The Great Bend Panther wrestlers kicked off 2023 with a win in Pratt Thursday. The Panther boys defeated the Greenbacks 54-19, while the Lady Panthers ran into another top-ranked squad, again coming up just short in a 37-29 loss.
Four Panther wrestlers pinned their opponents. Fourth-ranked Cooper Liles worked the fastest, needing just 56 seconds at 157 pounds. Second-ranked Matthew Johnson (175 pounds), Triston Tomlinson (106), and Trenton Kern (190) each won by fall.
Fourth-ranked Jace Schartz won an 11-6 decision for three points at 150 pounds for the other contested points. Great Bend picked up 24 points in the lightweights as Aaron Ramirez, Kaiden Hoffman, Hayden Kelly, and Skyler McMullen each had open weights.
The Panthers gave up six open points at 144 pounds. Michael Montoya lost a 10-3 decision at 165 pounds, Ambrose Kramer lost a 9-0 major decision at 113 pounds, and Brody Schnoebelen was pinned at 285 pounds.
Pratt girls dominate light, middleweights
The reigning Class 4-1A state champion Lady Greenbacks led Thursday's dual 37-11 with three matches remaining. Lea Nokes at 170 pounds, and Natalee Daniels at 190, picked up pins, and Haylee Holinde closed out the night with an open win at 235 to get the score closer to even. Freshman Kaylea McMullen picked up a win by fall at 120 pounds earlier in the evening, and third-ranked Daizy Gomez won a 19-4 tech fall at 125 pounds for the other five Lady Panther points.
At 130 pounds, Katie Kuhlman went the distance against top-ranked Jadyn Thompson, who picked up a 7-0 decision. Jaydon Davis was pinned by top-ranked Keimarla Thompson at 140 pounds. Sierra Ferguson went three periods against No. 4 Wendy Candia in a 9-0 major-decision loss at 135 pounds.
Danica Cline was pinned by her opponent at 145 pounds, and Karley Stuckey (110) and Hannah Crathorne (115) were each pinned in the lightweight matches.
The Panther wrestlers head to Dodge City Saturday, then travel to Ellis for dual action next Friday.