A stronger performance from the Powell Panther swim and dive team in Buffalo had the swimmers rolling to 9-0 heading into the last meet of the regular season Tuesday (tonight) at the Powell Aquatic Center.

The meet started strong for Powell with a victory in the 200 medley relay, composed of Addy Powell, Kathryn Brence, Paige Thomas and Kik Hayano winning in 2:03.7.

Individual wins for the Panthers came from Kaitlin Diver, who had a double event victory in the 200 IM (2:32.89) and the 500 free (5:52.47) while Hayano won the 100 fly (1:06.99) and Kathryn Brence won the 100 breast (1:18.45).

“Only seven athletes in the five team meet had the courage to swim the 100 butterfly,” coach Bob Smartt said.

In the 100 fly the Panthers swept the top four spots in the race, while also finishing with all three of the top spots in the 500 free.

Paige Thomas earned her final qualifying mark of the season in the 500 free, qualifying her for every event at the state meet.

“For the second year in a row, Paige has now qualified for state in all eight swimming events,” Smartt said.

After having a close call last week in the team race, the Panthers pulled away from Douglas more convincingly this week finishing with 383 points to Douglas’ 297, which was well ahead of Worland’s 214 in third.

“This result is a nice improvement from our 15 point win over Douglas at the Douglas Invite last week,” Smartt said.

Powell trailed Douglas by two points after the 50 free, but strong performances from that point forward helped Powell pull away.

The final regular season contest will be a dual between the Panthers and Park County opposition Cody Fillies, where Powell will honor its seniors at the Powell Aquatic Center.

The Panthers will then take the upcoming weekend off to prepare for the conference meet the following weekend in Cody.

BUFFALO INVITE

* Denotes state qualifying mark

Team scores — 1. Powell 383, 2. Douglas 297, 3. Worland 214, 4. Buffalo 190, 5. Newcastle 101

200 medley relay — 1. Addy Powell, Kathryn Brence, Paige Thomas and Kik Hayano 2:03.7; 8. Kumora Snell, Emma Brence, Brooke Brown and Leah Sockey 2:49.76

200 free — 4. Baylee Brence 2:17.45*, 5. Patricia Christensen 2:20.76*, 7. Emma Sapp 2:31.25, 12. Samantha Young 2:49.3

200 IM — 1. Kaitlin Diver 2:32.89*, 5. Charlee Brence 2:44.76, 6. Croix Tryon 2:46.89, 8. Anika Anderson 2:50.76

50 free — 6. Paige Thomas 28.87, 13. Cassidy Reimer 30.85, 24. Michelle Hedges 42.1, 26. Leah Sockey 46.07

1-meter diving (six dives) — 4. Aramonie Brinkerhoff 185.05*, 5. Tori Black 179.9*, 7. Emma Brence 147.3

100 fly — 1. Kik Hayano 1:06.99*, 2. Charlee Brence 1:09.32*, 3. Addy Powell 1:11.42*, 4. Croix Tryon 1:13.71*

100 free — 5. Kathryn Brence 1:04.78*, 9. Aubree Fisher 1:08.19, 10. Cassidy Reimer 1:09.26, 16. Brooke Brown 1:15.99, 17. Samantha Young 1:17.57

500 free — 1. Kaitlin Diver 5:52.47*, 2. Baylee Brence 6:10.52*, 3. Paige Thomas 6:23.64*, Emma Sapp 6:38.68, 15. Michelle Hedges 9:04.73

200 free relay — 2. Kik Hayano, Charlee Brence, Kaitlin Diver and Paige Thomas 1:54.55; 5. Croix Tryon, Cassidy Reimer, Samantha Young and Baylee Brence 2:08.03

100 back — 2. Patricia Christensen 1:07.41*, 3. Addy Powell 1:07.57*, 7. Kumora Snell 1:21.49, 11. Brooke Brown 1:32.4, 16. Leah Sockey 1:49.96

100 breast — 1. Kathryn Brence 1:18.45*, 2. Aubree Fisher 1:19.7*, 4. Kik Hayano 1:20.92*, 9. Anika Anderson 1:31.67

400 free relay — 2. Kaitlin Diver, Patricia Christensen, Baylee Brence and Addy Powell 4:15.55; 4. Charlee Brence, Cassidy Reimer, Emma Sapp and Croix Tryon 4:37.34