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Panther swimmers to compete at state
dawson clark head shot
Dawson Clark

By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

TOPEKA — Great Bend school record-holder Dawson Clark headlines the Panthers’ state qualifiers for the Class 5-1A state swimming meet at Topeka’s Capitol Federal Natatorium. The Panthers have qualified for 11 individual events and three relays.
Clark broke the school record in the 100-yard butterfly (54.43) at the Salina meet Feb. 1. The previous record was held by Clark’s uncle Nick Phillips. Clark has posted the seventh-best time in the 100-yard butterfly heading to Friday’s 2 p.m. qualifying. The top eight qualifiers advance to the state finals and the next eight qualifiers make the consolation finals.
Corey Harbaugh and Isaac Panzer also qualified for the state meet last year.
The Panthers are ranked close to the top 16 in six other events, including all three relays. The Panthers posted most of their fastest times at Salina and Wichita. Topeka is also considered to be a “fast pool.”
“All our relays and some individual events are on the bubble to make it to Saturday,” said Great Bend coach Steve Beaumont. “If you swim your best and knock off time, you’ve got a shot to make it to Saturday. If we swim faster than our entry time, we’ll be happy. Getting to the state meet is a great accomplishment. I’m confident these guys will perform their best.“

GREAT BEND STATE QUALIFIERS
50 freestyle—17—Isaac Panzer, 23.57 (SALINA)
100 backstroke—17—Dawson Clark, 1:00.39 (SALINA); 30—Phane Pedigo, 1:02.67 (SALINA)
100 breaststroke—26—Sean Williams, 1:08.87 (MANHATTAN)
100 butterfly—7—Dawson Clark, 54.43 (SALINA)
100 freestyle—21—Isaac Panzer, 52.74 (SALINA)
200 freestyle—27—Connor Furrey, 2:02.29 (SALINA); 28—Sean Williams, 2:02.43 (WICHITA HEIGHTS); 29—Jordan Boone, 2:03.97
200 IM—28—Phane Pedigo, 2:18.24 (SALINA)
500 freestyle—16—Connor Furrey, 5:34.34 (WICHITA HEIGHTS)
200 medley relay—18—Great Bend, 1:49.31 (Phane Pedigo, Sean Williams, Dawson Clark, Corey Harbaugh) WICHITA HEIGHTS
200 freestyle relay—16—Great Bend, 1:37.34 (Phane Pedigo, Corey Harbaugh, Sean Williams, Isaac Panzer) WICHITA HEIGHTS
400 freestyle relay—15—Great Bend, 3:34.27 (Isaac Panzer, Dawson Clark, Corey Harbaugh, Jordan Boone) SALINA