On Saturday, the Great Bend High School swim team competed in its final meet leading up to the state championship, held at Hummer Sports Complex in Topeka on Feb. 18 and 19.
The Panthers claimed fourth place in the Manhattan swim meet with a score of 205. First place went to defending Class 5-1A state champion Salina South, scoring 267.
Great Bend’s best performance was in the 400-yard freestyle relay, where Ian Sheppard, Kort Cook, Ky Heeke and Kade Cook combined for a time of 3 minutes, 39.60 seconds to take third place.
The best individual placement was snagged by Justin Kuhlman, who finished in fourth place in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.61.

Manhattan swim meet
SATURDAY
Team results
1. Salina South, 267; 2. Maize, 244.5; 3. Derby, 244; 4. Great Bend, 205; 5. Wichita Heights, 176; 6. Manhattan, 170; 7. Topeka, 160; 8. Wichita Northwest, 135; 9. Salina Central,  115.5; 10. Osawatomie/Paolo, 98; 11. Independant, 96; 12. Wichita Collegiate, 82; 13. Hays, 75; 14. Maize South, 74; 15. Emporia, 59; 16. Topeka West, 54; 17. Wichita Trinity, 48; 18. Wichita East, 16; 19. Wichita Southeast 6.
Great Bend “A” team results
200-yard Medley relay
8. GBHS “A” relay (Justin Kuhlman, Kyle Bussen, Kort Cook, Josh Prescott), 1:52.39; 23. GBHS “B” relay (Nick Moyers, Kyle Riggs, Jacob Simmons, Jonathan Baker), 2:09.64.
200 Freestyle
11. Ky Heeke, 2:07.27; 28. Nick Moyers, 2:21.19.
200 Individual Medley
7. Justin Kuhlman, 2:16.15; 8. Kort Cook, 2:17.22; 29. Kyle Bussen, 2:39.54.
50 Freestyle
5. Ian Sheppard, 24.08; 11. Josh Prescott, 24.93; 28. Jonathan Baker, 26.91.
100 Butterfly
5. Kade Cook, 59.52; 9. Ian Sheppard, 1:02.13; 22. Jacob Simmons, 1:15.79.
100 Freestyle
9. Josh Prescott, 54.13; 42. Jonathan Baker, 1:02.39.
500 Freestyle
10. Ky Heeke, 5:57.47; 28. Nick Moyers, 6:30.27.
200 Freestyle relay
5. GBHS “A” relay (Kade Cook, Josh Prescott, Ky Heeke, Ian Sheppard), 1:37.15.
100 Backstroke
4. Justin Kuhlman, 59.61; 8. Kort Cook, 1:01.68; 9. Kade Cook, 1:02.20.
100 Breaststroke
24. Jacob Simmons, 1:20.10; 28. Kyle Bussen, 1:22.02; 35. Kyle Riggs, 1:26.11.
400 Freestyle relay
3. GBHS “A” relay (Ian Sheppard, Kort Cook, Ky Heeke, Kade Cook), 3:39.60; 22. GBHS “B” relay (Nick Moyers, Kyle Riggs, Jacob Simmons, Kyle Bussen), 4:16.71.
Great Bend “B” team results
200 Freestyle
41. Jake Kohman, 2:36.43.
200 Individual Medley
32. Nathan Brungardt, 2:45.16.
50 Freestyle
50. Tristan Yount, 29.70; 57. Paden Thornburgh, 31.90; 60. Austin Levingston, 32.30.
500 Freestyle
31. Nathan Brungardt, 6:34.97; 36. Jake Kohman, 7:16.75.
200 Freestyle relay
33. GBHS “A” relay (Jake Kohman, Paden Thornburgh, Austin Levingston, Nathan Brungardt), 2:11.37.
100 Backstroke
37. Tristan Yount, 1:21.54.