Staying closer to home paid dividends for the Powell Panther swim and dive team, with the girls’ team walking away with a new state qualifier and a team title at the Terry Bartlett Invitational in Cody on Friday.

That new qualifier came in diving, where Tori Black finished third with a personal best 169.05 to become the second of three divers qualified for the Panthers this season.

Powell also had two individual event winners on the day, with Kik Hayano winning the 200 IM (2:32.87) and Patricia Christensen winning the 100 back (1:09.43) by 1/100th of a second.

Powell also received a pair of individual second place finishes, with Charlee Brence placing second in the 100 fly (1:11.97) and Kaitlin Diver in the 500 free (6:01.08); while the 400 free relay of Hayano, Christensen, Diver and Addy Powell also placed second in 4:09.85.

Powell had her own pair of top-three finishes with third place finishes in the 100 fly (1:13.19) and the 100 back (1:09.79). Aubree Fisher finished third in the 100 breast (1:20.72), Diver placed third in the 200 free (2:14.91) and Hayano placed third in the 100 free (59.49).

“We try to swim every stroke every day in practice,” coach Bob Smartt said. “That approach provided big dividends, especially with our strong showings in the 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and the 100 butterfly.”

The Panthers ended up finishing with a team victory, getting a preview against four of the six teams in the 3A North Conference at the meet alongside two-time defending state champions Lander.

Despite the victory, Smartt observed that Lander did not put out its strongest lineup at the early season meet.

“It is always fun to beat Lander, but they did not try to win the meet,” Smartt said. “Lander only entered two athletes in the 200 free, 100 butterfly and the 500 free. The meet rules allowed four swimmers to place in individual events. With a large team, Lander would never enter two athletes in an individual event at conference or state.”

GENE DOZAH SATURDAY

Powell will have two meets this week, starting with a quintuple in Worland on Friday against Buffalo, Newcastle, Sublette County and the hosts.

The Panthers then return home on Saturday to host their biggest home meet of the season, with the Gene Dozah Invitational kicking off at 10 a.m. at the Powell Aquatic Center.

That meet will include the same five teams as Friday’s meet while adding Cody, Douglas and last year’s state runner-up Green River.

TERRY BARTLETT INVITE

* Denotes state qualifying mark

Team scores — 1. Powell 335, 2. Lander 295, 3. Cody 249, 4. Buffalo 179, 5. Worland 120, 6. Newcastle 48

200 medley relay — 3. Patricia Christensen, Aubree Fisher, Paige Thomas and Addy Powell 2:07.28; 9. Emma Sapp, Anika Anderson, Brooke Brown and Michelle Hedges 2:44.06

200 free — 3. Kaitlin Diver 2:14.91*, 6. Baylee Brence 2:22.44*, 9. Kate Miller 2:38.08, 10. Kathryn Brence 2:46.83

200 IM — 1. Kik Hayano 2:32.87*, 4. Patricia Christensen 2:38.22*, 11. Croix Tryon 2:46.33, 12. Charlee Brence 2:46.35

50 free — 23. Samantha Young 35.43, 25. Brooke Brown 37.62, 31. Michelle Hedges 45.89, 32. Leah Sockey 47.25

1-meter diving (six dives) — 3. Tori Black 169.05*, 4. Aramonie Brinkerhoff 166.55*, 7. Emma Brence 142

100 fly — 2. Charlee Brence 1:11.97*, 3. Addy Powell 1:13.19*, 4. Paige Thomas 1:13.66*, 8. Croix Tryon 1:18.07

100 free — 3. Kik Hayano 59.49*, 8. Aubree Fisher 1:07.83, 13. Cassidy Reimer 1:12.28, 27. Leah Sockey 1:46.84

500 free — 2. Kaitlin Diver 6:01.08*, 5. Baylee Brence 6:31.75, 8. Emma Sapp 6:45.35, 12. Samantha Young 7:38.6

200 free relay — 3. Kik Hayano, Paige Thomas, Charlee Brence and Kaitlin Diver 1:55.55; 10. Croix Tryon, Emma Brence, Samantha Young and Leah Sockey 2:28.55

100 back — 1. Patricia Christensen 1:09.43*, 3. Addy Powell 1:09.79*, 4. Kate Miller 1:11.64*, 8. Cassidy Reimer 1:16.07, 9. Emma Sapp 1:16.89, 21. Brooke Brown 1:37.52, 27. Michelle Hedges 1:59.2

100 breast — 3. Aubree Fisher 1:20.72*, 4. Paige Thomas 1:21.59*, 5. Kathryn Brence 1:22.7*, 6. Anika Anderson 1:33.3

400 free relay — 2. Kik Hayano, Patricia Christensen, Kaitlin Diver and Addy Powell 4:09.85; 5. Croix Tryon, Charlee Brence, Baylee Brence and Kate Miller 4:36.88; 8. Cassidy Reimer, Emma Sapp, Anika Anderson and Samantha Young 5:01.92