Panthers swimmers celebrate
BY JIM MISUNAS
The Great Bend Panthers were prepared to compete at a high level after a holiday break.
Great Bend swimmers swept two relays and three individual events to capture the Panthers’ home triangular Thursday at the Barton College pool. The Panthers scored 203 points to beat Campus (146) and Garden City (129). Great Bend honored seniors Brady Daniel, Cal Kaiser, Eduardo Prado and Alan Reyes.
“I'm really pleased with how we swam -- especially so early after the Christmas break,” said Great Bend coach Steve Beaumont. “Some of our swimmers were limited in their events today for various reasons. But that opened up opportunities for other swimmers to get into some new events. Some moved up and competed on the A or B relays for the first time.”
Matthew Huslig won the 100 freestyle (53.19) and placed runner-up in the 50 freestyle (24.4).
“Matt Huslig normally competes in the distance events, so it was good to get him into some sprint events today for a change,” Beaumont said.
Joel Mellenthin won the 200 IM (2:27.66). Brady Daniel won the 500 freestyle (6:15.26) and finished runner-up in the 200 IM (2:28.82).
“Brady Daniel and Joel Mellenthin swam great on the 200 IM,” Beaumont said. “Brady Daniel followed that with a season best time in the 500 free.”
The Panthers’ 200 free relay of Eduardo Prado, Brody Feist, Aidan Flores and Joel Mellenthin placed first (1:47.57).
Great Bend’s 200 medley relay of Tyler Stein, Joel Mellenthin, Allen To and Brody Feist placed first (1:56.53).
Panther Tyler Stein placed runner-up in the 100 backstroke (1:08.74).
Beaumont said Jake Kennedy and Allen To also enjoyed strong performances.
“Jake Kennedy had a great meet swimming the 200 and 500 free for the first time,” Beaumont said. “Allen To had his best meet of the season and put up best times in both of his individual events.”
Beaumont said Thursday’s meet was encouraging after a holiday break and tough workouts in the new year. The Panthers travel to Manhattan Tuesday.
“We need to get everyone healthy and get a few kids back in the water after missing a few practices,” he said. “Hopefully we will have everyone competing again at our next meet in Manhattan.”
GREAT BEND TRIANGULAR
TEAM SCORES—1—Great Bend, 203; 2—Campus, 146; 3—Garden City, 129
50 freestyle—1—Lolling, Campus, 24.23; 2—Huslig, 24.4; 4—Flores, 26.76; 5—Prado, 27.11; Reyes, 33.16; Bennett, 45.97
100 freestyle—1—Huslig, GB, 53.19; 4—Mellenthin, 58.4; 7—Brody Feist, 1:01.24; Kyler Feist, 1:14.09; DeLong, 1:16.2
100 backstroke—1—Cupp, GC, 1:01.92; 2—Tyler Stein, 1:08.74; 3—Allen To, 1:09.83; 6—Webb, 1:16.17
100 breaststroke—1—Lollng, Campus, 110.3; 4—Kaiser, 1:25.7; 5—Jacobo, 1:28.21; 6—DeLong, 1:32.87
100 butterfly—1—Cupp, GC, 58.79; 2—Allen To, 1:05.72; 3—Kaiser, 1:08.31; 4—Flores, 1:14.13
200 freestyle—1—Barnett, Campus, 2:09.56; 4—Kennedy, 2:19.89; 6—Stein, 2:26.16; 7—Linenberger, 2:30.17
200 IM—1—Mellenthin, GB, 2:27.66; 2—Brady Daniel, 2:28.82; 3—Webb, 2:38.72
500 freestyle—Brady Daniel, GB, 6:15.26; 3—Kennedy, 6:34.48; 5—Linenberger, 6:46.33
200 free relay—1—GB A, 1:47.57 (Prado, Brody Feist, Flores, Mellenthin); 5—GB B, 2:25.06 (Kyler Feist, DeLong, Bennett, Jacobo)
200 medley relay—1—GB A, 1:56.53 (Tyler Stein, Mellenthin, Allen To, Brody Feist); 3—GB B, 2:05.54
400 free relay—1—Campus, 4:00.82; 4—GB A, 4:17.03 (Kennedy, Stein, Feist, Allen To); 5—GB B, 4:26.92 (Flores, Kaiser, Linenberger, Webb)
