A brand new conference competition paid off for the Powell High School swim team, as the Panthers placed fifth competing against difficult competition and added a new qualifier to the state team in Lyman on Friday and Saturday.

Moving into a new 3A West Conference the Panthers added one new qualifier, as Sophie Erkkila qualified for the 100 breaststroke in the qualifiers on Friday, before finishing sixth on Saturday with a time of 1 minute, 24.77 seconds.

“I was so happy for her. She’d hit a plateau for a few weeks, but she worked hard in practice, she worked on visualizing and she had a great mindset going into her races,” coach Bailey Jackson said. “Not only did she qualify, but she made [‘A’] finals. She was one of only three Powell girls to do that.”

Lynea Christensen ended up being the top overall competitor for the Panthers, as she took third in diving with a score of 309.9, and fourth in the 100 fly with a time of 1:10.4.

Close behind was Autumn Kleinfeldt who returned to the pool for the first time in a month. She finished fourth in diving with a score of 306.45 and sixth in the 50 free with a time of 28.29 seconds.

“It was a big relief. I was beginning to worry she wouldn’t recover in time for state,” Jackson said. “But she did, she got back on the board, and to me it didn’t look like she’d even lost much progress.”

Additional competitors that advancing to ‘B’ finals included Stella Leighton who placed eighth in the 100 fly (1:24.22); Tempie Day also returned to the pool and took eighth in the 500 free (6:56.83); April Weckler was ninth in the 50 free (30.13) and 10th in the 500 free (7:11.92); Lilly Pittman tied for 10th in the 50 free (30.39) and was 11th in the 100 free (1:10.59); Claire Hultgren was 11th in the 200 IM (3:08.46) and Meredyth Giltner placed 11th in the 100 breast (1:27.39).

The highest placing relay for the Panthers was the 200 medley with the team of Weckler, Christensen, Leighton and Kleinfeldt in fourth (2:15.69).

As a team the Panthers accrued 139.5 points, as Lander ran away with the team title with 388 points.

“It’s going to sound a little weird, we got last place, but I think the meet went really well. Not only did we get another qualifier, but nine out of our 11 girls competed on day two,” Jackson said. “I was not expecting that with this new conference we’re in. At the beginning of our season, we talked about how we were redefining success. We’ve accomplished that so far.”

Powell continues quickly after the conference meet with a trip to Cody at 5 p.m. today (Tuesday), taking part in the Last Chance Meet.

“There are a few girls who are very close to qualifying. The girls who are close to qualifying in the 50 free are less than a second off, but that’s years in the 50. Everything has to be perfect in their races. We have a lot to work on and only one day to do it,” Jackson said.

The Panthers then will prepare for the 3A State Championships in Gillette on Nov. 5-6.

3A WEST CONFERENCE MEET

* Denotes state qualifying mark, top 12 make finals, p denotes preliminary race time

Team scores — 1. Lander 388, 2. Kemmerer 235, 3. Sublette County 215, 4. Lyman 194.5, 5. Powell 139.5

200 medley relay — 4. April Weckler, Lynea Christensen, Stella Leighton and Autumn Kleinfeldt 2:15.69

200 free — 15. Sophie Erkkila 2:35.37p, 16. Meredyth Giltner 2:58.51p

200 IM — 11. Claire Hultgren 3:08.46

50 free — 6. Autumn Kleinfeldt 28.29*, 9. April Weckler 30.13, T10. Lilly Pittman 30.39, 20. Lily Paisley 43.04p, 21. Michelle Hedges 46.41p

1-meter diving (11 dives) — 3. Lynea Christensen 309.9, 4. Autumn Kleinfeldt 306.45

200 free relay — 5. Lilly Pittman, Claire Hultgren, Autumn Kleinfeldt and Lynea Christensen 2:03.31; 8. April Weckler, Sophie Erkkila, Meredyth Giltner and Tempie Day 2:12.05p

100 fly — 4. Lynea Christensen 1:10.4*, 8. Stella Leighton 1:24.22

100 free — 11. Lilly Pittman 1:10.59, 18. Michelle Hedges 1:40.63p

500 free — 8. Tempie Day 6:56.83, 10. April Weckler 7:11.92

100 back — 13. Claire Hultgren 1:23.69p, 14. Stella Leighton 1:24.58p, 17. Lily Paisley 1:40.99p

100 breast — 6. Sophie Erkkila 1:24.77*, 11. Meredyth Giltner 1:27.39

400 free relay — 5. Lilly Pittman, Tempie Day, Claire Hultgren and Stella Leighton 4:50.1; 9. Lily Paisley, Michelle Hedges, Meredyth Giltner and Sophie Erkkila 6:06.02p