Several personal bests, five new qualifying times and some big reductions in time marked the Powell Panther swimmers' trip to the Riverton Invitational last week.The Panthers finished 11th in the 12-team meet that included seven 4A schools, but the tough competition resulted in some big advances by the swimmers.Billy Cummings became the newest addition to the list of state qualifiers for the Panthers by knocking more than eight seconds from his time in the breaststroke for a personal best time of 1:18.6. Kyle Anderson and Erik Rodriguez both swam personal bests in the 100-yard freestyle to qualify in the event. Anderson had already qualified in the butterfly and Rodriguez in the 50 freestyle.Devin Lynn also swam a personal best in the 50 freestyle to qualify for state in that event and added a qualifying time in the backstroke as well. Lynn has already qualified in the breaststroke and the individual medley.Andre Miasso, who had already qualified in the 100 freestyle, narrowly missed two other qualifying times. He was less than two seconds from qualifying in the backstroke and only .04 seconds short in the 50 freestyle.Several swimmers made major advances during the meet, including Ric Nisely, who knocked 31 seconds from his time in the 200 freestyle. Sam Kuntz lowered his time in the 100 by 13 seconds and Jarred LaPierre improved by six seconds in the breaststroke. Brennon Althoff posted improvements in two events, taking more than 10 seconds off his time in the 100 and three seconds from his time in the 50.In individual events, Lynn had the team's highest finish with sixth place in the backstroke. Other top 12 individual finishes came from Cummings, who finished 11th in the breaststroke and Trent Eckerdt, who was 12th in the butterfly. The 400-yard relay team finished seventh and the medley relay team eighth.Team scoring was dominated by 4A power Laramie, with Rock Springs, Sheridan and Green River finishing second through fourth. Sublette County (Pinedale/Big Piney) was the top 3A team, finishing fifth. Other 3A teams in the competition were Kemmerer (seventh place), Cody (ninth place tie with Natrona County) and Rawlins (12th).The meet ends competition for 2009. The next competition for the Panthers will be Jan. 8, when they travel to Cody for a meet that will include Riverton and Lander. Saturday, Jan. 9, they will host the annual Gene Dozah Invitational at the Powell High School pool.

Several personal bests, five new qualifying times and some big reductions in time marked the Powell Panther swimmers' trip to the Riverton Invitational last week.

The Panthers finished 11th in the 12-team meet that included seven 4A schools, but the tough competition resulted in some big advances by the swimmers.

Billy Cummings became the newest addition to the list of state qualifiers for the Panthers by knocking more than eight seconds from his time in the breaststroke for a personal best time of 1:18.6.

Kyle Anderson and Erik Rodriguez both swam personal bests in the 100-yard freestyle to qualify in the event. Anderson had already qualified in the butterfly and Rodriguez in the 50 freestyle.

Devin Lynn also swam a personal best in the 50 freestyle to qualify for state in that event and added a qualifying time in the backstroke as well. Lynn has already qualified in the breaststroke and the individual medley.

Andre Miasso, who had already qualified in the 100 freestyle, narrowly missed two other qualifying times. He was less than two seconds from qualifying in the backstroke and only .04 seconds short in the 50 freestyle.

Several swimmers made major advances during the meet, including Ric Nisely, who knocked 31 seconds from his time in the 200 freestyle. Sam Kuntz lowered his time in the 100 by 13 seconds and Jarred LaPierre improved by six seconds in the breaststroke.

Brennon Althoff posted improvements in two events, taking more than 10 seconds off his time in the 100 and three seconds from his time in the 50.

In individual events, Lynn had the team's highest finish with sixth place in the backstroke. Other top 12 individual finishes came from Cummings, who finished 11th in the breaststroke and Trent Eckerdt, who was 12th in the butterfly. The 400-yard relay team finished seventh and the medley relay team eighth.

Team scoring was dominated by 4A power Laramie, with Rock Springs, Sheridan and Green River finishing second through fourth.

Sublette County (Pinedale/Big Piney) was the top 3A team, finishing fifth. Other 3A teams in the competition were Kemmerer (seventh place), Cody (ninth place tie with Natrona County) and Rawlins (12th).

The meet ends competition for 2009. The next competition for the Panthers will be Jan. 8, when they travel to Cody for a meet that will include Riverton and Lander. Saturday, Jan. 9, they will host the annual Gene Dozah Invitational at the Powell High School pool.