By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The original lineup for Thursday's Senior Night dual against Liberal showed a pair of unknowns for the final match at 235 pounds. With a double-forfeit, Great Bend would win the dual 36-33. Instead, some unexpected losses and a late fill for the Lady Redskins at 235 pounds proved to be the difference as Liberal pulled off a 39-36 upset.
Second-ranked Daizy Gomez proved to be the only Lady Panther winner in contested matches on the night. She led 7-0 after one period against Liliana Santiago before getting the pin in the second period.
The marquee match of the evening came at 190 pounds. Lady Panther senior Natalee Daniels has spent most of the season ranked No. 2, and the impending forfeit at 235 pounds meant the 190-pound match would decide the evening. Liberal just happened to have top-ranked Hayleen Martinez opposite Daniels. Martinez was able to pin Daniels, now ranked No. 4, in the first period.
The other big matchup came at 105 pounds. Liberal's Isabela Gutierrez entered the night ranked No. 4 in the class, and Lady Panther freshman Camdyn Post entered at No. 6. Post led 2-0 after one period but was flipped and pinned in the second period.
Kayle Baldwin opened the night with a 2-0 loss at 100 pounds. With Post's loss, Liberal's lead grew to 9-0 in the team tally. Keira Leyva nearly had a pin but was pinned in the second period at 110 pounds to push the Redskin lead to 15-0.
Neither side had a wrestler at 115 pounds. Great Bend picked up open points behind Braelyn Turner at 120 pounds and Kaylea McMullen at 125 pounds. Liberal's lead dropped to 15-12. With Gomez's pin, Great Bend gained an 18-15 edge.
Kaydence Demel was pinned at 135 pounds, and Shatarah Newton suffered a similar fate at 140 pounds. Great Bend got more open points with Josephine Blevins (145), Danica Cline (155), and Kirra Stevens (170). The Lady Panthers pulled ahead 36-27 before the loss at 190 pounds put the Redskins within striking distance.
The Lady Panthers travel to Phillipsburg on Friday.