WICHITA – Great Bend’s bowling coach David Feldbauer has guided the Panther girls to a pair of state bowling championships. The Panther girls captured last year's Western Athletic Conference title.

Barton Cougar bowling signee Zoey Mayberry has placed sixth (591), 10th (576) and 13th (565) at the 5A state bowling championship and is a 2-time state team champion. First-team All-WAC Zoey qualified sixth (546) at regionals. Great Bend's girls finished fifth at regionals.

First-team All-WAC Brooklynn Mayberry has placed 18th (544) and 51st (448) at the 5A state tournament while being a member of the 2024 state champion. Brooklynn qualified for state (487) by one pin edging Hays High’s Loucinda Meade (486) and Maize South’s Kenzie Kalb (486) for an individual state berth.

"Going to state for three years and doing well in the WAC helps with the mental game so they can keep doing well," Feldbauer said "Having experience and bowling in the different houses help everyone grow and get better." 

The Mayberry sisters will join second-team All-WAC Abigail Alvarez and Emery Meza as varsity veterans. The Panther girls have a tradition of performing at a high level in Baker games, where five players contribute.

Great Bend Panther regional runner-up Josh Manning qualified for 5A state with a career-best 704 series, including 265 and 266 games. Manning (453) placed 71st at the state meet. Manning joins Xander Orth, Brantley, Vsetecka and Chason Ramsey as projected varsity starters.

"The girls and boys should roll well in the WAC," Feldbauer said. "The girls will strive for another win and the boys will fight for the top three spots. Our 10 seniors will lead the team to a great season. The bowlers have experience traveling to meets, which helps both teams compete in the WAC. Every week we'll have a battle."

Official team tryouts are scheduled Dec. 10-12 to determine the first varsity qualifiers.

PANTHER BOYS

SENIORS—Josh Manning (STATE, 71ST, 453; REG, 2ND, 704; 20TH, 547); Daegan Miller (REG, 20TH, 547; 37TH, 518); Brantley Vsetecka (REG, 44TH, 471; 61ST, 422); Alexis Ayala; Xander Orth (REG 36TH, 518); Chason Ramsey

SOPHOMORE—Kanyen Parr (REG, 29TH, 537)

PANTHER GIRLS

SENIORS—Zoey Mayberry (STATE, 6TH, 591; 10TH, 565; 13TH, 565; REG, 6TH, 546; 10TH, 514), Aeva Thomas, Rachel Loera, Abigail Alvarez (REG, 39TH, 381); Emery Meza

 JUNIOR—Brooklyn Mayberry (STATE, 18TH, 544; 51ST, 448; REG 15TH, 498; 16TH, 487)

PANTHER SCHEDULE—1-15—Dodge City/Holcomb; 1-19—Garden City; 1-26—Hays/McPherson; 1-30/31—at Wichita; 2-5—at Dodge City; 2-10—at Garden City; 2-12—Liberal; 2-13—at Andover; 2-19—at Hays 2-26—5A regional; 3-5—at 5A state bowling