Jim Misunas

1 week ago | gbtribune.com | Jim Misunas

BY JIM [email protected], Ore. — Great Bend's 2-time state triple jump champion Cooper Ohnmacht has qualified for the Nike Outdoor National triple jump Sunday. Ohnmacht owns a career best jump of 48-3. The 39-athlete elite flight at 11 a.m. Sunday showcases 20-and-under triple jumpers. Ohnmacht has captured the Kansas 5A triple jump with 47-11/2 and 47-31/2 marks the past two years. The triple jump will be aired (runnersspace.com) on the internet.

1 week ago | gbtribune.com | Jim Misunas

BY JIM [email protected] — The Great Bend Panthers will be represented by No. 50 Owen Kaiser in Saturday's 7 p.m. Kansas Shrine Bowl at Dodge City. Panther offensive tackle Kaiser was a 2-way player who accounted for 43 tackles defensively. He earned All-Western Athletic Conference honors and Sports in Kansas 5A All-State honorable mention honors. “I'm excited to be playing in the Shrine Bowl,” Kaiser said. “It’s a special game.

1 week ago | gbtribune.com | Jim Misunas

BY JIM [email protected] Hutchinson Monarchs edged the Great Bend Bat Cats 2-1 in a classic battle for first place in the Jayhawk Collegiate League. Hutchinson spoiled 71/3 shutout innings by Bat Cats starter Carson Umphres, then stranded the tying and go-ahead base runners in the final two innings. Hutchinson 000 000 020 — 2 11 3GB Bat Cats 000 000 010 — 1 5 0Gonzalez, Dickey (5), Copus (8) an Worthley. Umphres, Stuhlsatz (8) and Nohinek. W—Dickey. L—Umphres, 1-1.SV—Copus.

2 weeks ago | gbtribune.com | Jim Misunas

BY JIM [email protected] — The legacy of Pittsburg State's 2-time NCAA Div. 2 decathlon champion Hunter Jones started with a tragedy. The life perspective of the Nickerson High graduate shifted dramatically after a horrific July 2022 traffic accident that claimed the life of his father Trey, ruined the promising basketball career of his sister Ava Jones and made life a living nightmare for his mom Amy Jones, who sustained life-altering injuries.

4 weeks ago | gbtribune.com | Jim Misunas

BY JIM [email protected] — By the time Kansas City Piper switched to its best pitcher, Great Bend built a 3-0 lead en route to a 5A baseball quarterfinal victory over the Pirates. Panther ace pitcher Carson Umphres (8-2, 1.45 ERA) worked around five baserunners in scoring position to earn a 6-hit shutout victory with five strikeouts. "My high fastball and low knuckleball were working," Umphres said. "Towards the end, I mixed it up because they'd seen me multiple times.