jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Mission accomplished!
Great Bend wrestling coach Nathan Broeckelman established a goal of putting together a multi-day summer wrestling event.
Kansas teams attended from across the state as Great Bend’s “Grapple on the Gridiron” continues to gain momentum.
The Panther girls won four dual matches Thursday, the closest a 39-36 victory over a combined team from Garden City, Valley Center and Rock Creek. The final matches with 70 girls competing were competed outdoors at Memorial Stadium.
Returning state wrestling champion Bre Ridgeway (4-0) finished unbeaten along with Sierra Ferguson (6-0), Paige Sanders (4-0) and Aliya Johnson (2-0), in her first-ever matches. Daizy Gomez (4-1), Jaydon Davis (4-1), Callie Steffan (4-1) and Kaylea McMullen (2-1) each had one loss.
“The best part was seeing the kids having fun when the girls competed Thursday night on the football field,” said Broeckelman. “The wrestlers got some quality mat time. For us, it’s great. There’s no travel and it’s a great way to grow the sport of wrestling by providing opportunities.”
The Panther boys were equally successful, winning nine of 10 dual matches. Lawrence Free State edged the Panthers 32-30 for their lone setback. Thunderstorms forced all the action indoors Friday night.
Panthers Matthew Johnson (6-0), Keyven Schroeder (6-0), Tristan Tomlinson (6-0), Hayden Liles (6-0) finished unbeaten. Skyler McMullen (8-1), Scott Heilman (6-1), Kaiden Hoffman (5-1) and Avery Wolf (3-1) each had one loss.
“We bumped guys up weights to get matches and we lost some, but that’s how you get better as a wrestler,” he said. “Everyone who wanted to wrestle gets to wrestle. When you find guys who beat you, you take that and get better.”
GIRLS DUAL RESULTS (36-15)
Panthers 69, McPherson 30
Panthers 54, Wichita North/Douglass 15
Panthers 39, Garden City/Valley Center/Rock Creek 36
Panthers 37, Hays 6
GIRLS RESULTS
Sierra Ferguson 6-0
Paige Sanders 4-0
Bre Ridgeway 4-0
Aliya Johnson 2-0
Daizy Gomez 4-1
Jaydon Davis 4-1
Callie Steffan 4-1
Kaylea McMullen 2-1
Katie Kuhlman 3-2
Danica Cline 1-1
Maria Gonzalez 1-2
Jasalyn Vanaman 1-2
Kynli Shull 1-2
Keira Peyva 0-1
Mayra Gonzalez 0-2
BOYS DUAL RESULTS (79-27)
Panthers 62, Kingman/Labette 0
Panthers 59, McPherson 0
Panthers 52, Silver Lake/Larned 12
Panthers 46, Valley Center 14
Panthers 45, Minneapolis 18
Panthers 36, Salina South 9
Panthers 34, Wichita North 16
Panthers 34, Campus/Halstead 22
Panthers 30, Goddard Eisenhower 3
Lawrence Free State 32, Panthers 30
BOYS RESULTS
Matthew Johnson 6-0
Keyven Schroeder 6-0
Tristan Tomlinson 6-0
Hayden Liles 6-0
Skyler McMullen 8-1
Scott Heilman 6-1
Kaiden Hoffman 5-1
Avery Wolf 3-1
Kaden Spragis 6-3
Maddex Harmon 6-3
Caleb Mulligan 4-2
Caden Spore 5-4
Zach Davis 3-3
Emanuel Prieto 2-2
Brody Schnoebelen 4-5
