After a successful 2021 season that resulted in a third-place podium finish for the Panther girls’ swimming team, Powell is hoping for a repeat performance heading into the 2022 season.

The top returner for the Panthers in 2022 will be senior Kami Jensen, who makes her way back onto the Panther team after winning the state diving championship last November.

Jensen will be making a slow return to the diving board this fall, after a knee injury kept her sidelined during the winter and spring seasons.

“We had a little setback with the knee injury, we are working on that and trying to be patient with it,” Panther diving coach Heather Christensen said. “I have no doubts she will get back to it and already looks phenomenal.”

The Panthers also return experience with juniors Emma Brence and Aramonie Brinkerhoff who Christensen hopes will both make it to the state meet this year.

On the swimming side, the Panthers return all of their point getters but two seniors who scored on last year’s squad.

Top returners for the Panthers include senior Emma Mitchell who scored 19 points last year, junior Paige Thomas who scored 10 points and senior Grace Sapp who scored 10 points.

Panthers swimming coach Bob Smartt said that the team will be the first in the state to use the TritonWear data training system.

This system helps to capture swimming data during training sessions, in order to help determine what areas need improvement in the pool.

Smartt said that the goal of the Panthers this year is again to qualify the most athletes in 3A for the state meet, while also winning the conference meet and making another top three podium finish at the state meet.

The Panthers dive in the deep end on Saturday to take part in the Lander Invitational starting at 10 a.m.

A long season starts this Saturday, with all roads leading to Laramie in November.