By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
All things lined up for a big day at the Shannon Schartz Courts in Great Bend Monday morning. The weather and wind were finally behaving, and the namesake of the courts delivered a ceremonial first serve ahead of the Western Athletic Conference tournament. A pair of early wins for Brendyn Schroeder proved to be it for the Panther tennis team. Garden City won the WAC title with 14 points, followed by Dodge City with 11 points, and Hays with 10 points. Great Bend scored two points for fifth.
At No. 1 singles, Schroeder opened with an 8-4 win against Liberal, then downed Hays 8-5. He dropped his final two matches 8-3 to Dodge City and 8-1 to Garden City. Aaron Ramirez, playing at No. 2 singles, opened with an 8-4 loss to Liberal. He followed with an 8-3 loss to Hays, an 8-1 loss to Dodge City, and an 8-2 defeat against Garden City.
Doubles action fared little better. In the No. 1 spot, Kameron Deines and Cameron Harbaugh opened with a tiebreak loss to Liberal. They fell to Hays and Garden City by a combined 16-1 tally, and lost to Dodge City 8-5. Jordan Manning and Jacob Parks also went 0-4 at No. 2 doubles. The duo fell to Liberal 8-5 and to Dodge City 8-4, but were outscored 16-4 combined against Hays and Garden City.
The Panthers head to Salina Central Friday for Class 5A regional action.