By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Four state trophies in four years. Great Bend High School seniors Kaylin Wahlmeier and Emilee Nelson set a standard for success on the Lady Panther bowling team that placed second at state four years ago. The girls helped the team to a third-place finish as sophomores, then closed out their careers with back-to-back Class 5A state championships. This year, Wahlmeier and Nelson were joined by seniors Paige Heine and Rionna Rodriguez.
"It's just huge for these girls to know they've brought home four trophies in their four-year reign," said Lady Panther Coach David Feldbauer. "It's going to be a huge loss to the Great Bend girls, but I know there have been a couple of new girls on the JV team that are going to be able to step up and help Zoey and Brooklynn (Mayberry) next year. I think we'll still be able to compete. I think it will still be a good time for the Great Bend girls."
Another state title was always part of the equation entering the 2023-24 season. That confidence took a brief hit in regional action as the Lady Panthers struggled to a third-place finish in Hutchinson.
"The girls knew it was going to be tough, especially having the hardest regional in 5A that we were in," Feldbauer said. "Everybody was glad just to be able to make it state. We practiced a little harder knowing we are one of the top four schools in 5A. We came out and showed we can bowl."
Wahlmeier bowled a 752 to win the individual state title at Wichita's Northrock Lanes two years ago. She dropped to eighth as a junior with a 584. Last Friday, she opened with games of 199 and 231 to finish fourth overall with a 613 series.
Wahlmeier's hopes of another title may have been dashed early in the day. Goddard-Eisenhower's Olyvia Choura opened with a 278 game and just missed 200s in her final two games to win the championship by 32 pins with a 674 series.
"We were definitely watching her because we were bowling with her," said Feldbauer. "We always pay attention to Eisenhower because some of the girls are friends with each other and they all cheer each other on. They were all having fun watching her bowl a really good game. (Assistant Coach Steve Long) and I were definitely keeping track of how they were finishing and going out."
Nelson missed the top 15 at state last year by a single pin. She opened with games of 200 and 197 Friday to finish with a 578 series for 10th. She lost a tie-break with Salina Central for the No. 9 spot.
"It was great to see," Feldbauer said. "Emilee shot her highest set of the year at state. That was awesome getting into the top 10 for the first time in her four-year career at Great Bend."
Zoey Mayberry made a big splash on last year's team as a freshman, finishing sixth overall and missing the top five by just two pins. Friday, despite battling a shoulder injury, she still rolled games of 204 and 189 to place 13th overall with a 565 series, missing the top 10 by just 13 pins.
Then there was Heine. She competed at state as a junior, finishing with a 340 series. She was doing better in her senior campaign with games of 155 and 145 to open state. She added 63 pins to her earlier game to shoot a 218 in game three. The Panthers only defeated Eisenhower by 115 pins for the team championship.
"That third game from Paige was huge," Feldbauer said. "It kept us being able to bowl where we were at, especially when a couple of girls got down and she stepped up. I think she threw four or five strikes in a row to improve big time and be able to lead her team into Baker games. It gave us a boost knowing we could rely on her for marks in the Baker games."
Freshman Brooklynn Mayberry bowled well at the varsity level all season. She opened with a 169 Friday but dropped to a 129 in game two to finish with a 448 series. Rodriguez topped out 171 in the middle game for a 426 series.
"The experience is great to have," Feldbauer said of Mayberry's first trip to state. "I think next year, having the one year under her belt, she can calm back down and bowl really well for us."
The top four series were counted towards Great Bend's team score. The Lady Panthers entered Baker action with just a 34-pin lead against Eisenhower, and a 98-pin advantage over Maize South.
The Lady Panthers opened Baker action with a 170 compared to just 114 from Eisenhower. Maize South gained seven pins with a 177. Great Bend picked up 29 pins against the Mavs in game two but lost four pins to Eisenhower. The Lady Panthers rolled a 172 in game three to increase the lead against both schools.
"I didn't know where we were standing after that third game because they didn't post anything at state," Feldbauer said. "I was really trying to get the girls amped up to shoot a big one but we didn't. Just staying consistent, it paid off."
The Lady Panthers lost four pins to Eisenhower in the final Baker game but the earlier work paid off. Maize South, with a pair of 135s in Baker action, dropped to fourth place, missing the final state trophy by just 40 pins. Great Bend finished with 2,996 total pins. Eisenhower finished second with 2,881.
The Lady Panthers were not quite finished. After a brief celebration at the bowling alley, the girls made it home in time to be recognized in front of a packed gymnasium at halftime of the boys' substate championship basketball game against Hutchinson.
"It was awesome to see the crowd stand up and for us all and get the recognition for the girls who well deserve it," Feldbauer said.