Lady Panthers dive into swim season

Posted 8/23/16

Last year’s squad placed fourth as a team in the 3A Wyoming State Finals, and had 14 state qualifiers from the 20-girl roster.

Some key swimmers were lost to graduation, as is the case annually in high school sports, notably Amanda Tracy who …

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Lady Panthers dive into swim season

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Heading into his eighth year as the Lady Panther head swim coach, his ninth with the program overall, Luke Robertson knows he has a lot to work with this season.

Last year’s squad placed fourth as a team in the 3A Wyoming State Finals, and had 14 state qualifiers from the 20-girl roster.

Some key swimmers were lost to graduation, as is the case annually in high school sports, notably Amanda Tracy who was honored as Athlete of the Year and of the State Meet, but that number is just a few as 10 of those state qualifiers return this season on a roster that numbers 21.

“Those 10 will be key contributors for sure,” Roberston said. “I am also excited to see how the other girls have improved, as well as what the newcomers bring to the table.”

And though there might be some newcomers to the team, they certainly aren’t new to the sport.

“Most of the girls on the team, including the freshmen, have at least some USA Swimming (club team) experience,” Robertson said. “So

having that background certainly helps.”

The 3A class has had a clear front-runner in Jackson Hole, which has won the last four state titles and 10 of the last 12.

The drop-off in points behind Jackson from the finals last season was somewhat significant, but the Lady Panthers were right in the mix among the next four teams, Worland, Lander and Sublette County, and comfortably ahead of the other seven qualifying teams.

That group of teams won’t have to worry about Jackson anymore either, which moved up to Class 4A, leaving this group of evenly-matched programs to battle it out.

And with such strong numbers in swimmers returning with the experience of last year’s success, to go with the background of those new to the program, it wouldn’t be surprising for these Lady Panthers to challenge for state honors.

There are many laps ahead on the two-month journey to get back there, with Powell diving into their competitive schedule Saturday at Lander Valley for a 10 a.m. invitational meet.

The Cody Invite will be at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 2, followed by a quad meet at Worland the following Friday at 4 p.m., with the Lady Panthers then hosting the Gene Dozah Invite at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10.

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