GREAT BEND HIGH SCHOOL
LADY PANTHERS
Classification: 5A
League: Western Athletic Conference
Head coach: Shannon Schartz
Assistant coach(es): Dustin Wheeler
2013 finish in WAC: First place
2013 finish at state: Fifth place
Roster
Kaitlin Adams Soph.
Carly Boyd Jr.
Rachel Carpenter Jr.
Rebecca Dawson Jr.
Jordan Ewing Jr.
Morgan Francis Sr.
Mollie Hestand Soph.
Taylor Huslig Jr.
Addison Ingram Fr.
Danielle Jordan Jr.
Jahtziri Lara Jr.
Calista Long Fr.
Giselle Martinez Jr.
Sydney McAfee Fr.
Morgan McIntosh Sr.
Elsi Miller Soph.
Macy Moyers Jr.
Madison Murphy Jr.
Allison Muth Soph.
Madison Otter Soph.
Gabriela Ramirez Jr.
Maria Ramirez Soph.
Allison Regehr Soph.
Carter Sheffield Sr.
Parker Smith Fr.
Allyssia Strickland Fr.
Addison Westhoff Soph.
Mindy Wittig Soph.
Misty Wittig Sr.
Schedule
Aug. 28 — At Lyons, 3 p.m.
Sept. 4 — At McPherson, 3 p.m.
Sept. 9 — GREAT BEND ROUND ROBIN, 3 p.m.
Sept. 13 — GREAT BEND INVITATIONAL, 9 a.m.
Sept. 18 — At Dodge City, 3 p.m.
Sept. 25 — At Salina South, 3 p.m.
Sept. 27 — At Garden City, 9 a.m.
Oct. 4 — At McPherson, 9 a.m.
Oct. 6 — At WAC meet in Great Bend, 10 a.m.
HOME MEETS IN ALL CAPS
Shannon Schartz returns for his 37th year as head coach, and he’s bringing back a lot of talent.
The Great Bend High School girls’ tennis team graduated two players from last year’s team, but returns four with varsity experience.
The Lady Panthers are coming off a prosperous year that saw the team finish tied for fifth at the Class 5A State Tournament in Arkansas City.
Great Bend finished with 21 points, tying Emporia.
Andover won the tournament with 40 points.
The top finishers from Great Bend was the doubles combination of Macy Moyers and Morgan Francis.
They finished fourth at state last year.
And they’re back.
“They’re looking ready to go,” Schartz said. “We have our sights set higher this year.”
Why not?
Moyers was 33-5 last year. Francis was 30-6.
Both have been Western Athletic Conference Players of the Year.
This year they’ll look to go further in doubles competition.
“We’re thinking doubles (is better than singles),” Schartz said. “They’d both definitely qualify for state in singles, but we think they’ll go further in doubles.
“We can get above fourth place. We have a shot at a state title.”
Carly Boyd and Taylor Huslig, a pair of juniors, also have varsity experience for Great Bend.
They will be Great Bend’s second doubles team this year.
“They are athletic and they hit the ball hard,” Schartz said. “We’re going to be strong in doubles. Our No. 1s will be great and our No. 2s are going to be competitive.”
That leaves the singles positions up for grabs.
“We’ll bring up some singles players from JV,” Schartz said.
Schartz has a large pool of players to pick from.
“We had 29 kids come out this year,” Schartz said. “That’s the largest number we’ve had in a couple of decades.”
The middle school opened up a tennis program last year, helping generate some interest.
“I think we’re further ahead then we usually are this time of the year,” Schartz said. “That’s thanks to the middle school program. We’re usually teaching right now, and a lot of the kids have already learned the basics. They already have a year of experience.”
Schartz said the likely candidates for the singles spots are the singles players from the junior varsity.
“Rebecca Dawson was our No. 1 singles player last year in junior varsity,” Schartz said. “She’ll likely be our No. 1 singles player.
“Addison Westhoff, who is one of the most improved players on the team, will be the No. 2 singles player.”
