LIBERAL — The Great Bend High School girls' bowling team missed only one of the 21 points available at the Western Athletic Conference tournament on Thursday.
The Lady Panthers swept the match play games, and won 8 of 9 Baker's format games to win their second WAC title in two years.
The boys struggled early in the match play games, but finished ahead of Dodge City for the Panthers' first WAC title in school history.
"The girls just dominated from start to finish," GBHS head coach Mike Perry said. "They lost one Bakers game to Garden City, and the boys really bowled well, too."
Dakota Conaway led the Panthers, finishing with a 704 series. He was named the WAC MVP, an honor that his teammate Eric Ruiz held after last year's competition.
"Dakota was pretty hot all day," Perry said, "but the win was definitely a team win. In the Bakers games, we switched it up a bit and let Eric be the anchor bowler. Danny Herrman had a great day. Even out sixth man, Jeff Meitler, he came in and picked up a few spares as an alternate.
"It was a total team effort today."
Both Conaway and Ruiz received first-team honors while Herrman and Mark Lang was selected as second-team bowlers.
Miranda Hejny led the girls with a 661 series. Senior Jacy Quade joined Hejny, who was the WAC MVP last year, on the conference's first team.
"They choose the MVP based on the bowlers' averages throughout the season," Perry said of Hejny. "She missed being the MVP again by five pins. That's not a five-pin average. Five pins total.
"She was down 189 pin going into the tournament, so she made up 184 of those pins tonight."
Maddie Roach and Erin Bowers made the second team.
The girls set a pair of school records, rolling an 890 game to beat the previous record of 883 set last season. The girls combined for a 2,423 series during match play games, beating 2,403, which was also set last year.
Freshman Addie Soukup bowled her career-high game (243) and series (533).
"The girls were just phenomenal," Perry said. "in the WAC, we have the most solid squad. The other teams have one or two bowlers who are great, but we had the most complete team from one to six. It was just fun to watch today."
HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING
Western Athletic Conference
At Liberal
Thursday
BOYS
Totals pins
1. Great Bend, 4,486; 2. Dodge City, 4,337; 3. Garden City, 4,296; 4. Liberal, 4,294
Baker's format
GBHS vs. Liberal
Great Bend, 220-177-208 — 605; Liberal, 179-197-180 — 556
GBHS vs. Garden City
Great Bend, 194-201-244 — 639; Garden City, 213-148-192 — 553
GBHS vs. Dodge City
Great Bend, 191-243-204 — 638; Dodge City, 219-212-197 — 628
Great Bend varsity results
Dakota Conaway, 235-236-233 — 704; Daniel Herrman, 220-211-216 — 647; Eric Ruiz, 204-193-214 — 611; Kolt Ramey, 182-181-231 — 594; Mark Lang, 186-225-144 — 555; Jeff Meitler, 179-171-182 — 532
Junior varsity
Matt Black, 224-177-140 — 541; Kevin Coleman, 148-111-243 — 502; Alex Morgan, 169-158-159 — 486; Hunter Gregg, 137-149-170 — 456
GIRLS
Totals pins
1. Great Bend, 4,057; 2. Garden City, 3,808; 3. Dodge City, 3,320; 4. Liberal, 3,067
Baker's format
GBHS vs. Garden City
Great Bend, 204-181-191 — 576; Garden City, 177-202-136 — 515
GBHS vs. Liberal
Great Bend, 143-184-200 — 527; Liberal, 127-116-103 — 346
GBHS vs. Dodge City
Great Bend, 168-165-188 — 531; Dodge City, 128-131-169 — 428
Great Bend varsity results
Miranda Hejny, 192-258-211 — 661; Jacy Quade, 134-194-162 — 538; Maddie Roach, 193-183-162 — 538; Addie Soukup, 128-162- 243 — 533; Kelli Kirmer, 179-131-211 — 521; Erin Bowers, 172-153-144 — 469
Junior varsity
Alex Eye, 208-158-137 — 503; Sterling McAllister, 155-183-139 — 477; Abby Rose, 134-147, 155-436; Courtney Seever, 153-125-154 — 432; Jessica Sterba, 93-143-176 — 412; Kira Bunn, 113-118-91 — 322.
WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE STANDINGS
BOYS
Great Bend 42 21
Dodge City 35 28
Garden City 32 31
Liberal 25 38
GIRLS
Great Bend 51 12
Garden City 39 24
Dodge City 23 40
Liberal 13 50
