Great Bend’s historic senior class challenged 13-time champion Garden City for the 2025-2026 Western Athletic Conference Champion’s Cup.

Garden City (174) edged Great Bend (160) after eight spring sports were determined in May. Great Bend won the inaugural title in 2008-2009.

It marked the first time in several years that the Panthers finished runnerup in the western Athletic Conference.

In springtime sports, the Panthers captured first place finishes in softball and baseball and finished third in boys tennis, boys track, girls track and girls soccer.

Garden City captured first-place spring finishes in boys tennis, girls swimming and girls soccer.

The Panthers also finished first in football, volleyball, girls cross country, girls bowling and boys bowling First-place teams earn 12 points, eight points for second, six points for third and four points for fourth.

CHAMPION’S CUP STANDINGS 1—Garden City 174; 2—Great Bend 160; 3— Hays High 146; 4—Dodge City 130; 5—Liberal 50

GREAT BEND FINISHES

1ST PLACE (12 points)— Baseball, softball, Football, volleyball, girls cross country, girls bowling, boys bowling

2ND PLACE (8)— Girls tennis, boys basketball

3RD PLACE (6)—Boys tennis, girls track, boys track, girls swimming, girls soccer, boys cross country, boys wrestling 4TH PLACE (4)—Girls wrestling, girls golf

4TH PLACE (4)— Boys golf, girls cross country, girls basketball

5TH PLACE (0)—boys soccer, boys swimming

5TH PLACE (0)—boys soccer, boys swimming