A total of 20 Lady Panther swimmers dove into their swim season last week under the direction of new head coach Bob Smartt. 

“Our first week of practice has progressed smoothly,” Smartt said. “We have had a new training system, for the athletes to learn: USRPT or Ultra Short Race Paced Training.”

Smartt explained that half the team participated in the summer swim camp, which gave them a jump on the season.

On Saturday, the Lady Panthers will compete in their first invitational of the season, traveling to Lander with a start time slated for 10 a.m.

“The first meet at Lander is like heading into the lion’s den, as Lander won the state championships last year by a huge margin of 144 points and they have a large number of year-round club swimmers,” Smartt said. “However, we believe we can show nice improvement for our athletes and that is a form of victory.”

Smartt also said that, at the Lander Invite, all the athletes will be swimming all four strokes, “so we will get excellent feedback about our current state of fitness and a roadmap for what is necessary to qualify individual athletes for state.”

Last year at state, Powell finished in sixth place with a score of 87 points.

“It would be nice to significantly increase our point total and to bring home a trophy from state,” said Smartt.

The top four teams at state bring home hardware.

Besides placing in the top four at state, Smartt said “our athletes are also motivated to achieve performances that will rank them in the Powell Girls’ Swimming Hall of Fame.”

“We have several athletes capable of achieving that standard this year, including our 200 medley relay,” Smartt said. “I am especially excited about our 200 medley relay because it is the first event of the meet and sets the tone for all later performances. Also, a top performance in the medley relay requires four athletes to perform well in four different strokes which requires well balanced, specific training.”

The Powell High School girls’ swim team will compete at home for the first time of this season on Sept. 9 — the Gene Dozah Invitational.

Powell will also host the 3A West Conference meet Oct. 20-21. The 3A state meet is Nov. 2-3 in Gillette at Campbell County High School.

“We have leadership from a strong core of seniors who are setting the pace in practice,” Smartt said.

Saturday, Aug. 26

Lander Invitational, 10 a.m.

Friday, Sept. 1

Meet at Cody, 3 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 2

Riverton Invitational, TBD

Friday, Sept. 8

Meet at Worland, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 9

Home Gene Dozah Invitational, 11 a.m.

Thursday, Sept. 14

Meet vs Worland, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 19

Meet vs Cody, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 23

Worland Invitational, 10 a.m.

Friday, Sept. 29

Meet at Riverton, 4 p.m.

Saturday, Sept. 30

Pinedale Invitational, 11 a.m.

Friday, Oct. 13

Meet at Cody, 5 p.m.

Friday - Saturday, Oct. 20-21

3A West Conference at Powell, TBD

Thursday - Friday Nov. 2-3

3A State Meet at Campbell County high school, TBD