Influx of underclassmen gives PHS depth

The Powell High School boys’ swim team set a standard that’s getting increasingly difficult to meet, but a strong returning class along with an influx of young talent could have what it takes to buck the notion of bucking the trend.

The Panthers have improved their place at the Class 3A state meet every season since 2011, including runner-up finishes the past two years, and now import a talented middle school class to bolster a deep 27-man roster.

“We have a very young team. We have nine freshmen. We have nine sophomores,” PHS head coach Stephanie Warren said. “But we also have a set few people who haven’t had a lot of swimming experience coming in. Which is really cool.”

The Panthers open their season with a dual against Lander — which has won 19 straight state titles — at 5 p.m. on Friday at the Powell Aquatic Center.

Warren said Powell will try to keep the focus on small-scale achievements rather than long-term goals.

“When you do that (finish second) and you can do that a couple times in a row, ultimately they want to do that again,” Warren said. “I think that might be in the back of their minds that they want to do that again. We try to keep them focused on it’s about improving their individual times.”

Warren said the school’s recent success, coupled with the popularity of strong Powell Middle School and USA Swimming programs, has helped to draw more athletes to the Panthers’ swim team.

“I think it helps spark the interest a little bit. We’ve been very fortunate the past couple years to have some real good success,” Warren said. “I also think it’s just we’ve kind of hit a bubble with kids who have a little more swimming experience.”

Assistant coach Jerry Rodriguez coached many of the Panthers at either the middle school or USA Swimming levels, and Warren said the year-round training has contributed to Powell’s recent run of success.

“A lot of it has to do with the talent of athletes that were coming through, and the training they’re getting,” Warren said. “Jerry does a really good job with the technique and training, and learning new things that are benefiting kids in the world of swimming.

“The dedication they put in the pool, the only way to get better is to be swimming.”

Seniors Seth Fuller, Tyson Wages and Josh Riedhammer and juniors Nate Magill, Joe Kuntz head a small but accomplished group of upperclassmen.

Fuller was the runner-up in the 100-yard free and took third in the 100-yard back at last season’s state meet in Gillette.

“He’s going to be coming back and I think he’ll step up and lead,” Warren said.

Riedhammer took fifth in the 100-yard fly and 11th in the 200-yard IM at state.

Wages was 11th in the 100-yard back and reached the fly finals, but was disqualified.

“They’ve had some successful seasons the past couple of years,” Warren said. “They’ve all constantly improved the last three seasons.”

Magill finished sixth in the 1-meter diving competition.

Kuntz was 13th in the 200 free and 16th in the 100 free.

“Our juniors this year are also going to be very strong in leading,” Warren said. “I think between the two classes they will, together, be really good leaders for the team.”

Sophomore Kacey Creed returns after making a splash in his first season at the high school level. Creed placed eighth in the 200-yard free at state.

Warren said senior Brandon Anderson, a cross country runner, has the potential to step in and contribute, as does junior Owen Dent.

The Panthers will miss the talents of graduated seniors Ben Wetzel (a state champion in the 200- and 500-yard free), Billy Baker (runner up in the 50-yard free) and Alex Bjornestad (sixth in the 200-yard IM).

The road back to state begins Friday at home. Warren said it’s never too early to qualify for events, but the main focus of the first meets is to evaluate and plan accordingly for the rest of the season.

“They go out, starting with the idea that they are going to qualify,” Warren said. “For us, as coaches, it’s always encouraging. But it’s always a good way for us to see what we do have, potentially what we could be doing by the end of the season based on their performances.”

Two sophomore brothers, Dillinger and Hudson Wilkerson, will join the team in late December. Both have started their swim seasons in North Dakota, and will move and finish with the Panthers.