BY JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com
Garden City’s girls swept two consecutive Baker games to build momentum for a comeback bowling victory over Great Bend. The defending Western Athletic Conference champion Buffaloes led by 29 pins heading to the final Baker game at Walnut Bowl.
Great Bend coach David Feldbauer saw what was happening and quickly gathered the girls for a pep talk.
“After the second Baker game, we had a discussion about what they needed to do. Every one of them picked it up,” Feldbauer said.
The Panthers responded with 10 consecutive spares or strikes for a 214-169 match-clinching victory. Runner-up Kaylin Wahlmeier (629, 208-208-213) joined third-place Jenna Dean (592, 225-175-192) and fourth-place Sahara Rhiza (577, 164-196-178) to spark the Panthers.
Great Bend surprised the Buffaloes 2,783 to 2,767 to claim a 16-pin victory.
“Today, was another great day because Garden City is a really good team,” said Wahlmeier. “Some of our girls struggled, but they fought through it. I like helping my teammates when they’re struggling. We got everybody pumped up and realized it’s one shot-at-a-time. We kept going at it.”
Wahlmeier and Aliyah Fryberger each threw two strikes. Dean, Rhiza and Emilee Nelson each contributed two marks. The Panthers competed without Division 1 recruit Paige Wagner, who was sidelined Monday with a leg injury in her 2022 season debut. Wagner was last year’s 5A state runner-up (725) and is a past WAC Player of the Year.
The Panthers exchanged heartfelt hugs with Wagner and tears flowed when they realized their leader was unable to compete.
Wagner provided positive inspiration with her presence.
“I’m very proud of our girls. It was a great win today,” Feldbauer said. “Our girls have bowled strong all year. They fought adversity when Paige Wagner went out. They picked themselves up and made it work.”
Perennial WAC champion Garden City stormed to a 10-1 victory in the boys division. Garden City’s Ty Weilert (621, 174-225-222) placed first ahead of teammate Kaden Whitehurst (613, 202-165-178).
Great Bend’s Caleb Murphy placed fifth (550, 125-213-212) and Dylan Ferguson finished sixth (549, 151-191-207).
GREAT BEND GIRLS 7, GARDEN CITY 4
GREAT BEND 2,783, GARDEN CITY 2,767
SERIES SCORES—GC def. GB, 773-762; GB def. GC 752-748; GB def. GC, 749-743 (GB 4-2)
BAKER SCORES—GC def. GB, 174-167; GC def. GB, 170-149; GB def. GC, 214-169 (GC 2-1)
PANTHER GIRLS—2—Kaylin Wahlmeier, 629 (208-208-213); 3—Jenna Dean, 592 (225-175-192); 4—Sahara Rhiza, 577 (164-196-178); 8—Aliyah Fryberger, 494 (165-163-166); 11—Emilee Nelson, 427 (135-143-149)
GARDEN CITY—1—Bridges, 632 (226-202-204); 5—Ptacek, 545 (202-165-178); 6—Whitehurst, 529 (183-150-196); 7—Leeper, 526 (162-204-160); 9—Resendiz, 475 (157-167-151); 10—Leeper, 446 (137-144-165)
GARDEN CITY 10, GREAT BEND 1
GARDEN CITY 3,052, GREAT BEND 2,604
SERIES SCORES—GC def. GB, 842-670; GB def. GC 810-730; GB def. GC, 809-734 (GC 6-0)
BAKER SCORES—GB def. GC, 179-174; GC def. GB, 194-155; GC def. GB, 223-136 (GC 2-1)
PANTHER BOYS—5—Caleb Murphy, 550 (125-213-212); 6—Dylan Ferguson, 549 (151-191-207); 9—Jalen Daniels, 507 (186-158-163); 10—Caleb McNett, 487 (173-162-152); 11—Jordan Manning, 435 (160-164-111); 12—Chris Mason, 421 (147-137-137)
GARDEN CITY—1—Weilert, 621 (174-225-222); 2—Whitehurst, 613 (234-204-175); 3—Strasser, 596 (225-193-178); 4—Farr, 558 (149-175-234); 7—Burns, 547 (206-180-161); 8—Messenger, 515 (177-188-150)
GB JV GIRLS 10, GC 1
CSERIES SCORES—GB def. GC, 480-438; GB def. GC 543-491; GB def. GC, 562-445 (GB 6-0)
BAKER SCORES—GC def. GB, 132-92; GB def. GC, 116-95; GB def. GC, 150-102 (GB 2-1)
PANTHER GIRLS—1—Vanessa Delgadillo, 436 (146-139-151); 2—Kristy Wittig, 435 (137-161-137); 3—Paige Heine, 369 (90-133-146); 7—Rionna Rodriguez, 320 (92-100-128); 8—Kacie Schroeder, 313 (103-87-123); 9—Kyra Calvert, 296 (94-110-92)
GARDEN CITY—4—Kilgore, 361 (92-135-134); 5—Unsworth, 360 (95-162-103); 6—Messenger, 338 (137-103-98); 10—Gossman, 293 (106-77-110); 11—Arteaga, 263 (100-91-97); 11—Tatman, 263 (75-91-97
GC JV BOYS 11, GB 0
SERIES SCORES—GC def. GB, 731-522; GC def. GB, 714-607; GC def. GB, 677-562 (GC 6-0)
BAKER SCORES—GC def. GB, 175-122; GC def. GB, 171-145; GC def. GB, 156-144 (GC 3-0)
PANTHER BOYS—4—Quinten Miller, 464 (143-156-138); 6—Deklyn Craven, 437 (143-156-138); 7—Dylon Paden, 431 (118-172-136); 10—Tyler McKenzie, 357 (111-124-122); 11—Keaton Wahlmeier, 338 (113-103-122); 12—Jordan Sander, 277 (100-81-96)
GARDEN CITY—1—Villarreal, 577 (205-181-191); 2—Erwin, 555 (194-181-170); 3—Nichols, 535 (183-171-181); 5—Crandall, 451 (149-167-135); 8—McMillan, 391 (101-171-119); 9—376 (130-120-126)
