Rocky Mountain High School standout Leslie Blackburn will be staying close to home after signing a letter of intent to play basketball for Northwest College next season. Blackburn will join another local product, Powell’s Leslie Thronburg, as members of the 2011 recruiting class.

Above-average snowpack a mixed bag for area rafting companies

An above-average winter has the snowpack in some area mountain ranges running more than 200 percent of average. Eventually, all that snow will melt, swelling rivers and causing water to roar toward lower elevations.

That’s both good and bad news for several of the area’s white water rafting companies.

The Powell High School girls’ soccer team wrapped up its 2011 season with losses to Buffalo and Worland. Despite not getting a win in Sheridan, Panther assistant coach Jeff Dent called Powell’s time at state the team’s best soccer of the season.

“The score against Buffalo might not reflect it, but for quality of play, we played better than we did all year,” said Dent. “This was probably our best showing at state. The girls showed heart and courage. It was a year to be proud of.”

After watching three of his wrestlers compete for national titles this past winter, Northwest College wrestling coach Jim Zeigler isn’t having any trouble finding folks willing to step onto the mat in Powell.

“It’s gone really well,” Zeigler said of the recruiting process this spring. “We’re still looking for a big guy and I’m meeting with a kid from Washington in the near future, but I’m pleased with what we have so far.”

You don’t want to get on the bad side of soccer fans. We are, after all, talking about a sport whose followers get so stirred by their passion that the pastime has triggered countless stadium riots and at least one war between nations.

Put simply, if you’re compiling suggestions for a happy and stress-free life, keeping soccer fans happy should be somewhere on your list.

PHS shut out of all-conference roster after meeting moved

While the Powell Panthers spent last weekend staking their claim as the 2011 3A boys’ consolation champions, not a single player from the highest finishing team in school history will be able to claim all-conference status this season.

The Panthers were shut out of the all-conference rolls after a coaches’ meeting to determine the post-season honorees had its time changed without Powell head boys’ coach Travis Rapp or girls’ coach Brett Hanlin being informed. Rapp showed at the original meeting time, only to learn the meeting had been held nearly 12 hours earlier.

PHS shut out of all-conference roster after meeting moved

While the Powell Panthers spent last weekend staking their claim as the 2011 3A boys’ consolation champions, not a single player from the highest finishing team in school history will be able to claim all-conference status this season.

The Panthers were shut out of the all-conference rolls after a coaches’ meeting to determine the post-season honorees had its time changed without Powell head boys’ coach Travis Rapp or girls’ coach Brett Hanlin being informed. Rapp showed at the original meeting time, only to learn the meeting had been held nearly 12 hours earlier.

No delays expected for holiday weekend

With an extended winter season and a sudden spring deluge of rainfall, the folks in charge of managing the Shoshone National Forest are offering a glimmer of sunlight. Despite the adverse weather, no delays are anticipated with regard to the opening of services and facilities in advance of the holiday weekend.

Powell Pioneers head coach Mike Jameson would love for his team to be able to play a game. Heck, the third-year skipper would love to be able to practice outside.

“It’s been a challenge,” Jameson said of recent weather conditions that forced the team to declare a rainout for both its scheduled home opener on May 21 and the team’s first conference doubleheader against Lovell, which was to have taken place Tuesday night.

Powell boys claim state title

For the fourth time in six years, Powell High School claimed the state title in Class 3A boys’ track and field. The Panthers endured a windy, wet and, at times, snowy weekend to outlast Douglas for an 11-point margin of victory (137.5-126.5).

“The weather wasn’t fantastic, but I thought the kids did a fantastic job of stepping forward and competing,” said Panther head coach Scott Smith. “If you look at our times and distances, they’re not bad at all considering the conditions we faced.”