Miller steps up to win Bowler of Year
Just before the 2026 bowling season got under way in early January, Great Bend coach David Feldbauer had a good feeling about his boys’ team.
Feldbauer, who has built one of the strongest programs in Kansas Class 5A, knew his team had a lot more experience, and he also was aware that perennial WAC champion Garden City had lost six of its top seven bowlers from the previous season.
“They’ve always gotten along together, and we just wanted to see them bowl to their potential,” Feldbauer said after watching boys dominated WAC dual matches and nearly double the points of runner-up Garden City, 93-47. Liberal placed third with 43, Dodge City, 41, and Hays 23.
WAC competition consists of home-and-home matches where there are 13 points available in each split between 3 games of American 10-Pin format and 4 games of Baker format where bowlers do not bowl successive frames. Eight matches results in a possible 104 points.
“This group had a much better attitude than what we have had and that always helps your chances of doing well,” Feldbauer said. “One of the factors that Feldbauer credited for his team’s improvement was the use in practice of a program called “My Shot.”
“We can set up any pin for the bowlers to just practice shooting spares,” Feldbauer said. “We became more consistent with the spare shooting. We can use any combo of pins. I just know that we improved in this area quite a lot.”
Feldbauer also saw a big improvement from each of his six bowlers, led by WAC Bowler of the Year senior Daegan Miller. Miller saw his season average in WAC improve from 188 to 203.
The strength of the Panthers’ team came in its depth as all six bowlers were either first team (3) or the second team (3).
In addition to Miller, first-teamers from the Panthers were Xander Orth (202.54), and Brantley Vsetecka (200.41). Second-teamers were Tyler Pelster (196.28), Josh Manning (187.00) and Kanyen Parr (186.16).
Feldbauer was named Coach of the Year.
Great Bend senior Miller claims WAC Bowler of Year award
In a close race through eight Western Athletic Conference dual matches, it was Great Bend senior Daegan Miller who came away with the highest per game average to claim the WAC Bowler of the Year award.
Not only did Miller garner the individual award, but he was part of a powerhouse group that won the WAC team championship to break a six-year run by Garden City. The last Panther boys’ title came in 2019 when they ended with a three-year stranglehold on the championship.
“It was a lot more focus and a lot of hard work,” Miller said of his improvement from 188 to 203.25 on his per game average. “I learned a lot more about where to stand and where to hit my marks.”
Miller said it was a change in mid-season during 2025 that he began to see improvement in his game.
“I picked up a ball from my uncle, re-drilled it and then I watched some YouTube videos on how to throw the ball a certain way,” Miller said. “I learned to keep my hand behind the ball and not put extra revolutions on it. My stepping stayed the same, but I was now throwing a 15-pound ball.”
Miller said he is more of a visual bowler than a technical throw at certain spots on the lanes.
“I have learned just how to see where the ball needs to go and there’s different ways of accomplishing that,” Miller said. “I really don’t care about boards, I just throw by feel.”
Upon graduating in the spring, Miller plans to begin full-time work at Custom Floor Construction in Great Bend.
“I’ve been doing this work part-time for the past two years and during the summer, and it’s something I enjoy,” Miller said.
For now, he can enjoy and celebrate his and his team’s accomplishments as the best in the WAC.
Western Athletic Conference
Boys Bowling 2026 Final Results
| SCHOOL | POINTS | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Great Bend | 93 |
| 2 | Garden City | 47 |
| 3 | Liberal | 43 |
| 4 | Dodge City | 41 |
| 5 | Hays | 23 |
All-WAC Selections
| FIRST TEAM | SCHOOL | AVG/GAME |
|---|---|---|
| Daegan Miller | Great Bend | 203.25 |
| Xander Orth | Great Bend | 202.54 |
| Brody Nichols | Garden City | 202.04 |
| Derek Bridges | Garden City | 200.74 |
| Brantley Vsetecka | Great Bend | 200.41 |
| Josiah Ridgway | Dodge City | 196.92 |
| SECOND TEAM | SCHOOL | AVG/GAME |
|---|---|---|
| Tyler Pelster | Great Bend | 196.28 |
| Josh Manning | Great Bend | 187.00 |
| Kanyon Parr | Great Bend | 186.16 |
| Sam King | Liberal | 185.52 |
| Joshua Talley | Liberal | 185.04 |
| Tyler Hyunh | Hays | 183.80 |
Boys Coach of the Year: David Feldbauer, Great Bend
