SALINA -- The Great Bend Panther girls swimming team earned a pair of first-place medals and placed fourth (3141/2 points) in a competitive 7-team Salina field. 

First-year Panther coach Lauren Jordan was thrilled with the team's grit and eager for what lies ahead.

"I'm proud of the girls, and this was a strong start," said Great Bend coach Lauren Jordan. "I'm looking forward to getting back to work and seeing how the girls improve."

Great Bend's season opener was keyed by veteran leadership and promising young swimmers.

The Panthers set the tone early and closed the meet with a bang in the relay events.

The 200-yard freestyle relay struck gold. The quartet of Sydney Piland, Emma Beahm, Emma Snapp and Meredith Mazouch (2:01.15) powered past Salina South for first place.

The 200 medley relay (2:17.82) placed fourth with Mazouch, Beahm, Snapp and Braylee Carper.

The 400 freestyle relay (5:16.72) placed fifth with Phoebe Sperlein, Carper, Piland and Hadley

Great Bend's swimmers notched impressive individual times and placings across multiple disciplines:

Meredith Mazouch locked down a tie for first place (28.14) in the 50 freestyle. She finished runner-up the 100 freestyle (1:03.48).

Hadley Gregg swam a beautiful 100 breaststroke with a runner-up finish (1:23.81) along with sixth in the 200 IM (3:06.45).

Piland  shined in her varsity debut, with a second-place medal in the 100 backstroke (1:21.56) and a fifth-place in the 200 freestyle (2:40.47).

Snapp placed fourth by tackling the grueling 100 butterfly in fourth (1:26.47) along with fifth in the 200 IM (3:01.04).

Beahm placed sixth in the 100 butterfly (1:33.84) and eighth in the 200 IM (3:07.47).

Carper placed sixth in the 500 freestyle (7:22.4). Phoebe Sperlein was eighth in the 200 freestyle (3:03.32) and 12th in the 100 breaststroke (1:46.5).