HUTCHINSON— For the first time this season the Panther girls swim team had a taste of silver. During Tuesday’s six team meet at Hutchinson, Great Bend found themselves with a second place finish....a position they are unaccustomed after finishing in first place in their previous six meets.

“We really focused on swimming with a sense of purpose,” said GBHS swim coach Steve Beaumont. “I really felt the last several meets we didn’t swim with the enthusiasm and energy we need to have if we are going to meet our goals at the end of the season.”

The Panthers ended Tuesday’s meet with 321 points, 106 points behind top finisher Andover. Hutchinson (254) took the third place slot followed by El Dorado (175), Rose Hill (89) and Central Christian (16).

Kira Cook had the only gold medal for Great Bend Tuesday with a first place finish in the 200 freestyle and a time of 2:14. Cook then joined teammates Michaela Cape, Katy Jerke and Carly Boyd and finished second in the 200 free relay timing in at 1:53.84. In the 200 medley relay, Cook, Cape, Jerke and Kayln Blessing placed third at 2:13.23. The 400 free relay saw Blessing, Calista Long, Boyd and Cape finish third with a time of 4:26.82.

Blessing won the bronze in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:46.45.

“I really challenged the girls to find that energy level today and I thought we were successful in doing that,” said Beaumont. “Call it a mid-season slump, but we just needed to get out of it. We have two weeks to get ready for the WAC meet. We have our work to do,” he said.

The Panthers return home Friday to host the GBHS Invite at 4 p.m. at the BCCC natatorium.