The traditional leap of faith meant the Panthers captured their 17th consecutive Western Athletic Conference swimming championship. Everyone enjoyed a championship dip in the pool and the Panthers snapped countless photos to celebrate the moment.

The Panthers swept three relays and won four individual events. Great Bend dominated with 442 points to outdistance runner-up Garden City (289).

Great Bend’s double winner Aubrey Snapp swept the 100 freestyle (57.98) and 200 freestyle (2:10.69) and played a part on two winning relays.

“It’s really exciting because we all worked hard for this,” Snapp said. “It’s definitely fun to win at home. There’s a lot of people who gave us great support. That made for an exciting atmosphere. Everyone competed really well today.”

Snapp everyone was thrilled to perform at a high level since it’s Beaumont’s final season coaching the Panthers. 

“We were all excited to swim for coach Steve,” Snapp said. “We wanted to make it special for him. It was time to pay him back for everything he’s done for us. Steve is really a great coach who got us ready today. We don’t know how we’d do without him.” 

Ruth Williams won the 100 butterfly (1:08.8) and Olivia Mull won the 100 backstroke (1:10.18) for the second consecutive season.

The Panthers won the 200 free relay (1:51.78) with Zoe Jerke, Brynn Boxberger, Ruth Williams, Aubrey Snapp competing.

Great Bend won the 200 medley relay (2:34.27) with Accacia Pedigo, Grace Dougherty, Anna Popp and Alia Allen swimming.

The Panthers’ winning 400-yard free relay (4:12.35) competed with Zoe Jerke, Katherine Snapp, Ruth Williams and Aubrey Snapp.

WAC CHAMPIONSHIP

TEAM SCORES

1—Great Bend 442; 2—Garden City 289; 3—Dodge City 226; 4—Liberal 149; 5—Hays High 139

INDIVIDUAL RESULTS

50 freestyle—1—Flavin, GC, 27.55; 2—Jerke, 27.66; 3—Boxberger, 28.16

100 freestyle—1—Aubrey Snapp, GB, 57.98; 3—Jerke, 1:02.54

100 backstroke—1—Mull, GB, 1:10.18; 2—K. Snapp, 1:11.97; 3—Amy To, 1:17.0

100 breaststroke—1—Tull, GC, 1:10.98l 2—McKenna Cape, 1:23.52; 3—Ibarra, 1:25.36; 5—Boxberger, 1:31.3

100 butterfly—1—Williams, GB, 1:08.8; 2—K. Snapp, 1;14.9

200 freestyle—1—Aubrey Snapp, GB, 2:10.69; 3—Mayhill, 2:29.1; 5—Panzer, 2:29.65

200 IM—1—Tull, GC, 2:22.53; 3—Cape, 2:49.09; 5—Amy To, 2:51.67

500 freestyle—1—Salvidrez, GC, 6:25.38;3—Mayhill, 6:42.19; 4—Barton, 7:17.98

200 medley relay—1—GB A, 2:04.18 (K. Snapp, Mull, Williams, Boxberger); 3—GB B, 2:17.14 (Amy To, Ibarra, Panzer, Cape)

400 free relay—1—GB A, 4:12.35 (Jerke, K.Snapp, Williams, A. Snapp); 3—GB B, 4:26.63 (Panzer, Lang, Amy To, Mull); 5—GB C, 4:53.03 (Soupiset, Mayhill, Barton, Huslig)

200 free relay—1—GB A, 1:51.78 (Jerke, Boxberger, Williams, A. Snapp); 3—GB B, 2:02.52 (Lang, Cape, Ibarra, Huslig