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Panther girls, Daniels makes 5A state bowling
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Great Bend’s girls qualify for the 5-6A state bowling championships March 4. The Panthers feature from left—Kristy Wittig, Sahara Rziha, Kaylin Wahlmeier, Jenna Dean, Aliyah Fryberger, Emilee Nelson.

BY JIM MISUNAS

jmisunas@gbtribune.com

HUTCHINSON — Kaylin Wahlmeier's dream season will finish at the 6-5A state bowling championships. Great Bend's Western Athletic runner-up Wahlmeier earned third medalist honors (599, 195-201-203) to spark the Panthers to a third-place finish and a 6-5A state berth Wednesday.

The Panther girls trailed Goddard Eisenhower 2,110 to 2,096 after three games for the third qualifying spot. But the Panthers rolled four solid games of 165-180-155-178 (678) to gain 40 pins on Goddard Eisenhower (628). The Panthers scored 2,774 and Eisenhower shot 2,748. 

The Panthers' stylish Aliyah Fryberger placed 10th (517, 180-165-172) to back up Wahlmeier with equally solid play. Also contributing were 13th-place Emilee Nelson (505), Sahara Rziha (468), Kristy Wittig (435) and Jenna Dean (366).

"200s are a good day. I had two games over 200," Wahlmeier said. "I bowled consistent all day. We wanted to get our team through to state and we did it. We're excited to get to state again. You had to adjust today because the lanes dried out fast. At the start, you had to move right to get to hook more. Eventually, it hooked too much and I had to change my bowling ball. Baker games were consistent today." 

Great Bend coach David Feldbauer saw the WAC runners-up perform effectively like they have all season.

"The girls step it up in Bakers," he said. "They get their spares and perform well. The girls stepped up and played well. We're happy to get four girls scoring over 500. I'm impressed and happy with that."

Chisholm Trail champion Buhler (2,994) placed first and Salina South (2,783) finished runner-up. Buhler's Mallory Cross (604, 177-197-230) earned medalist honors ahead of teammate Teigan Nielsen (601, 162-214-225).

"It was a difficult shot today," Feldbauer said. "It was hard to score. You had to be pin-point on your spot to score a strike. Other than that, you had to keep getting spares."

Chisholm Trail champion Buhler won the girls regional (2,994) with Salina South finishing runner-up (2,783).

Panther Jalen Daniels pulled a surprise with a seventh-place finish at 571 (213-180-178) to qualify as an individual. The Panthers finished fifth (2,850), 95 pins away from third place finisher Salina South (2,945). Daniels' high series was 624 this season.  

"I was above average today," Daniels said. "I had six strikes in my 213 game. But it was a hard shot today. We played Bakers good today."

The Panthers outscored Salina South 746-670 in Bakers, but finished 95 pins behind. Chisholm Trail champion Buhler (3,164) won the regional and Goddard Eisenhower (2,992) placed runner-up. Buhler's Landon Kurtz (662, 194-232-236) earned medalist honors ahead of Eisenhower's Kyler Stockstill (638, 185-185-264).

5A BUHLER GIRLS REGIONAL

1—BUHLER, 2,994 (2,249 (678-773-798); Baker 745 (157-198-211-179); 1—Cross, 604 (177-197-230); 2—Nielsen, 601 (162-214-225); 8—Duran, 523 (173-185-165); 9—Huiett, 519 (166-177-176); 24—Hulse, 444 (154-145-145); 27—Hamby, 433 (135-131-167)

2—SALINA SOUTH, 2,783 (2,148 (713-727-708); Baker 635 (143-141-186-186);  4—Frees, 570 (180-202-188); 7—McComber, 527 (207-140-180); 12—Ordonez, 506 (139-207-160); 17—Lambeth, 491 (158-153-180); 25—Vargas, 442 (119-165-158); 31—Ordonez, 400 (168-130-102)

3—GREAT BEND, 2,774 (2,096 (711-694-691); Baker 678 (165-180-155-178); 3—Kaylin Wahlmeier, 599 (195-201-203); 10—Aliyah Fryberger, 517 (180-165-172); 13—Emilee Nelson, 505 (180-182-143); 20—Sahara Rziha, 468 (156-146-166); 17—Kristy Wittig, 435 (149-136-150); 17—Jenna Dean, 366 (119-128-113)

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS—5—Choura, GE, 561 (166-213-182); 6—Beck, GE, 557 (208-201-148); 11—Busch, McPherson, 516 (162-170-184); 14—Laha, Goddard, 499 (142-139-218); 15—Canary, GE, 495 (172-169-154); 16—Henry, McPherson, 493 (152-156-185)

5A BUHLER BOYS REGIONAL

1—BUHLER, 3,164 (2,480 (750-832-898); Baker 684 (134-211-178-161); 1—Kurtz , 662 (194-232-236); 3—Warren, 637 (179-213-245); 6—Sheridan, 586 (194-157-235); 13—McQulliam, 544 (180-182-182); 19—Pyles, 528 (182-203-143); 31—Willis, 489 (149-184-156)

2—GODDARD EISENHOWER, 2,992 (2,304 (699-763-842); Baker 688 (160-195-150-213); 2—Stockstill, 638 (185-185-264); 12—McConnell, 556 (188-182-186); 16—Merrell, 541 (169-191-181); 20—Salazar, 526 (157-198-171); 21—Douglass, 524 (157-185-182); 27—Blasi, 501 (150-141-210)

3—SALINA SOUTH, 2,945 (2,275 (747-876-852); Baker 670 (119-171-167-213); 4—Peterson, 621 (190-204-227); 5—Lamberth, 615 (203-190-222); 18—Frees, 532 (188-158-186); 37—Morrical, 469 (145-113-211); 42—Knutson, 461 (145-124-192); 44—Stelter, 453 (166-122-165)

5—GREAT BEND—2,850 (2,104 (737-622-705); Baker 746 (234-139-217-156); 7—Jalen Daniels, 571 (213-180-178); 17—Jordan Manning, 540 (174-179-187); 34—Dylan Ferguson, 477 (164-136-177); 40—Caleb McNett, 462 (132-167-163); 45—Christian Mason, 452 (178-122-152); 47—Caleb Murphy, 446 (172-131-143)

INDIVIDUAL QUALIFIERS—7—Jalen Daniels, GB, 571 (213-180-178); 8—Harrison, Andale, 565 (189-179-197); 9—Brown, Holcomb, 560 (112-221-227); 10—Bastin, Holcomb, 560 (214-203-143); 11—Gebhardt, Salina Central, 559 (169-195-195); 14—Buresh, Goddard, 542 (196-177-169)