Throughout the season, PHS swim and dive wowed audiences, consistently finishing near the top of the leaderboard. The Panthers went out with a bang at the 3A state meet in Laramie on Friday and Saturday.

Powell finished third behind Green River and Cody, earning 188 points as a team. That total was the school’s best since 1998. With 21 qualifiers, PHS had the largest group at state.

While the Panthers didn’t finish first in any of the events, they had several stellar swims at the meet.

Powell High School senior Emma Karhu placed third in 1-meter diving, with a score of 340:35. Sophomore Lucia Harder’s time of 103.52 in the 100 butterfly was also good for third. And the 200 freestyle relay team of Emma Mitchell, Madison Lowery, Elizabeth Liggett and Harder broke the school record and finished third with a time of 1:44.27.

The 200 medley relay team of Grace Sapp, Mitchell, Lowery and Harder also posted a strong time, finishing fourth in the event at 1:55.85. Lowery was the consolation winner in the 100 freestyle, posting a time of 58.96.

In the 500 freestyle, Liggett finished fourth in 5:40.31. This was just 0.04 seconds slower than her wall of fame time of 5:40.27.

PHS wrapped up its day at state with a fifth-place finish in the 400 freestyle relay, swam by Kiyoko Hayano, Sydney Legler, Addison Moretti and Liggett in 3:56.00.

Panthers’ assistant coach Heather Christensen was named 3A Assistant Coach of the Year to go along with her 3A West Conference Assistant Coach of the Year honors.

For the team’s seniors — Karhu, Liggett, Lowery and Moretti — this was their last event sporting the orange and black on their caps and suits. That group achieved great success in its time at PHS, with each athlete placing individually in at least one event at state.

“We had a team meeting to honor the enormous contributions of our super seniors,” PHS head coach Bob Smartt said. “It was a gratifying final meet for them, and they will be greatly missed.”

Team results

1. Green River 282, 2. Cody 193, 3. Powell 188, 4. Buffalo 183, 5. Lander 153, 6. Lyman 113 7. Sublette County 97, 8. Worland 48, 9. Douglas 44, 10. Rawlins 38, 11. Newcastle 28, 12. Kemmerer 18, 13. Riverton 6

Full results:

200 medley relay

A Finals: 4. Grace Sapp, Emma Mitchell, Lucia Harder, Madison Lowery 1:55.85

200 free

A Finals: 4. Elizabeth Liggett 2:04.43, 5. Addison Moretti 2:08.69, B Finals: 10. Sydney Legler 2:12.78, Prelims: Gabby Paterson 2:15.51

200 individual medley

A Finals: 6. Lucia Harder 2:24.90, Prelims: 15. Kiyoko Hayano 2:34.52, 20. Grace Harder 2:36.22

50 free

A Finals: 5. Madison Lowery 26.14, 6. Emma Mitchell 26.41, Prelims: 16. Lily Halter 27.56

1-meter diving

Finals: 3. Emma Karhu 340.35, 4. Kami Jensen 324.60, Prelims: 14. Taycee Walker 173.35

100 fly

A Finals: 3. Lucia Harder 1:03.52, Finals Alternate: 13. Sydney Legler 1:11.11, Prelims: 15. Paige Thomas 1:12.50, 20. Croix Tryon 1:14.42

100 free

B Finals: 7. Madison Lowery 58.96, Finals Alternate: 13. Kiyoko Hayano 1:00.14, Prelims: 22. Lily Halter 1:02.44

8. 500 free

A Finals: 4. Elizabeth Liggett 5:40.31, B Finals: 8. Addison Moretti 5:59.53, Finals Alternate: 13. Grace Harder 6:10.58, Prelims: 20. Gabby Paterson 6:20.56, 26. Baylee Brence 6:34.49

200 free relay

A Finals: 3. Emma Mitchell, Lucia Harder, Madison Lowery, Elizabeth Liggett 1:44.40

100 backstroke

B Finals: 9. Grace Sapp 1:07.71, 10. Paige Thomas 1:08.14, Prelims: 15. Kylie Kahl 1:10.24

100 breaststroke

B Finals: 8. Emma Mitchell 1:13.66, Prelims: 20. Kathryn Brence 1:21.58, 24. Aubree Fisher 1:22.56

400 free relay

A Finals: 5. Kiyoko Hayano, Sydney Legler, Addison Moretti, Elizabeth Liggett 3:56.00