The five Western Athletic Conference schools were joined by Meade for Tuesday's tennis tournament in Dodge City. The two Class 6A schools dominated the competition, with Garden City scoring 72 points to nearly double-up Dodge City. The Lady Panthers scored 38 points for fourth.
The open-draw format meant the usual No. 1 and No. 2 players were put in the same bracket. Still listed as the team's No. 1 singles player, Kaylin Wahlmeier opened with a 6-2 win against Dodge City, then knocked off a Garden City player 6-2 to reach the semifinals. There she was defeated 6-1 by Garden City's reigning state qualifier Brooke Ptacek 6-1. Wahlmeier won the third-place match by injury default.
Lakyn Smith also won her first singles match against Dodge City 6-1 before falling to the eventual fourth-place finisher from Liberal 6-4. Smith cruised in her final two matches with a 6-3 win against Dodge City and a 6-0 win over another Lady Red Demon, to capture fifth in the bracket.
Samantha Mayers and Taylor Lashley had a tough draw in the doubles bracket, opening with a 6-5 (4) loss to a Garden City team that played in the championship match. On the back side, Mayers and Lashley played nearly perfect for a while with a 6-0 win against Meade and a 6-1 victory against Liberal. The girls downed Dodge City 6-4 in the ninth-place match.
Clarise Snapp and Kylie McCormick dropped their first three matches against Garden City, Dodge City, and Hays 6-1. The pair finished strong with a 6-0 win against Meade for 15th place.
The Lady Panther varsity squad returns to action Sept. 20 with another trip to McPherson.