The Powell Lady Panthers swimmers finished fourth in the West Conference swim meet last week in their final preparation for state competition.Host-team Lyman out-swam the Powell swimmers to finish third behind first-place Jackson and runner-up Lander.

Senior Samantha Baker earned the highest individual finish for the Lady Panthers with a third-place in the 100-yard freestyle, and earned another top-six finish in the 200 freestyle, finishing fifth.

Alice Pinter also swam in the championship finals in two events, finishing sixth behind Baker in the 200 freestyle and earning another sixth in the butterfly.

Other finalists for the Lady Panthers were Jessica Curtis, who finished fifth in the individual medley and Monique Zorgati, who was fifth in the 100.

Baker, Curtis, Zorgati and Pinter also teamed to finish third in both the 200 and 400-yard relays.

Zorgati swam her way into the consolation finals 200 freestyle as well, finishing seventh. Courtenay Zorgati recorded a ninth-place finish in the butterfly consolation heat, while Kourtnie Rodgers, Maddy Jones and Claire Weztel all finished 12th, Rodgers in the individual medley, Jones in the backstroke and Wetzel in the 500 freestyle.

Divers Stepfanie Thompson and Emily Newlin finished ninth and 12th, respectively.

Jones and Courtenay Zorgati joined Alyssa Smith and Brittany Christensen to finish seventh in the medley relay.

Powell Coach Luke Robertson said many of the Lady Panthers did not swim their strongest events.

“They didn't swim the events they will swim at state,” Robertson said. “They were trying different events. Some of them were trying to qualify in additional events.”

No new qualifying times were recorded, however, although Baker's preliminary time in the 200 freestyle was her personal best.

Baker and Thompson were also honored with sportsmanship awards by vote of all the conference coaches, Robertson said.

Robertson said three swimmers, Wetzel, Rodgers and Jenna Hotovec, all within reach of qualifying for state, will have one more chance to do so later this week. The three, along with Alyssa Smith, who has one qualifying time already but hopes to add another one, will travel to Lander Thursday to compete.

Thirteen other swimmers have already earned the right to swim in Gillette, and will be tapering their workouts to be rested for their final meet. Curtis, Baker and Jones have all qualified in five events and Monique Zorgati and Pinter have qualified in two. Belen Quillen, Courtenay Zorgati and Anya Tracy have qualified twice while Christensen, Smith and Jessica Wurzel have each qualified for one. Divers Thompson and Newlin will also dive at state.

State competition opens Thursday, Oct. 29 in Gillette with final rounds scheduled for Friday, Oct. 30.