The road to Gillette could lead to a third straight runner-up finish for the Powell High School girls’ swim team.

The Panthers compete in the Class 3A State Swimming and Diving Championships today (Thursday) and Friday at the Campbell County Aquatic Center, and for the third straight season, the Panthers enter the meet with a second-place finish at the Class 3A West Conference Championships under their belt.

It won’t be easy to convert that into another top finish at state, as Lander, Worland, Sublette County and more all present a tough challenge.

PHS head coach Luke Robertson said nothing would surprise him this year. He could see his team again finishing second to Jackson, or falling as far as sixth, with slim margins between the second through sixth teams.

The Panthers have the potential state champions in senior Amanda Tracy and junior Aly Schneider, both of whom took home conference championships in Kemmerer on Oct. 17.

One or both would likely need to take home the gold if the Panthers were to repeat as runners-up. Tracy won the 200-meter IM and 100-meter breaststroke at conference, but could swim in a variety of events at state. Schneider won the 100-meter freestyle and finished second in the 200-meter freestyle.

Robertson said it’s always a guessing game to figure out where the other teams’ best swimmers will race.

“But I try not to get too wrapped up in that, because at the end of the day we can’t control what Jackson is going to do, or what Lander and Worland are going to do,” Robertson said. “They’re going to put their girls where they’re going to put them, and so we’re going to put our girls where they’re going to be the strongest.”

Powell’s depth could help solidify the case for No. 2 if enough girls qualify in today’s preliminaries for the final heats, and finish in the top six, or even top 12.

The likes of senior Tristan Bohlman, freshman Caitlyn Miner, junior Katie Brown and junior Claire Miner have all shown they have what it takes for a strong showing at state. One or two top-six finishes from each could earn the Panthers those crucial points that give them the edge.

Powell’s relay teams left conference in a bit of flux, but could gel for a final push at state.

Robertson said he was still juggling some lineup combinations and would base his final relay groups on recent performances and practice.

Powell’s 200-meter medley relay team finished second in Kemmerer, and would represent a fast start for the Panthers.

The meet-closing 400-meter free relay team took third in Kemmerer, and was just 1.17 seconds ahead of Lander, which finished in fourth. The 200-meter free relay team was sixth in the West and could be pushed into the bottom six.

The Campbell County Aquatic Center will present a return to a yard pool after adapting to Kemmerer’s meter pool for conference. The Panthers practice in a yard pool and are generally more comfortable with the standard Wyoming distance.

Many of the Panthers’ top swimmers tapered in preparation for the state meet. Robertson incrementally decreased their workload in practice to give their bodies a chance to recover and be at their strongest in the season finale.

“They need that extra rest to get them ready,” Robertson said, noting that each individual tapers differently.

He places his swimmers into short, medium and long taper groups. Some taper for two weeks while others need only a few days to get into peak shape.

“That’s been pretty effective for us the past three years,” he said. “Like Amanda, we’ve tapered her the same the last three years and it’s worked well, so we’re going to do the exact same thing.”

The exact same thing — another second-place finish — is exactly what the Panthers are hoping for.