On Thursday the Great Bend Panther bowling teams traveled to Salina to compete in the 13 team Regional Tournament. In boys action the Panthers finished in 5th place just 80 pins away from qualifying for State. The top three teams from each Regional qualify for the State Tournament. Salina South claimed the top spot with a series total of 2786 pins. Wichita Heights came in second place with a total of 2635 pins followed by Newton with 2511 pins. Great Bend rolled a series total of 2431. The bright spot on the day for the Panther Boys was sophomore Kameron Keener. Keener bowled games of 255, 226, and 192 for a series of 673. That was good enough to claim the 7th place medal and qualify him for the State Tournament.
Lady Panthers claim Regional Runner-up
The Lady Panthers from Great Bend picked a great time to bowl their best series of the season. The girls rolled a series total of 2408 pins which was good enough to be the Regional Runner-up. Great Bend finished behind the host team from Salina South. The Cougars from Salina narrowly edged the Lady Panthers from Great Bend by a score of 2443 pins to 2408 pins. The third place finishers were the Crusaders from Buhler who were 400 pins back from Great Bend with a series of 2008.
Senior Hanna Pfeifer bowled the highest series of her high school career. Pfeifer bowled games of 235, 202, and 259 for a series total of 696 pins. Pfeifer’s series total was 47 pins better than Mikayla Talbot from Salina South. Pfeifer was crowned the individual Regional Champion. Pfeifer was joined in the top ten by junior captain Allie Brodrick and junior McKenzy Black. Brodrick bowled games of 216, 194, and 201 which gave her a series total of 611 and the third place medal. Black bowled games of 190, 168, and 212 for a series total of 570 pins and an 8th place finish. The other state qualifiers for the Great Bend team include junior Kylynn Keeler with a series of 526, sophomore Jordan Vsetecka with a series total of 491 pins, and junior Elsi Miller who bowled a 471 series.
The Lady Panthers will be headed to the 5A-1A State Tournament next Friday at North Rock Lanes in Wichita. The boys bowl in the morning starting at 10 a.m. followed by the girls at around 1:30 p.m.