Panthers qualify three more for state meet

The bus size requirement for the Powell High School boys swimming team’s trip to the Class 3A state meet keeps getting bigger.

While winning a triangular meet Friday, and placing second in the Gene Dozah Invite on Saturday (both at the Powell Aquatic Center), three more Panthers secured their spots at the state meet in Gillette in late February.

“The triangular win and the second-place finish Saturday were exciting for everyone,” PHS head coach Stephanie Warren said. “But even more exciting was adding three more state qualifiers.”

A total of 12 Panthers are now state eligible, including eight who have qualified in multiple events and three who have secured spots in all eight. PHS assistant coach Jerry Rodriguez was happy with his swimmers’ performances, considering the team was coming off its winter break.

“Most swimmers are still cutting time and improving despite only having eight practices during the long holiday break,” Rodriguez said.

On Friday, Powell hosted Douglas and Worland for a triangular and ran away with a victory with 374 points. Worland took second with 298, while Douglas scored 256.

Finishing first for the Panthers on Friday were the 200 medley relay team of Billy Baker, Kacey Creed, Seth Fuller and Ben Wetzel (1:54.12), Wetzel (200 and 500 free), Josh Riedhammer (200 IM), Baker (50 free, 100 fly) and Alex Bjornestad (100 free). Freshmen Braden Schiller qualified for state in the 500 free during the meet, posting a time of 6:21.65 to get in.

PHS took some of that positive momentum into the seven-team Gene Dozah Invite on Saturday as it finished with 225 points, good for second behind perennial powerhouse Lander Valley (409).

Freshman Gavin Asay (6:20.60, 500 free) and sophomore Nate MaGill (1:20.52, 100 breaststroke) earned state slots Saturday. MaGill, who gave up swimming last year to wrestle, also is PHS’ lone diver, and has increasingly missed qualifying for state in that event by the smallest of margins all season long. At the Gene Dozah Invite, that struggle continued as he missed out by just .60 points. Still, MaGill remained confident.

“Almost ... I’ll get it eventually,” MaGill said.

A bright spot for the Panthers came in Saturday’s 200 free relay. Rodriguez opted to use his fastest swimmers in the relay, and Baker, Fuller, Riedhammer and Wetzel swam to a time of 1:39.60, less than a second behind Lander for first place. It was a good showing for PHS, who showed the gap between Lander and PHS could finally be closing.

“It was definitely good, definitely a confidence boost,” Baker said. “Hopefully we can work a little bit harder on it and beat them.”

Other top-three finishers for PHS on Saturday were Fuller (third place, 50 free), Wetzel (third place, 100 free), Baker (third place, 100 backstroke), the 200 medley relay team of Baker, Creed, Fuller and Wetzel (third place) and the 400 free relay team of Riedhammer, Creed, Tyson Wages and Bjornestad (third).

Warren said the positive results over the weekend were a product of the hard work her team has put in over the season.

“It really actually shows the dedication these kids have outside of the high school swimming pool,” Warren said. “A lot of them are on the USA swimming team as well. It also takes a lot of pressure off of the kids once they get qualified, and it’s amazing what they can do after that.”

Notes: Before Saturday’s action, the Panther swimming team dedicated its hall of fame board to former PHS coach Gene Dozah, who spent 23 seasons at the helm of the PHS boys team, winning state championships in 1963, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1972. A memorial banner now hangs below of the hall of fame board at the Powell Aquatic Center in honor of Dozah. Dave Blevins also gave a speech about Dozah to the fans and athletes in attendance prior to the start of the meet.

“As a teacher and coach, Gene Dozah had a special talent students of all ages responded to,” Blevins said. “Kindergartners in his physical education classes to state champion swimmers, all felt the positive attitude, sense of accomplishment and desire for excellence that Coach Dozah communicated.

“He made it fun.”