By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Twenty-nine schools, many of the state's top girl wrestlers. And, naturally, Christmas trees and music. Great Bend High School hosted its inaugural Christmas Clash Friday and Saturday, a rare two-day wrestling event in girls' wrestling.
"We want to make this a premiere event every year, which is why we named it the Christmas Clash," said Great Bend coach Nathan Broeckelman. "It's excited to see all these girls come in to battle it out and prepare for the upcoming season."
Despite a loaded field, Western Athletic Conference teams took the top-four spots. Reigning 6-5A state champion and top-ranked Dodge City cruised with 242 points. Garden City scored 218 points for second, followed by Hays with 168 points to edge out the Lady Panthers by a single point. Hoisington placed seventh with 141 points.
Two Lady Panther wrestlers made the finals. Third-ranked junior Daizy Gomez lost to second-ranked Ariana De La Rosa in the consolation finals at state last season, and again in dual action Thursday night. She nearly turned the page Saturday, getting a takedown with 40 seconds remaining to take a lead. De La Rosa responded with her own takedown to take the 125-pound title with a 7-3 decision.
Senior Katie Kuhlman took a perfect record into the finals at 130 pounds. In a high-energy match, she lost by fall to Hoisington junior Daijah Jones midway through the second period.
Haylee Holinde won a 6-5 decision against Olathe West to secure third place at 235 pounds. Kirra Stevens won by fall in her first match at 170 pounds. She ended up fourth in a tough bracket that featured highly-ranked wrestlers from both classifications.
Paige Sanders placed seventh at 155 pounds. Freshman Kaylea McMullen placed fifth in the 120-pound bracket that included two of the top-four ranked 6-5A wrestlers. Natalee Daniels placed ninth in one of the most difficult brackets at 190 pounds. That group featured two top-ranked wrestlers.
Hannah Crathone finished eighth in a loaded 115-pound bracket that featured a top-ranked wrestler. Braelynn Turner placed 12th in the same 125-pound bracket where Gomez finished second. Karley Stuckey finished 13th in a tough 110-pound bracket that featured a reigning Class 4-1A state champion and a reigning Class 6-5A state runner up who met in the finals.
The 140-pound bracket was loaded with Great Bend wrestlers. Jaydon Davis led the trio in 12th place, followed by Josie Blevins in 13th, and Raegen Ketch in 14th. That championship featured a top-ranked wrestler against a two-time state placer. Danica Cline followed suit with a 13th-place finish at 145 pounds.