MCPHERSON — Seven Great Bend’s girl wrestlers will compete in the second Kansas High School Girls Wrestling Championships Saturday. Eight Great Bend girls have competed during the season.
Entries have nearly tripled in one year. There will be 57 schools and 145 girls scheduled to wrestle. Last year, 56 girls from 36 schools competed. The event will start at 9 a.m. Saturday.
Great Bend High School girls Natalie Garza and Mady Bittner achieved school history by earning first-place junior varsity medals at the Panthers’ girls wrestling tournament in December.
Garza (106) won four matches on pins. Bittner (113) pinned five foes, including teammate Sienna Serna.
Panther Sienna Serna (113) and Linzie Miller (132) placed runner-up. Savannah Kennon (126) and Meleny Carrarco (113-120) finished third, Marissa Hanrahan (126) finished fourth and Ali Pierce (106) placed fifth.
“There will be some really high-level girls competing in the tournament,” said McPherson coach Doug Kretzer. “The tournament has really grown in a single year. It’s going to be a great atmosphere.
I’m really excited about the event.”
Weight classes will be arranged in various divisions ranging from novice to excellent. McPherson will feature 17 girl entries. Nationally-ranked Mya Kretzer has compiled an 18-11 record against the boys.
Kansas high schools are working to establish girls wrestling as a Kansas State High School Actitivies Association-sponsored state event. More than 24 schools must establish girls wrestling programs for the KSHSAA to approve girls wrestling as an approved sport.
GREAT BEND STATE LINEUP
106—Ali Pierce, Natalie Garza
113—Mady Bittner; Sienna Serna (injured)
120—Linzie Miller, Maleny Carrasco
126—Savannah Kennon, Marissa Hanranhan