While the Panther boys were facing off against top-competition from five state in Garden City, the Lady Panther wrestlers had their own battle at the third-annual Washburn Women's Invitational. Great Bend finished 12th overall out of 33 teams in competition.
Third-ranked Daizy Gomez finished second at 125 pounds. She pinned both pool opponents in under a minute. She pinned her quarterfinal and semifinal opponents in the first period to reach the finals against second-ranked Addison Broxterman of Washburn Rural. Broxterman was able to hang on for a 6-1 decision for the title.
Kirra Stevens made a big splash at 155 pounds with a fifth-place finish. She pinned a pool opponent and won another match by forfeit. Stevens made it into the second period against top-ranked Allison King of Oskaloosa (4-1A) before being pinned. She rebounded with a sudden-victory win against Burlington, then defeated Gardner-Edgerton 4-3 in the fifth-place match.
Kaylea McMullen placed sixth at 120 pounds. She went 2-0 in pool matches with a pin and decision. After an 11-1 loss to Shawnee Mission West in the quarters, McMullen won a 5-3 decision against Olathe Northwest to advance to the fifth-place match. There she was pinned by her opponent from Olathe West.
Haylee Holinde wrestled just three matches for sixth place at 235 pounds. She was pinned in her first match against Washburn Rural, then won a 2-1 decision against Basehor-Linwood. Holinde lost due to injury time in the fifth-place match against Olathe West.
Senior Karley Stukey placed seventh at 105 pounds. She went 1-1 early on with a win by fall and a loss to top-ranked Holly Thacher of Oskaloosa (4-1A). Stukey was pinned by Burlington, but pinned her Washburn Rural opponent in the seventh-place match.
Third-ranked freshman Natalee Daniels pinned her lone opponent in pool matches. She lost a 5-2 decision against Olathe North in the quarterfinals, then was pinned by her Blue Valley Southwest opponent. Daniels placed eighth after a 3-2 loss against Manhattan.
Danica Cline opened at 2-0 with a pair of pins at 145 pounds. She went the distance with second-ranked Avari Johnson of Leavenworth but lost that quarterfinal match 11-5. She lost her final two matches to drop to eighth place.
Lea Nokes went 1-1 in pool matches at 170 pounds, winning a 10-3 decision and losing an 8-0 match to third-ranked Val Galligan of Olathe Northwest. Nokes went scoreless in her next two decision losses before pinning her Manhattan opponent for 15th. Hannah Crathorne lost both of her matches at 115 pounds, and Jaydon Davis finished at 0-2 at 140 pounds.