Panther swimmers edge Cody

Posted 9/22/09

Two more qualify for state

Two swimmers posted the first qualifying times of their careers Thursday night to help the Powell Lady Panthers squeeze out a win over Cody.

Junior swimmers Jessica Wurzel and Alyssa Smith added their names to the …

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Panther swimmers edge Cody

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Two more qualify for stateTwo swimmers posted the first qualifying times of their careers Thursday night to help the Powell Lady Panthers squeeze out a win over Cody.Junior swimmers Jessica Wurzel and Alyssa Smith added their names to the list of state qualifiers for the Lady Panthers. Wurzel covered 500 yards in 6:26.73 to qualify in the event, and Smith shaved .61 seconds from her time to earn a spot in state competition in the backstroke.In addition to their qualifying times, the two swimmers also cut time in other events. Wurzel improved by more than seven seconds in the 200 and Smith knocked nearly four seconds from her time in the 100.“It was a great meet for those girls,” said Coach Luke Robertson. “They both have a chance to qualify in more events.”A third junior, diver Emily Newlin, just missed the 160 qualifying mark in her event, scoring 159.35, nearly nine points better than her performance in last week's Dozah tournament.As a team, the Lady Panthers edged the Fillies 94-92, even though Cody swimmers won all three relays and seven of the 12 events. But the Lady Panthers took three of the five top spots in five of the nine individual events to ensure the team win.Powell continued to show its strength in the backstroke, with Samantha Baker, Anya Tracy and Smith finishing one, two three. In the 200 freestyle, Jessica Wurzel and Claire Wetzel grabbed the top two slots and Sarah Wurzel finished fourth. Kourtnie Rodgers finished second in the individual medley followed by Belen Quillen in third and Lori Hetzel in fifth. Jessica Wurzel's 500 performance was good for second and Quillen finished third. Sierra Baker scored fifth place points in the event. In the breaststroke, Jessica Curtis finished second, Quillen third and Sierra Baker fifth.Tracy and Samantha Baker swept the top two slots in the butterfly, and Jones won the 50 and Sierra Baker collected fifth-place points. Newlin and Stepfanie Thompson finished third and fourth in diving to round out the team scoring.Robertson said the win was a good one, and came despite the fact that he had held some of his girls out of events while they battle injuries. He said he is anticipating a return to competition by Monique Zorgati, who swam a leg in a relay Friday, for her first competition in two weeks, and Brittany Christensen. He is hopeful there will be other new qualifiers in the remaining meets.This week the Lady Panthers will travel to Greybull on Friday and compete in the Worland Invitational on Saturday. Friday's competition begins at 5 p.m., while Saturday's starting time has not been announced.

Two more qualify for state

Two swimmers posted the first qualifying times of their careers Thursday night to help the Powell Lady Panthers squeeze out a win over Cody.

Junior swimmers Jessica Wurzel and Alyssa Smith added their names to the list of state qualifiers for the Lady Panthers. Wurzel covered 500 yards in 6:26.73 to qualify in the event, and Smith shaved .61 seconds from her time to earn a spot in state competition in the backstroke.

In addition to their qualifying times, the two swimmers also cut time in other events. Wurzel improved by more than seven seconds in the 200 and Smith knocked nearly four seconds from her time in the 100.

“It was a great meet for those girls,” said Coach Luke Robertson. “They both have a chance to qualify in more events.”

A third junior, diver Emily Newlin, just missed the 160 qualifying mark in her event, scoring 159.35, nearly nine points better than her performance in last week's Dozah tournament.

As a team, the Lady Panthers edged the Fillies 94-92, even though Cody swimmers won all three relays and seven of the 12 events. But the Lady Panthers took three of the five top spots in five of the nine individual events to ensure the team win.

Powell continued to show its strength in the backstroke, with Samantha Baker, Anya Tracy and Smith finishing one, two three. In the 200 freestyle, Jessica Wurzel and Claire Wetzel grabbed the top two slots and Sarah Wurzel finished fourth.

Kourtnie Rodgers finished second in the individual medley followed by Belen Quillen in third and Lori Hetzel in fifth. Jessica Wurzel's 500 performance was good for second and Quillen finished third. Sierra Baker scored fifth place points in the event. In the breaststroke, Jessica Curtis finished second, Quillen third and Sierra Baker fifth.

Tracy and Samantha Baker swept the top two slots in the butterfly, and Jones won the 50 and Sierra Baker collected fifth-place points. Newlin and Stepfanie Thompson finished third and fourth in diving to round out the team scoring.

Robertson said the win was a good one, and came despite the fact that he had held some of his girls out of events while they battle injuries. He said he is anticipating a return to competition by Monique Zorgati, who swam a leg in a relay Friday, for her first competition in two weeks, and Brittany Christensen. He is hopeful there will be other new qualifiers in the remaining meets.

This week the Lady Panthers will travel to Greybull on Friday and compete in the Worland Invitational on Saturday. Friday's competition begins at 5 p.m., while Saturday's starting time has not been announced.

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