WICHITA — The Great Bend High School boys’ bowling team finished in second place at the Class 5-1A state tournament on Friday at Northrock Lanes.
The Panthers finished with 2,777 total pins, just 13 short of first-place Goddard Eisenhower.
“We did outstanding,” GBHS head coach Mike Perry said. “We had the lead after Game 1 and after Game 2. We bowled one of our highest games we’ve ever bowled in the third game, it was just Goddard Eisenhower bowled something huge to beat us.
“We set a school record with the 2,777 series. The old record was 2,772. We set it last year at Garden City.”
Miranda Hejny was the top individual finisher for Great Bend.
Hejny, a sophomore, took third place overall with a 671 series and a top game of 248.
“She looked phenomenal,” Perry said. “We changed her shot last week in practice. We changed her to more of a swing shot. She’s been working on it for maybe four days before the tournament, and I give coach (Jim) Mayberry all the credit for that. He took Jeff and Miranda off and worked with them in practice, and it really paid off. They both just shot lights out.”
Kolt Ramey, who was competing at the state tournament for the second time, was the top finisher for the boys with a 731 series for fifth place. His top game was 268.
Mark Lang, who was the alternate for the boys team last season, took 11th place with a series of 693, and Dakota Conaway also took home a medal, rolling a 653 series for 18th place.
Freshman Jeff Meitler missed a medal by one pin, bowling a 651.
“They were ready to play,” Perry said. “Kolt and Mark and even our freshman, Jeff Meitler, they were striking left and right. Jeff performed outstanding. He finished 21st, just out of the medals.”
Daniel Herrman rolled a 603 series and Eric Ruiz finished with a 590.
All six state competitors for the Panthers are returning for next year with Conaway, Ruiz, Lang, Herrman and Ramey entering their senior years.
“I think they are definitely going to be focused on getting back to state next year,” Perry said. “You got to get here to win it. I think their mind set will be to just do what they did here.
“The future looks bright.
Jacy Quade rolled a 564 to take 22nd place and Kelli Kirmer finished 40th with a series of 526.
This was the last season for Quade, who is joined by Maddie Roach as the two seniors for the Lady Panthers.
Buhler finished in first place with a total of 2,502.
Bishop Carroll finished in second place and Shawnee Heights took third.

                                                                                — Kevin Price

HIGH SCHOOL BOWLING
Class 5-1A state tournament

At Wichita
Northrock Lanes

Friday

BOYS
Team standings
1. Goddard Eisenhower, 2,790; 2. Great Bend, 2,777; 3. Lansing, 2,652; 4. Bishop Carroll, 2,652; 5. Topeka Seaman, 2,557; 6. Augusta, 2,551; Liberal, 2,535; 8. Kansas City Piper, 2,387
Great Bend results
5. Kolt Ramey, 216-268-247 — 731; 11. Mark Lang, 223-202-268 — 693; 18. Dakota Conaway, 193-215-245 — 653; 21. Jeff Meitler, 246-199-206 — 651; 37. Daniel Herrman, 215-164-224 — 603; 41. Eric Ruiz, 193-164-233 — 590

GIRLS
Team standings
1. Buhler, 2,502; 2. Bishop Carroll, 2,432; 3. Shawnee Heights, 2,382; 4. McPherson, 2,295; 5. Topeka Seaman, 2,187; 6. Kansas City Sumner Academy, 2,163; 7. Lansing, 2,069; 8. Mulvane, 1,964
Great Bend results
3. Miranda Hejny, 213-210-248 — 671; 22. Jacy Quade, 177-173-213 — 563; 40. Kelli Kirmer, 162-193-171 — 526