Preparing for his third season at the helm of the Powell High School girls’ swimming and diving team, head coach Bob Smartt wasn’t afraid to reference a literary classic when asked to assess this year’s Lady Panthers.

“I am so excited about our swim team this year that I’m ready to go fishing for Moby Dick in a row boat and take along the tartar sauce,” Smartt said.

The “white whale” Smartt is referring to in this particular tale is none other than Lander, the defending 3A state champions. The Lady Tigers have had a stranglehold on the top spot of Class 3A for the last three seasons, though Powell has continued to narrow the gap between the two teams. Last year at state, only 107 points separated the two at the top of the leaderboard. The two powerhouses will have ample opportunity to test each other this season with no less than seven meets in common — including a Friday, Oct. 11 dual at the Powell Aquatic Center.

“Last year we finished second at state and only graduated two seniors,” Smartt said. “At state we shrank the gap to perennial first place team Lander from 172 points in 2017 to 107 points last year, and we should continue that trend this year.”

Though the Lady Panthers lost only two swimmers to graduation, the void left by the pair is substantial: Caitlyn Miner finished her Lady Panther career as one of the most decorated swimmers in school history, while Katrina Twitchell’s name can also be found on the Hall of Fame board as a member of the 200 freestyle relay team.

That said, there are plenty of returners, and a few new faces, eager to carve out their own legacies as Lady Panthers. This year’s roster features 34 athletes, up from 24 last season. Smartt said team depth will be powerful, especially in invitational meets.

“We return 10 state qualifiers, nine of whom placed at state last year,” he said. “The team could have 18 or more state qualifiers this year, which would be among the most in school history and likely tops in 3A.”

Elizabeth Liggett, who had a pair of top five finishes at last season’s 3A state meet, is one of the returning state qualifiers Smartt expected to have a breakout season. But the junior, who placed third in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 200 freestyle, suffered a freak accident last spring that has left her season in doubt.

“Elizabeth ruptured her Achilles’ tendon, but she is back in the water and starting the recovery process,” Smartt said.

Other returners include seniors Sidney O’Brien and Anna Fuller. O’Brien was sixth last year at state in the 100 backstroke and 10th in the 200 IM.

“She [O’Brien] leads off our 200 medley relay, which as the first event, always sets the tone for our performances at meets,” Smartt said.

Fuller was seventh at state in the 100 breaststroke and ninth in the 500 freestyle and “is close to Powell Wall of Fame ranking in both events,” Smartt said.

Junior Addison Moretti was seventh in the 500 freestyle and 10th in the 200 freestyle, and will be a swimmer to watch in the butterfly, backstroke and individual medley as well, according to Smartt. Fellow junior Madison Lowery earned Powell Wall of Fame status last year in the 50 free and will also be contributing in the 100 free and backstroke races.

Seniors Ashlyn Aguirre and Rachel Kuntz are also returning qualifiers; Aguirre placed 11th in the butterfly at state and will also be focusing “on her backstroke and individual medley events,” according to Smartt.

“Kuntz was 11th in the 200 individual medley and brings strong butterfly and breaststroke skills to the team,” Smart added, “while sophomore Grace Harder was a state qualifier who will add individual medley and backstroke to her repertoire this season.”

With seven divers this year, the Lady Panthers will have possibly the “largest dive contingent in 3A,” led by junior state finalists Emma Karhu (fourth) and Maddi Hackenberg (ninth).

“With many graduations of top divers from other teams, diving will likely be the best individual event for the Panthers at most meets this season,” Smartt said.

Powell welcomes 12 new athletes to the team this season, including Lucia Harder (all swim events), Gabby Paterson (middle distance free and breaststroke), Emma Mitchell (sprint free), Kami Jensen (diving and sprint free) and Grace Sapp (backstroke); all are expected to make an immediate impact.

Sydney Legler, a sophomore transfer from Maryland, “will qualify for state in several events,” Smartt predicted.

Potential new qualifiers include a large contingent of improving sophomores, including Lily Halter, Kylie Kahl, Delainey Rayment, Taycee Walker, Dakota Hansen and Sarah Hampton.

“Our team depth should overwhelm most of the smaller 3A teams in the state,” Smartt said.

The Lady Panthers kick off their season Saturday, Aug. 31 at the Lander Pentathlon.