Panthers swim team gears up for state meet

Posted 2/23/17

Seventeen of the team’s 20 swimmers punched their ticket to the state meet, each qualifying in at least two events. Head coach Stephanie Warren said her team has worked hard all season, culminating in what should be a very strong showing for the …

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Panthers swim team gears up for state meet

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17 swimmers qualify in multiple events

Coming off a second place finish in the 3A West Conference Championship, the Powell High School boys swim team will be well-represented at the 3A State Meet in Gillette this weekend.

Seventeen of the team’s 20 swimmers punched their ticket to the state meet, each qualifying in at least two events. Head coach Stephanie Warren said her team has worked hard all season, culminating in what should be a very strong showing for the Panthers.

“I think the guys are feeling pretty good overall,” Warren said. “I think we’re, for the most part, healthy, and they are pretty excited to get going. A lot of good things can happen, a lot of not-so-good things can happen, so you never know. It kind of just comes down to the day and how they’re performing.”

Senior Joe Kuntz will be competing in his fourth state meet this weekend, qualifying in every event except the breaststroke. As his high school career winds down, he’s looking forward to leaving a lasting impression.

“I need to worry about not choking, since this is my last year,” Kuntz said. “I’ve just got to go out in a blaze of glory. With our relays, we just want to get as many points as we can to try to beat (defending state champion) Lander. We’ve been so close this season, but yet so far.”

With this, his final opportunity, Kuntz said it’s time to just lay it all on the line.

“I would love the feeling of finally winning,” he said. “After four years of hard work, it’s come down to this. I just want the feeling of ‘I did it.’ This team has come a long ways since day one.”

Senior Nate MaGill qualified in the two diving events, as well as the 100 breaststroke. Two weeks ago in Riverton, he secured his spot on the PHS Hall of Fame board in the 11 dives event and is looking to improve on that mark this weekend. When asked what he’ll miss the most about this team, he referenced the friendships he’s made.

“I have a blast just coming to practice every day and messing around with these guys,” MaGill said.

As for personal goals this weekend, MaGill said he’s working for a good showing.

“I want to place in the top three for diving,” he said. “I would also like to make it to the finals in the breaststroke.”

Junior Gavin Asay qualified for six events this weekend, though which ones he’ll compete in had yet to be determined at press time.

Asay said the team has had a good year, coming the closest to Lander that they have in a long time.

“Lander always manages to get ahead of us, but we’ve come close this year,” he said. “I’m hoping to drop some time this weekend — tapering this week usually helps with that. I’m looking forward to the weekend.”

Kacey Creed, also a junior, had a weekend to remember two weeks ago in Riverton, winning the conference championship in the 100 breaststroke and placing second in the 100 butterfly, earning himself a spot on the HOF board. He hopes to continue that momentum into the state meet this weekend.

“The meet in Riverton felt pretty good,” Creed said. “Going into state, I feel strong, I feel like I can do better in my events. I’d like to get first this weekend and try to move further up the record board.”

Creed said this year’s team is a young one, and though the seniors will be missed, he’s excited for the team’s future moving forward.

“We have a lot of freshmen, and they seem to like the water,” he said. “They will get stronger and faster, so we’re in good shape.”

For coach Warren, it’s definitely been a season to remember, and she’s looking forward to the weekend to watch her team finish what they’ve worked so hard for.

“Honestly, this has been one of the best teams as far as being a great group of kids to work with,” Warren said. “I’ve been asked a lot of times this week ‘Are you ready for it to be done?’ and I’m like ‘No! These kids are good!’ They’re doing really well right now, so it’s hard to see it come to an end. But it gives us something to look forward to next year. This weekend, I just hope to see each one of them do the best that they can. They’ve worked really hard, and deserve to finish strong.”

2017 PHS State Qualifiers:

Freshmen: Ben Cannizzaro, Alex Hanson, Bryce Hogen, Richard Spann and Jay Cox

Sophomores: Chris Lopez, Joe Rogers and Trenton Wilson

Juniors: Gavin Asay, Kacey Creed, Jared Fuller, Braden Schiller, Dillinger Wilkerson and Hudson Wilkerson

Seniors: Garret Henderson, Joe Kuntz and  Nate MaGill

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