Head to conference this weekend

In their final tune-up before conference, Powell High School’s girls swimming and diving team took a comfortable victory over Cody in the Fillies’ pool.

PHS won the Thursday evening dual with 93 points to Cody’s 62 at the Paul Stock Aquatic Center.

In addition, Powell senior Katie Brown posted a state meet-qualifying time in the 100-yard backstroke and junior Aspen Aguirre qualified in the 500-yard freestyle; both Panthers had previously qualified in other events.

Meanwhile, Junior Kendyl Bohlman came just 0.04 seconds away from qualifying in the 200-yard freestyle ­­— after having come up 0.17 seconds short the week before.

“She’s just been knocking on the door in that event,” said PHS head coach Luke Robertson.

Bohlman and the rest of the team will get another chance this weekend, as they head to Lyman for the Class 3A West Conference meet on Friday and Saturday.

“There’s a handful of girls that are really close to qualifying, so probably my biggest goal for the team is to get some more girls qualified for state,” Robertson said.

He said the squad will continue to focus more on individual improvements than comparisons to the rest of the field, with no specific goal for team scores at conference.

“We’re going to swim and dive our best events and work on those qualifications,” Robertson said. “And the points are going to fall wherever they’re going to fall.”

Powell continued to see some improved times in Cody.

Senior Claire Miner posted her best time in the 200-yard individual medley by a second, while sophomore Anamia Davila bested her IM record by five seconds. Meanwhile, fellow sophomore Katrina Twitchell shaved off a second in the 100 free.

The week’s biggest improvement, however, belonged to freshman Rachel Kuntz, who knocked 41 seconds off her prior best in the 500 free.

“She’s really come quite a ways this year with her catch in her freestyle (stroke),” Robertson said, referring to the amount of pull a swimmer makes in the water. He said Kuntz has done a lot of work on her technique and “it’s made a huge difference for her.”

Freshman Sidney O’Brien cut nine seconds in the 200 free and was also honored with a “Pink Panther” swim cap, a team award Robertson hands out at each competition.

“She’s someone who isn’t real vocal, but somebody who is behind the scenes, encouraging other girls in practice and in meets,” the coach said of O’Brien.

This weekend’s conference meet will feature swimmers from Powell, Lander, Riverton, Pinedale, Kemmerer and Lyman.

Powell’s girls who have not yet qualified for state have already begun a tapered practice schedule — featuring more rest — to help get them swimming their fastest times at conference, Roberston said. Girls who have already qualified will keep training hard through this weekend, beginning their taper after conference, Robertson said.

200 Medley Relay

1. Rylie Kannard, Anna Fuller, Claire Miner and Katrina Twitchell 2:15.47, 2. Julia Kay O’Neill, Emily McCaslin, Katie Brown and Aspen Aguirre 2:15.57

200 Free

2. Kendyl Bohlman 2:23.54, 4. Sidney O’Brien 2:33.44, 5. Sydney Horton 2:34.49, 6. Rachel Kuntz 2:36.49, 7. Gracie McLain 2:42.98

200 IM

2. Claire Miner 2:37.66 (3A), 3. Aspen Aguirre 2:46.33, 4. Anamia Davila 3:13.15

50 Free

2. O’Neill 29.07, 3. Rylie Kannard 30.01, 4. Anna Fuller 31.34, 5. Beth McCaslin 31.49, 6. Eliana Karhu 31.96

Diving

1. Caitlyn Miner 142.15, 2. O’Neill 137.75

100 Fly

1. Brown 1:17.14, 2. Emily McCaslin 1:23.11

100 Free

1. Twitchell 1:04.94, 2. Claire Miner 1:05.17, 3. Bohlman 1:06.47, 4. O’Brien 1:06.98, 5. Kannard 1:07.47, 6. Fuller 1:11.57, 10. Davila 1:17.71

500 Free

3. Aspen Aguirre 6:36.74 (3A), 4. Beth McCaslin 6:46.40, 5. Horton 6:53.37, 6. Kuntz 6:53.60

200 Free Relay

1. O’Brien, O’Neill, Twitchell and Bohlman 2:01.36, 3. McLain, Karhu, Fuller and Davila 2:15.30

100 Back

1. Brown 1:13.22 (3A), 2. Emily McCaslin 1:16.56, 3. McLain 1:27.87

100 Breast

1. Caitlyn Miner 1:16.44 (4A), 4. Karhu 1:37.81, 5. Twitchell 1:42.40

400 Free Relay

2. Aguirre, Bohlman, Claire Miner and Caitlyn Miner 4:27.40, 3. O’Brien, McLain, Beth McCaslin and Kannard 4:51.54, 4. Brown, Davila, Kuntz and Horton 5:05.78