The Panther tennis team is heading to the state tournament in Gillette this Thursday through Saturday as they look to take advantage of a unique opportunity and try to advance deep in their respective group.

“The unique aspect of tennis in Wyoming is that any kid has the chance to go out and compete for a state championship,” Powell High School head coach Joe Asay said.

The team competed at the north regional tournament in Sheridan over the weekend, with the boys placing sixth and the girls eighth. One athlete who picked up some momentum heading into the state tournament was boys’ No. 1 singles player Ethan Bartholomew.

Bartholomew is coming off a weekend where he took the top seed in the north, Austin Putnam of Kelly Walsh, to three sets, 7-6, 4-6, 6-0. 

Asay said he was impressed with Bartholomew playing Putnam that close, and coming out of the experience with a positive attitude after such a close battle.

Bartholomew finished the weekend at 2-2, losing the consolation final to CJ Dominick from Cody, 6-4, 6-2. He will have a matchup with Nick Colgan from Cheyenne East in the first round of the state tournament on Thursday, with the opportunity to match up with Putnam in the semifinals should both advance that far.

On the girls’ side, No. 1 singles player Chase Anderson finished the regional tournament with a 1-2 record, losing in the consolation semifinal. Anderson will face Paige Frazier from Cheyenne East in the first round of the state tourney.

Boys’ No. 2 singles player Aiden Chandler also posted a 1-2 record losing in the consolation semifinal. Chandler will face Korbin Arnell from Green River at state.

Girls’ No. 2 singles player Kaili Wisniewski finished 1-2 and lost in the semifinal of the consolation bracket. She will face Grace Osterland from Cheyenne Central in the first round of the state tournament.

Both the boys’ No. 1 doubles team of Logan Brown and Kolt Flores and the girls’ No. 2 doubles team Alli Harp and Alexis Terry also won a match at regionals. 

The boys’ No. 2 doubles team got a shakeup for the postseason, after junior Ryan Cordes was injured during homecoming activities on Wednesday. Cade Queen instead partnered with Wesley Preator for regionals and will do so again at the state tournament.

Doubles matchups are as follows: 

Girls’ No. 1 doubles, Sydney Hill/Hannah Hinks vs. Harrison/Strange (Green River)

Boys’ No. 1 doubles, Brown/Flores vs. Van Kirk/Thornell (Cheyenne Central)

Girls’ No. 2 doubles, Harp/Terry vs. Brown/Strauss (Green River)

Boys’ No. 2 doubles, Preator/Queen vs. O’Connor/Russow (Laramie)

Girls’ No. 3 doubles, Lachelle Lee/Tyler Sessions vs. Colling/Warelin (Natrona County)

Boys’ No. 3 doubles, CJ Barrus/Kalin Hicswa vs. Villalobos/Alvarado-Ellison (Central)