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Panthers' Broeckelman named WAC Coach of Year
WAC- wrestling team
keaton sander head shot
Keaton Sander, Class 5A state runner-up

By JIM MISUNAS
jmisunas@gbtribune.com

Great Bend coach Nathan Broeckelman was named Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for a strong league finish to Class 6A third-place finisher Garden City.
Great Bend’s state runner-up Keaton Sander (40-6, 138) and Eric Vazquez (28-17, 120) earned first-team All-WAC honors. Sander lost to Arkansas City’s top-ranked Jake Beeson in the 138-pound state finals. Beeson won the 5A regional final over Sander, who has signed to wrestle at Barton County. Vazquez placed sixth in 5A.
Earning honorable mention WAC honors were state-qualifier Drew Liles (30-13, 106), state qualifier George Weber (29-17, 126), state qualifier Conrad Montoya (19-12, 132) and Jacob Meeks (5-11, 170).
The Panthers also qualified Carsyn Schooler (14-18, 113), Gage Fritz (27-8, 145) and Noah Presson (20-10, 285) for the Class 5A state wrestling tournament. 

WAC WRESTLING
FIRST TEAM
106—Silas Pineda, Garden City, 30-12, 6th 6A, fr.
113—Jacob Holt, Garden City, 36-13, 1st 6A, fr.
120—Eric Vazquez, Great Bend, 28-17, 6th 5A sr.
126—Kaj Perez, Garden City, 39-13, jr.
132—Avey Arana, Garden City, 20-14, fr.
138—Keaton Sander, Great Bend, 40-6, 2nd 5A, sr.
145—Tylor Garcia, Dodge City, 39-6, 2nd 6A, sr.
152—Curtis Near, Garden City, 31-15, jr.
160—Quentin LaPointe, Garden City, 14-7, jr.
170—Rico Cherico, Garden City, 27-14, 4th 6A, sr.
182—Jesse Nunez, Garden City, 39-8, 1st 6A, sr.
195—Zeke Herrera, Garden City, 39-5, 1st 6A, sr.
220—Marcos Foster, Dodge City, 29-9, 2nd 6A, so.
285—Benny Hernandez, Garden City, 36-5, 2nd 6A, sr.
WRESTLER OF YEAR—Zeke Herrera, Garden City
COACH OF YEAR—Nathan Broeckelman, Great Bend

HONORABLE MENTION
106—Drew Liles, Great Bend, 30-13, fr.
113—Couy Weil, Dodge City, 35-9, 5th 6A, so.
120—Kenedy Escobedo, Dodge City, 28-16, 6th 6A, sr.
126—George Weber, Great Bend, 29-17, fr.
132—Conrad Montoya, Great Bend, 19-12, sr.
138—Wyatt McElroy, Garden City, 30-17, fr.
145—Emmanueal Peralta, Liberal, 35-13, 4th 5A, sr.
152—Conrad Vajnar, Hays High, 27-13, sr.
160—Josh Martinez, Liberal, 28-12, sr.
170—Jacob Meeks, Great Bend, 5-11, so.
182—Dylan Servis, Dodge City, 93-9, 2nd 6A, sr.
195—Ansony Quezada, Dodge City, 35-11, 5th 6A, jr.
220—Trey Van Pelt, Hays High, 25-17, jr.
285—Elwin Trejo, Liberal, 39-8, 4th 5A, jr.