By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
The Panther wrestlers were on the prowl Monday in search of new habitat. They found it in the east outbuilding on the former CUNA Mutual complex located just off the 281 Bypass. The USD 428 Great Bend district purchased the complex at a discounted price back in September. GBHS Wrestling Coach Nathan Broeckelman said it was exciting to move into the new building, which will be called The Lair.
"We're excited, feeling very fortunate to have the opportunity to make this our home, and just blessed overall," he said. "It's just a nice little Christmas gift to the Panther wrestling program."
The large warehouse was previously turned into a fitness center, complete with locker rooms, with approximately two-thirds of the space used for paper storage. Monday, district staff, wrestling coaches, and the athletes helped install mats along the floor and walls. Custom mats are on the way, and doors will soon be cut for easier access inside the building.
"Eventually, we're getting some custom mats that will fit the space perfectly, that's going to, I think, have 32 practice circles on it, plus a couple competition circles so we can do challenge matches," Broeckelman said. "We'll get some graphics put in there and really make it our home, get all our state placers and state champion individuals moved over and get it all to where the kids can grow up in there, when they're little kids, see the success of the high school kids going through there, so by the time they get into high school, they can try to make their mark inside the building."
The Lair will change how the Panther wrestlers practice, but it will not affect competitions. Dual meets will still be held inside the main gymnasium at Great Bend High School, and the girls' Christmas Clash will still be held in the Panther Activity Center. The move will also benefit the Panther basketball teams as it frees up another court in the PAC.
The CUNA Mutual complex was valued at more than $4 million when USD 428 purchased the property. CUNA Mutual agreed to donate $2.7 million of that price, selling the property to the district for the remaining $1.3 million.