Panthers add new qualifier

Heading down to Worland for a pair of meets this past weekend the Powell Panther swim and dive team added one new qualifier, competing in a triangular and the Worland Invitational on Saturday.

In the triangular against Cody and Worland on Friday the Panthers secured their new qualifier, as freshman Sam Williams finished runner up in the 500 free with a time of 6:07.94.

“We are very excited for Sam,” coach Stephanie Warren said. “He came really close in a couple other races too, within a couple seconds. So I think he’s extra excited.”

Warren said Williams qualifying is inspiring other swimmers on the team, bringing a new excitement to the team with several weeks remaining in the regular season.

“That’s always inspiring to the other freshmen. Because we have such a large freshman group this year, I think it kind of helps each of them see that, ‘oh yeah, we can do this too,’” Warren said. “Then knowing we have quite a few meets in the next few weeks here still helps them realize that they can take those opportunities and do the same thing.”

In that same race, Conner Mayes claimed the lone victory for the Panthers on the day, winning in 5:59.99.

Powell also had a couple more second place finishes, as Hugh Carpenter took second place in the 200 free (2:06.09) and Mayes finished second in the 50 free (25.65).

Third place finishes came from Taggart Shumway in both the 50 free (26.54) and diving (183.85) and Tyler Kruger in the 100 fly (1:05.24).

Powell finished second in all three relays.

At the invitational on Saturday 4A Riverton was added to the mix with the teams from Friday.

Powell had one victory, as Carpenter won the 100 fly in 1:00.28.

He added a second place finish in the 100 back (1:03.29), and Shumway was the other Panther to finish second, earning a score of 195.8 in the diving.

Mayes earned a third place finish in the 200 free (2:07.09).

Powell will return home this weekend for the final team, taking on Cody in a dual at 5 p.m. on Friday as part of senior night.

“We’re still practicing as much as we can, as hard as we can to help get these guys to the place that they need to be before conference,” Warren said.

Following senior night the Panthers will head on the road Saturday to take part in an invitational in Lander.

“I think we will see everyone in our conference in Lander, if the weather cooperates and everyone gets there,” Warren said. “It’ll be nice to get out there and see them (Lander), especially because they usually are pretty fast, so it’s always kind of fun to watch them and just get a little bit of inspiration from them as well.”

WORLAND TRI

* Denotes state qualifying mark

200 medley relay — 2. Will Fuller, Conner Mayes, Trystan Preator and Hugh Carpenter 1:57.5; 5. Gabe Buchholtz, Jacob Gardner, Tyler Kruger and Lukas Legler 2:14.34

200 free — 2. Hugh Carpenter 2:06.09*, 

200 IM — 3. Will Fuller 2:25.45*

50 free — 2. Conner Mayes 25.65*, 3. Taggart Shumway 26.54, 

1-meter diving (six dives) — 3. Taggart Shumway 183.85*

100 fly —5. Gabe Buchholtz 1:10.21

500 free — 1. Conner Mayes 5:59.99*, 

200 free relay — 2. Hugh Carpenter, Taggart Shumway, Trystan Preator and Will Fuller 1:42.19; 

100 back — 4. Gabe Buchholtz 1:10.2, 

100 breast — 4. Will Fuller 1:12.8*, 5. Hugh Carpenter 1:13.07*, 

400 free relay — 2. Gabe Buchholtz, Sam Williams, Taggart Shumway and Conner Mayes 4:09.06

WORLAND INVITATIONAL

200 medley relay — 3. Will Fuller, Conner Mayes, Trystan Preator and Hugh Carpenter 1:54.81; 7. Taggart Shumway, Jacob Gardner, Tyler Kruger and Dayton Lawrence 2:15.75

200 free — 3. Conner Mayes 2:07.09*, 

50 free — 4. Will Fuller 24.54* 9. Taggart Shumway 26.52, 

1-meter diving (six dives) — 2. Taggart Shumway 195.8*

100 fly — 1. Hugh Carpenter 1:00.28*, 4. Will Fuller 1:06.71*

100 free — 6. Gabe Buchholtz 59.65

200 free relay — 4. Trystan Preator, Gabe Buchholtz, Tyler Kruger and Taggart Shumway 1:49.69

100 back — 2. Hugh Carpenter 1:03.29*

100 breast — 6. Conner Mayes 1:17.21, 7. Gabe Buchholtz 1:24.17, 

400 free relay — 3. Will Fuller, Gabe Buchholtz, Conner Mayes and Hugh Carpenter 4:05.07