Top competition had the Powell Panther swim and dive team putting up strong performances over the weekend, battling in a triangular against Worland and Cody on Thursday before heading to the Bruce Gresly Invitational in Lander on Saturday.

CODY TRIANGULAR

Kicking off the extended weekend the Panthers made the short trip to Cody on Thursday, battling in a triangular against two familiar faces this year in the Broncs and Warriors.

The triangular was scored in a head-to-head format, with Powell defeating Worland 186-62 but just losing to Cody 140-135.

Powell earned four first place finishes on the night, two from Adam Williams in the 100 free (54.36) and the 100 back (1:06.97), and one each from Hugh Carpenter in the 200 free (2:01.53) and Gabe Rose in the 100 fly (1:00.23).

Three second place finishes came from Will Fuller in the 50 free (25.11), Jon Hawley in diving (199.8) and Lukas Legler in the 500 free (7:23.13).

The 400 free relay of Garrett Lennon, Hawley, Conner Mayes and Carpenter won in a time of 4:03.97.

BRUCE GRESLY INVITATIONAL

Heading to Lander on Saturday the Panthers faced nearly every team they will see at the state meet, including the top two 3A teams in Lander and Buffalo.

“It was great to see the ones we haven’t seen,” coach Stephanie Warren said. “It’s a mini state meet in essence. It was good to see where people are at right now.”

Warren said the team was down several athletes on Saturday, but was able to battle to a seventh place finish while producing personal best times.

“Between the two meets we had a lot of kids swim their best times,” Warren said. “That’s a good thing for this time of year.”

Powell got two top five finishes in the competition, with Rose placing fifth in the 500 free (5:39.68) and Williams placing fifth in the 100 back (1:01.37).

Warren said it was important for the Panthers to see some top competition, to have each athlete competing at their best with less than a month to go in the season.

“It was good for everyone to see, but specifically those (top) guys to swim against those guys from Lander,” Warren said. “It was good to see Buffalo again, putting them against each other motivates them more.”

On the diving board the Panthers were missing their top diver in Hawley, who missed the meet due to illness, but Lennon stepped up and produced a strong 11-dive performance with a 283.35.

“He’s shown some great improvement,” Warren said. “He’s taking on the challenge and he is doing really well with it.” 

REGULAR SEASON WRAPS UP

The regular season will come to its conclusion this week, kicking off with senior night on Tuesday (tonight) at 5 p.m. at the Powell Aquatic Center.

“We are looking forward to senior night with Cody and Worland again,” Warren said. “It gives them the opportunity to have their best times this week and celebrate our seniors.”

Powell will then head out on the road the remainder of the season, starting with a trip to Buffalo on Friday.

That invitational will cap off the regular season, and was supposed to serve as a preview of the pool for the conference meet, but that has since been moved to Gillette next week with Buffalo still serving as host.

Typically after Buffalo the Panthers would continue the trip to Gillette for an invitational, but that meet is not scheduled this year.

“We will miss out on the Gillette Invite but they will have time to rest this weekend before going to conference,” Warren said. “Hopefully over the next couple of weeks we can get them trained the best we can before conference.”

CODY TRIANGULAR

* Denotes state qualifying mark

Team scores — Powell 186, Worland 62; Cody 172, Worland 59; Cody 140, Powell 135

200 medley relay — 2. Adam Williams, Gabe Rose, Will Fuller and Conner Mayes 1:54.18; 5. Gabe Buchholtz, Branton Moore, Lukas Legler and Liam Taylor 2:22.81

200 free — 1. Hugh Carpenter 2:01.53*, 3. Gabe Rose 2:04.95*

200 IM — 3. Conner Mayes 2:34.17*, 4. Trystan Preator 2:35.91

50 free — 2. Will Fuller 25.11*, 3. Garrett Lennon 26.72, 4. Taggart Shumway 27.64, 6. Liam Taylor 29, 8. Lukas Legler 32.23

1-meter diving (six dives) — 2. Jon Hawley 199.8*, 3. Garrett Lennon 164.65*, 5. Taggart Shumway 121.75

100 fly — 1. Gabe Rose 1:00.23*, 3. Trystan Preator 1:06.52*

100 free — 1. Adam Williams 54.36*, 4. Conner Mayes 59.76, 7. Liam Taylor 1:05.03, 8. Gabe Buchholtz 1:05.21, 9. Branton Moore 1:16.88

500 free — 2. Lukas Legler 7:23.13

200 free relay — 2. Adam Williams, Will Fuller, Hugh Carpenter and Gabe Rose 1:40.53; 4. Taggart Shumway, Trystan Preator, Jon Hawley and Garrett Lennon 1:53.82

100 back — 1. Adam Williams 1:06.97, 5. Gabe Buchholtz 1:14.09, 7. Jon Hawley 1:26.68

100 breast — 4. Will Fuller 1:16.53, 5. Hugh Carpenter 1:18.29, 9. Branton Moore 1:34.99

400 free relay — 1. Garrett Lennon, Jon Hawley, Conner Mayes and Hugh Carpenter 4:03.97

BRUCE GRESLY INVITATIONAL

Team scores — 1. Lander 285, 2. Buffalo 221, 3. Riverton 166, 4. Evanston 151, 5. Cody 131, 6. Green River 101, 7. Powell 84, 8. Kemmerer 76, 9. Rock Springs 74, 10. Cheyenne South 63, 11. Sublette County 21, 12. Jackson 14, 13. Worland 6, 14. Natrona County 2

200 medley relay — 6. Will Fuller, Gabe Rose, Adam Williams and Hugh Carpenter 1:51.51

200 free — 16. Will Fuller 2:12.63

200 IM — 6. Adam Williams 2:21.32*, 21. Trystan Preator 2:34.33*

50 free — 17. Gabe Rose 25.44*, 42. Gabe Buchholtz 29.2

1-meter diving (11 dives) — 7. Garrett Lennon 283.35*, 14. Taggart Shumway 247.05

100 fly — 11. Trystan Preator 1:06.16*

100 free — 7. Hugh Carpenter 54.7*, 12. Will Fuller 55.71*

500 free — 5. Gabe Rose 5:39.68*, 21. Gabe Buchholtz 6:55.06

200 free relay — 16. Trystan Preator, Gabe Buchholtz, Branton Moore and Hugh Carpenter 1:53.35

100 back — 5. Adam Williams 1:01.37*, 33. Branton Moore 1:27.3

100 breast — 19. Hugh Carpenter 1:18.54

400 free relay — 6. Adam Williams, Will Fuller, Gabe Rose and Garrett Lennon 3:45.16