It was a good night.
The Great Bend High School wrestling team couldn’t ask for a better way to end the regular season.
The Panthers shut down Western Athletic Conference rival Hays 60-9 in a dual at the Panther Athletic Center.
It was the final chance for Great Bend’s grapplers to work on their game in a competitive setting before the Class 5A regional tournament.
“We had some things that we wanted to work on from last weekend’s matches,” GBHS head coach Norbert Muth said. “We hit those things pretty hard in practice.
“We saw some improvement in what we were trying to do, which is what you want to see heading into regionals.”
It was also Senior Night.
The Panthers recognized seven seniors this season — Ryan DesLauriers (113-pound), Cody Lytle (132), Zack Schridde (138), Kade Sander (152), Joe Lindenberger (170), Justin Henry (195) and Jacob Crane (285).
Most of them won their matches except Crane, who wrestled a ranked senior, and Lindenberger, who sat out the dual.
“It was Senior Night, and we had seven seniors, which is the most we’ve had in a long time,” Muth said. “I think they were going to work hard just because it was their last match at home, and I think the rest of them wanted to work hard tonight just to give these seniors the right kind of send-off.”
Great Bend won the first 10 weight classes against Hays, which was missing several of its varsity starters due to an illness.
The Panthers lost only two weight classes — the first was against No. 3-ranked Ethan Deterding at 182 and the second was at 285, a matchup between No. 3-ranked Vincent Scott of Hays and Great Bend’s No. 5-ranked Crane.
“That’s a guy that Jacob has gone back and forth with his whole career,” Muth said. “They’re both seniors, and they got an early takedown that really hurt us.
“This is the first time they’ve seen each other this year. I’m really glad we got this chance, because they’re in our regional as well.”
Great Bend competes at a 5A regional tournament on Saturday, Feb. 22, hosted by Wichita Heights.

                   — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL WRESTLING

Thursday

At Great Bend
Panther Athletic Center

Great Bend 60, Hays 9
106 — Eric Vazquez, Great Bend, win by forfeit
113 — Ryan DesLauriers, Great Bend def. Alex Tinkel, Hays, fall
120 — Keaton Sander, Great Bend def. Nate LaPorte, Hays, fall
126 — Cody Liles, Great Bend def. Conrad Vajnar, Hays, fall
132 — Cody Lytle, Great Bend def. Jake Thorell, Hays, fall
138 — Zack Schridde, Great Bend def. Austin Dale, Hays, fall
145 — Mason Yellowwolf, Great Bend def. Russ Kohl, Hays, fall
152 — Kade Sander, Great Bend, win by forfeit
160 — Christian Rivas, Great Bend def. Kaelan Dietze, Hays, 13-0
170 — Andrew Reed, Great Bend def. Austin Petz, Hays, 6-1
182 — Ethan Deterding, Hays def. Masen Torres, Great Bend, fall
195 — Justin Henry, Great Bend def. Brayden Dorzweiler, Hays, fall
220 — Open
285 — Vincent Scott, Hays, def. Jacob Crane, Great Bend, 6-3