Great Bend High School senior Kasey Kennedy made the most of his final season as a Panther swimmer. Battling injuries all season, Kennedy swam his first 100 butterfly at the Western Athletic Conference Championships to close out the regular season. His 59-flat was good enough to automatically qualify for state.

Kennedy swam a 59.15 as a junior to finish at the bottom of the consolation finals in 16th. Friday, he entered the 2024 Class 5-1A State Swimming and Diving Championships in Topeka as a low seed with his 59.00. He cut nearly two seconds from that time to place eighth in the prelims in 57.26. A 56.31 would have been needed to climb the ladder in Saturday's finals. Kennedy placed eighth overall in 58.32. Collegiate's Derek Yang won the state title by nearly two seconds in 50.75.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2024/2/1708272417232.jpeg" alt="Great Bend senior Kasey Kennedy at a meet earlier this season. Saturday, he claimed eighth place in the 100 butterfly at the state meet in Topeka." />
 <figcaption>Great Bend senior Kasey Kennedy at a meet earlier this season. Saturday, he claimed eighth place in the 100 butterfly at the state meet in Topeka.</figcaption>
 </figure>Great Bend Post SportsGreat Bend High School senior Kasey Kennedy made the most of his final season as a Panther swimmer. Battling injuries all season, Kennedy swam his first 100 butterfly at the Western Athletic Conference Championships to close out the regular season. His 59-flat was good enough to automatically qualify for state.Kennedy swam a 59.15 as a junior to finish at the bottom of the consolation finals in 16th. Friday, he entered the 2024 Class 5-1A State Swimming and Diving Championships in Topeka as a low seed with his 59.00. He cut nearly two seconds from that time to place eighth in the prelims in 57.26. A 56.31 would have been needed to climb the ladder in Saturday's finals. Kennedy placed eighth overall in 58.32. Collegiate's Derek Yang won the state title by nearly two seconds in 50.75.

Great Bend's Kennedy places eighth at state swim meet