The Powell High School boys’ swim and dive team posted some of its best times of the year in the final opportunity, as the Panthers finished fifth as a team at state in Cheyenne and added several new spots to the team’s Wall of Fame.

Will Fuller led the way, taking third in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.09 seconds.

The Wall of Fame additions came from Hugh Carpenter, who was fourth in the 100 butterfly with a time of 54.31 seconds to become the second fastest Panther in school history, taking over the second spot from Kacey Creed who had a time of 55.06 in 2018.

Carpenter also joined the Wall of Fame in the 100 free, as his split for the Panther’s 400 free relay of 49.7 seconds made him fifth, just ahead of Seth Fuller who had a time of 49.72 in 2016.

“It was really exciting for them (Carpenter and Will Fuller), especially considering that for both this has been their goal for the last four years. Seeing them accomplish that, and it happening at the last meet was really exciting for them,” coach Stephanie Warren said of the two seniors. “It was exciting to see them both get up there (on the Wall of Fame).”

Carpenter, alongside Gabe Buchholz, Tyler Kruger and Fuller were fourth in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:31.99.

Other ‘A’ final placements included Carpenter who took fourth in the 200 IM (2:07.45) and Fuller who took sixth in the 100 back (1:00.03), while the 200 medley relay team of Fuller, Hunter Taylor, Trystan Preator and Carpenter was third with a time of 1:48.84.

Preator also reached the ‘B’ final in the 100 fly with a time of 1:00.4 to take 12th overall.

On the diving board both competitors finished all 11 dives, as Dayton Lawrence took eighth with a score of 279.35 and Sam Williams was 12th with a score of 210.85.

“They both had their best 11 dive scores they’ve had,” Warren said. “It was great to see him (Williams) come in and just be able to finish 11 dives was exciting. Dayton was very pleased with his performance as well. I was extremely happy for both of them.”

Overall the Panthers finished fifth with a score of 106, comfortably ahead of Kemmerer which had 85 points but well behind Cody in fourth with 162.

“We were very pleased with the overall outcome, not exactly knowing what was going to happen going in. Because you never know until the day of, when you see the official heat sheet,” Warren said. “We were a solid fifth, it was great … For what we’ve had this year, and everything we’ve done this year, we couldn’t have asked for a better season.”

Lander won its 30th consecutive title by 84 points over Buffalo which was second for the fifth year in a row with 241 points.

Out of the 11 competitors on the Panther roster this year there are eight who are eligible to return to the team next year, with the Panthers losing a large number of points through seniors Carpenter, Fuller and Preator.

“I believe that they’re all going to come back,” Warren said. “It was really good for them to be able to compete at state, so they can see and know what it’s like, so that next year, they can be the ones that are leading the way as we come back. It’ll be great to have those guys back. It’d be great if we get another handful of guys to join us.”

3A STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Top 12 reach finals, p denotes preliminary race time

Team scores — 1. Lander 325, 2. Buffalo 241, 3. Lyman 194, 4. Cody 162, 5. Powell 106, 6. Kemmerer 85, 7. Douglas 65, 8. Rawlins 64, 9. Worland 52, 10. Sublette County 48, 11. Newcastle 39

200 medley relay — 3. Will Fuller, Hunter Taylor, Trystan Preator and Hugh Carpenter 1:48.84

200 free — 13. Trystan Preator 2:01.9p

200 IM — 4. Hugh Carpenter 2:07.45, 15. Gabe Buchholz 2:22.98p

50 free — 3. Will Fuller 23.09, 24. Tyler Kruger 26.57p

1-meter diving (11 dives) — 8. Dayton Lawrence 279.35, 12. Sam Williams 210.85

100 fly — 4. Hugh Carpenter 54.31, 12. Trystan Preator 1:00.4, 16. Tyler Kruger 1:02.57p

500 free — 14. Gabe Buchholz 6:01.53p

200 free relay — 8. Trystan Preator, Hunter Taylor, Sam Williams and Gabe Buchholz 1:43.67

100 back — 6. Will Fuller 1:00.03, 17. Kooper Arends 1:09.03p

100 breast — 14. Hunter Taylor 1:11.16p

400 free relay — 4. Hugh Carpenter, Gabe Buchholz, Tyler Kruger and Will Fuller 3:31.99