By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Garden City failed to break the top three as a team at the Class 6A Bowling Championships last year but the Buffalo boys have been a powerhouse in recent years, including a third-place 6A finish in 2023. Last year, just six individual bowlers rolled 700 series at the 6A state tournament. Monday at the Walnut Bowl, two Garden City athletes surpassed 700 pins. The Garden City boys took all 13 WAC points against the Panthers, and the Lady Buffs took eight of the 13.
Garden City placed three in the top 19 at state last year and two of those bowlers were back in action Monday. Karsten Nichols ended with a 247 game to edge out teammate Bo Roth by four pins with a 708 series.
Daegen Miller nearly kept up for Great Bend. He opened with games of 237 and 213 to finish with a 632 series in third place. Xander Orth opened with a 208 and finished seventh with a 557 series. Brantley Vsetecka had a 205 middle game for a 532 series, and Kanyen Parr was consistent on the day for a 502 series. Josh Manning just missed a 500 series at 489, and Quinten Miller finished strong for a 471 series. Garden City swept the Baker games though Great Bend was within 11 pins in game one and lost the final game 217-210.
The competition was fierce in girls' action. Great Bend's Zoey Mayberry opened with games of 190 and 187 to take the high-series with a 558. Garden City's Chloe Carr and Morgan Schwaderer finished second and third, respectively, at 547 and 540. Schwaderer had the high-game at 221.
Lady Panther sophomore Brooklynn Mayberry was in the mix after games of 180 and 176 before dropping to fourth with a 502 series. Emery Meza placed sixth with a 460 series, and Kacie Schroeder finished behind her with a 420. Abigail Alvarez shot a 390, and Layne Soukup finished at 291. Garden City won the team score by just 37 pins.
Competition remained close in the Baker games. Both sides rolled a 176 in game one. Great Bend won game three 158-154 and dominated the final game 172-112.