center.

Wyatt Dodds
Photographer

Wyatt Dodds

Wyatt Dodds is a junior at Free State and is a photographer on journalism staff. Outside of school he enjoys playing basketball, golf and loves spending time with his friends and family.

Geneva Sabatini
Photographer

Geneva Sabatini

Geneva Sabatini is a sophomore at Free State and a photographer for Free State Journalism. She runs cross country and track. In her free time, she loves to make art and spend time with friends and family.

Elinor Russo
Photographer

Elinor Russo

Elinor Russo is a sophomore and photographer. She enjoys traveling, gardening, cooking, and spending time outside. She also loves experimenting with different types of photography.

Taylor Stone
Photographer

Taylor Stone

Taylor is a Sophomore and a Photographer for Free State Journalism. She plays soccer and runs cross country. In her free time she enjoys hanging out with friends and family.

Amelia Wiles
Photographer

Amelia Wiles

Amelia Wiles is a sophomore at FSHS and is a Photographer for Free State Journalism. She played on the varsity girls soccer team her freshman year and plans on continuing her soccer journey throughout high school. Outside of school,...

Dru White
Photographer

Dru White

Dru white is a sophomore and a Photographer for Free State Journalism. She plays soccer and golf at Free State and loves playing with her dog, Izzie, in her free time.

Mallory Thompson
Photographer

Mallory Thompson

Mallory Thompson is a sophomore. She is a photographer for Free State Journalism and avid KU fan who loves mystery novels.

Eleanor Roust
Photographer

Eleanor Roust

Eleanor Roust is a sophomore at Free State High School and is a Photographer for Free State Journalism. This is their first year in journalism along with continuing school activities from previous years such as speech and debate,...

Ashanti Riccardo
Photographer

Ashanti Riccardo

Ashanti Riccardo is a senior and a Photographer for Free State Journalism. She does track which she has been doing since her sophomore year. She is a manager for the football team and is a LINK Crew leader. Ashanti enjoys spending...

Photographer

Maddie McIntire

Keat Hockenbury
Photographer

Keat Hockenbury

Keat Hockenbury is a junior at Free State and a Photographer on staff. He enjoys XC, track, and swimming he is also involved in band and choir. He loves taking photos and having a good time with friends.

Drew Rosenthal
Business

Drew Rosenthal

Drew Rosenthal is a junior at Free State. He is on the Free State Journalism business team. He has two dogs, been to Europe, and plays soccer.

Mimi Stephenson
Business

Mimi Stephenson

Mimi Stephenson is a sophomore at Free State. Outside of journalism, she is apart of Debate, Forensics, Pre-Med club, Young Democrats, and serves as sophomore on the NSDA Leadership Board. Outside of school you can find her playing...

Jayne Landers
Business

Jayne Landers

Jayne Landers is a junior at Free State and is apart of the Journalism business team. She is involved in NHS and Model UN. Outside of school, Jayne enjoys traveling, reading, and hanging out with friends.