LIBERAL — For the second straight year, the Great Bend High School girls’ tennis team claimed the Western Athletic Conference title, though just barely.
The Lady Panthers finished with 14 points, just edging Garden City, which finished with 13.
Two years ago, it was Garden City that bumped Great Bend out of the top spot in the conference, but not this season.
“Both of our singles teams and our No. 1 doubles teams did really well,” GBHS head coach Shannon Schartz said. “Our No. 2 doubles team struggled off and on, but they still played well.
“It came down to Jami McVay (No. 2 singles player) beating Garden City and our No. 2 doubles team (Carly Boyd and Taylor Huslig) beating Dodge City as two of the last matches of the day. Everyone came through in the clutch.”
McVay won her division, as did Morgan Francis in the No. 1 singles competition and Macy Moyers and Brianna Schartz as No. 1 doubles players.
Moyers, who joined with Brianna Schartz to only drop four sets all day, won the WAC Player of the Year award.
Shannon Schartz was awarded WAC Coach of the Year.
“Everybody played well,” Shannon Schartz said. “The girls were very serious and just went to work. We were very happy to repeat as champions. They all came through for us.”
Great Bend hits the postseason on Saturday, heading to Newton for a Class 5A regional tournament, starting at 10 a.m.
The Lady Panthers will be joined by Andover, Hays, Newton, Valley Center, Wichita Heights and Kapaun Mt. Carmel.

                                                         — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS
Western Athletic Conference

Monday

At Liberal

Team scores
1. Great Bend, 14; 2. Garden City, 13; 3. Hays, 6; 4. Dodge City, 4; 5. Liberal, 3

Great Bend results
No. 1 singles — Morgan Francis def. Hays, 8-1; def. Liberal, 8-2; def. Garden City, 8-0; def. Dodge City, 8-0
No. 2 singles — Jami McVay def. Hays, 8-4; def. Liberal, 8-1; def. Garden City, 8-1; def. Dodge City, 8-0
No. 1 doubles — Macy Moyers & Brianna Schartz def. Hays, 8-1; def. Liberal, 8-1; def. Garden City, 8-2; def. Dodge City, 8-0
No. 2 doubles — Carly Boyd & Taylor Huslig lost to Hays, 8-2; def. Liberal, 8-2; lost to Garden City, 8-2; def. Dodge City, 8-6