Gomez of the Panthers takes the title in the wrestling qualifiers

BY JIM MISUNAS

PARK CITY – The four girls from Great Bend will compete to earn a state medal Wednesday and Thursday at Hartman Arena in Park City.

Three of the Panthers face state-level wrestlers in their opening match and two could face #2 ranked wrestlers. 1 in the second round.

No. 3 ranked Daizy Gomez (29-6, 125) is the only Panthers ranked wrestler facing KC Sumner’s Valery Chacon (29-10) in the opening round. A win by Gomez would have matched that against #1 Washburn Rural’s Addi Broxterman (40-3). 2 in the second round. Gomez placed fourth last year. Dodge City’s No. 1 Ariana DeLaRosa has beaten Gomez multiple times this season.

“Daizy had the toughest draw of all our girls in the standings,” said Great Bend coach Nathan Broeckelman. “We will do well in the first game. Daizy would face girl Broxterman who beat Daizy 6-1. Daizy has a good mindset this week.

If Kaylea McMullen (26-12, 120) survives her first-round match against No. 4 Emporia Katrina Keosybounheuany, she will face No. 1 Olathe North Kaylan Hitchcock (47-1), who beat Dodge City’s DeLaRosa head-to-head .

“Kaylea has some tough girls on her board,” Broeckelman said.

If Katie Kuhlman (17-12, 135) wins her first game, she will face No. 1 Gardner-Edgerton Shelby Davis (37-4).

“Katie fought really well at Regionals and pulled things together at Regionals,” Broeckelman said.

Natalee Daniels (23-11, 190) split a couple of games against No. 3 Salina Central Alison Coykendall to start the season.

“I’m happy with Natalee’s draw,” he said. “We’re looking forward to that first-round match.”

HOISINGTON — Hoisington features a trio of state-level wrestlers in No. 4 Lyrica Orosco (24-7, 145), No. 5 Daijah Jones (36-4, 130), and No. 6 Kiana Grandclair (33-4, 120) in Salina.

Tally Wikum (26-6, 140) finished in second place last year. Jones placed fourth. Grandclair and Orosco return to the state qualifier.

GIRLS STATE MATCHES

BIG CURVE

120—Kaylea McMullen (26-12) vs. #4 Katrina Keosybounheuany, Emporia (22-9)

125—No. 3 Daizy Gomez (29-6) vs. Valery Chacon, KC Sumner (29-10)

135—Katie Kuhlman (17-12) vs. #3 Alayna Slifer, Manhattan (33-4)

190—Natale Daniels (23-11) vs. No. 3 Alison Coykendall, Salina Central (22-5)

HISINGTON

100—Bailey George (4-21) vs. No. 3 Morgan Base, Baldwin (26-7)

120—No. 6 Kiana Grandclair (33-4) vs. Perla Baekberg, Baldwin (19-13)

130—No. 5 Daijah Jones (36-4) vs. Rebecca Hunter, Chaparral (29-13)

140—Tally Wikum (26-6) vs. Cora Moon, Winfield (27-14)