SALINA — Both the Great Bend High School girls’ and boys’ bowling teams took first place at the regional meet in Salina on Thursday afternoon.
As a result, each team will bring all seven bowlers to the state meet in Wichita on Thursday, March 3.
The Panthers were the No. 1 seed going into the tournament, and earned that seeding by topping second-place McPherson by 39 pins, rolling a 2,669 team score.
Kolt Ramey led Great Bend by knocking down 709 to take home a fourth place individual medal.
“The boys really looked like a team,” Great Bend head coach Mike Perry said. “They were just on fire today. We came in No. 1 and we immediately took the lead.
“We had some struggle in the second game, but that was when Tyler (Jones) threw 11 strikes in a row.”
Jones, who took sixth place as an individual, bowled a 279 game to lead the Panthers.
Dakota Conaway, who got 638 series, took 10th place individually.
The Lady Panthers went into the regional meet as the No. 2 seed behind Buehler. They left with first place, topping the Lady Crusaders by 20 pins.
Great Bend rolled a 2,371.
Miranda Hejny, who took home a fourth-place medal, led the Lady Panthers with a 598 series.
“Miranda has been our rock all year,” Perry said. “Other girls picked up their game because we didn’t have that phenomenal series. We just had all six bowlers turn in excellent series.”
The Panthers had three other individual medalists — Kelli Kirmer (sixth place), Koa Pelster (seventh) and Dariane Marshall (ninth).
“We went in matched up with Buhler as the No. 2 seed, and that’s where we wanted to be,” Perry said. “We just outlasted them. The whole team never got down on themselves.
“If someone struggled, they just kept pushing each other.”

Regional bowling meet
Thursday
At Salina

BOYS
Team results
1. Great Bend, 2,669; 2. McPherson, 2,630; 3. Newton, 2,561; 4. Cheney, 2,536; 5. Andale, 2,398; 6. Maize South, 2,343; 7. Buhler, 2,334; 8. Saline-Sacred Heart, 2,185;Peabody-Burns, 1,650; 10. Garden Plains, 890.
Great Bend results
Kolt Ramey: 216, 248, 245 — 709; Tyler Jones: 188, 279, 226 — 693; Dakota Conaway: 214, 179, 245 — 638; Eric Ruiz: 216, 201, 169 — 586; Tyler Seems: 191, 176, 177 — 544; Daniel Herrman: 223, 151, 165 — 539.

GIRLS
Great Bend results
Miranda Hejny: 211, 191, 196 — 598; Kelli Kirmer: 153, 212, 213 — 578; Koa Pelster: 205, 213, 159 — 577; Dariane Marshall: 193, 197, 142 — 549; Erin Bowers: 194, 197, 142 — 533; Jacy Quade: 187, 186, 149 — 522.