BY JIM MISUNAS
Great Bend's defending 5A state bowling champion Kaylin Wahlmeier started on fire with a 678 series and teammate Sahara Rhiza (600) finished runner-up Monday.
The Panther girls took charge of the Western Athletic Conference race with a dominating 11-2 victory over defending WAC champion Garden City. Great Bend swept the 3-game series 826-734; 760-689; and 756-629. The teams split four Baker games at Walnut Bowl.
Wahlmeier's afternoon started with a strike followed by a pair of spares. She found her spot with a career best nine consecutive strikes for a career-best 268 game that beat her 267 state game last year. Wahlmeier stayed strong with 193 and 217 games. She followed Rhiza's ninth-frame strike with a spare to clinch a 156-147 victory in the fourth Baker game for a 2-2 split. Rhiza featured games of 221, 178 and 201.
"After last week, I'm happy with how I bowled," Wahlmeier said. "We knew Garden City would our competition and we gave it all we got. It was great how our team bowled today. I'm proud of our team. We've come a long way."
Great Bend's Aliyah Fryberger placed third at 559 (174-197-188) followed by seventh-place Zoey Mayberry (539), ninth-place Emilee Nelson (454) and 11th-place Rionna Rodriguez (401).
"The girls competed well," said Great Bend coach David Feldbauer. "They dominated like they wanted against a tough Garden City team. Sahara Rhiza bowled well and Aliyah Fryberger made huge improvement over last week. Zoey Mayberry had a good game in the middle. The spares counted in the Baker games because the lanes broke down fast."
PANTHER BOYS – Panther Jalen Daniels shot 546 (188-177-181) to finish fifth. Defending WAC champion Garden City rolled past Great Bend 11-2 in Monday's dual bowling match. Garden City's K.J. Burns, 666 (276-200-190); Kaden Strasser, 636 (223-179-234) and Garrett Messenger, 616 (169-215-232) lead a sweep of the boys medals.
"Garden City's boys are a tough team, a top five team in the state," Feldbauer said. "Our first two games, we were happy with our scores. Our boys have to keep focusing on keep moving forward. We'll get back on track. Our boys are capable of bowling well."
The Panther boys regrouped to win the first two Baker games 242-196 and 180-179 to manage two points.
Other Panther scores were sixth-place Dylan Ferguson, 543 (184-195-153), eighth-place Kolby Burnham (507), 10th-place Jordan Manning (497), 11th-place Kamron Stude (481) and 12ht-place Caleb McNett (467).
PANTHER GIRLS 11, GARDEN CITY 2
SERIES (GB 6-0)—GB 826-734; GB 760-689; GB 756-629 (GB 2,342; GC 2,052)
BAKERS (GB 2-2)—GB 170-145; GC 167-116; GC 151-108; GB 156-147 (GB 634; GC 605)
GREAT BEND—1—Kaylin Wahlmeier, 678 (268-193-217); 2—Sahara Rhiza, 600 (221-178-201); 3—Aliyah Fryberger, 559 (174-197-188); 7—Zoey Mayberry, 539 (134-192-150); 9—Emilee Nelson, 454 (163-151-140); 11—Rionna Rodriguez, 401 (149-117-135)
GARDEN CITY—4—Raleigh Carr, 544 (201-176-167); 5—Chloe Carr, 541 (193-194-154); 6—Whitehhurst, 490 (178-153-159); 8—Unsworth, 474 (162-163-149); 10—Resendz, 432 (145-156-131); 12—Messenger, 371 (124-123-124)
GARDEN CITY 11, PANTHERS 2
SERIES (GC 6-0)—GC 881-744; GC 845-772; GC 858-649 (GB 2,165; GC 2,584)
BAKERS (GB 2, GC 2)—GB 242-196; GB 180-179; GC 216-174; GC 248-205 (GC 839; GB 801)
GREAT BEND—5—Jalen Daniels, 546 (188-177-181); 6—Dylan Ferguson, 543 (184-195-153); 8—Kolby Burnham, 507 (183-192-132); 10—Jordan Manning, 497 (167-192-138); 11—Kamron Stude, 481 (189-134-158); 12—Caleb McNett, 467 (128-192-147);
GARDEN CITY—1—Burns, 666 (276-200-190); 2—Strasser, 636 (223-179-234); 3—Messenger, 616 (169-215-232); 4—Villarreal, 577 (169-206-202); 7—Michols, 535 (213-148-174); 9—McMillan, 499 (140-224-135)
GARDEN CITY JV 13, PANTHERS 0
SERIES (GC 6-0)—GC 743-518; GC 619-502; GC 744-604; (GC 2,106; GB 1,624)
BAKERS (GC 4-0)—GC 169-140; GC 177-116; GC 151-108; GC 138-117 (GC 635, GB 605)
GREAT BEND—6—Daegan Miller, 451 (122-144-185); 7—Keaton Wahlmeier, 423 (132-132-159); 8—Josh Manning, 397 (129-120-148); 10—Quinten Miller, 353 (135-106-112); 11—Julio Yanez, 234 (72-87-75); 12—Alexia Ayala, 214 (74-73-67)
GARDEN CITY—1—Roth, 602 (214-167-221); 2—Dreiling, 530 (194-153-183); 3—Crandall, 486 (169-144-173); 4—Kingston, 457 (166-146-145); 5—Garcia, 453 (157-129-167); 6—Orozso, 369 (92-153-124
PANTHER JV GIRLS 9.5, GARDEN CITY 3.5
SERIES (GB 4-2)—GB 436-411; GC 451-439; GB 524-460 (GB 1,399; GC 1,322)
BAKERS (GB 2.5-1.5)—GB 111-99; GB 120-65; GB 129-105; GB 109, GC 109 (GB 469; GC 378)
GREAT BEND—6—Paige Heine, 493 (132-135-226); 6—Kacie Schroeder, 345 (114-125-106); 6—Aeva Thomas, 276 (112-89-75); 6—Abigail Alvarez, 251 (66-90-95); 6—Kyra Calvert, 246 (75-74-97) 6—Rachel Loera, 235 (78-88-69)
GARDEN CITY—1—Garcia, 397 (96-155-146); 6—Farmer, 335 (111-112-112); 6—Gossman, 300 (103-89-108); 6—Flores, 273 (101-95-77); 6—Ochoa, 238 (71-85-82); 6—Smith, 237 (66-77-94)
