One final Cody meet earned one Powell High School athlete a ticket to the state meet, as Sam Williams became the ninth and final qualifier for the Panther swim and dive team at the Terry Bartlett Last Chance meet last Tuesday.

Making that short trip to Cody the Panthers got the final qualification from Williams in diving, who just surpassed the qualifying score of 160 with a score of 163.85, making the state meet after just starting diving at the beginning of January.

“Sam decided to join diving a little bit later this season. One thing that I can say about him is that he is extremely hard working and dedicated to trying to get better,” coach Stephanie Warren said. “The fact that he could learn from the beginning and qualify in roughly five weeks’ time is pretty impressive … He was definitely in the right mindset for wanting to learn, grow and become a better diver.”

In addition to Williams, two other Panthers added three more qualifying times, as Gabe Buchholz won the 200 free with a qualifying time of 2 minutes, 7.87 seconds, and was second in the 100 back (1:08.69) while Trystan Preator added the 500 free (5:53.59) in a second
place finish.

Williams also took the top spot in the 100 free (1:01.35) and Preator won the 100 fly (1:03.46).

The 200 medley relay team of Kooper Arends, Hunter Taylor, Preator and Williams won with a time of 2:06.56.

Following the Last Chance Meet the Panthers have had ample time to do their taper, resting before the state meet as nine of the 11 athletes on the team qualified for state.

“Not a bad turnout at all,” Warren said. “It just shows what a great, hard working group of kids that we have. That’s been the exciting piece about all of this is just watching them all season long encourage each other and support each other, being happy for each other every time another one would qualify.”

Warren said that overall the taper has been going well for the Panther athletes, and that they are getting energy back before the state meet this weekend.

The Panthers will head to Cheyenne for the 3A State Championships on Friday afternoon and Saturday, with the meet taking place at Cheyenne East High School.

Heading into the final meet of the season Warren said she knows plenty of athletes have personal goals, while there are several competitive teams fighting for trophies.

“I think each of them have their own goals that they’re hoping to accomplish. As a team, we’re kind of just going to see what happens,” Warren said. “I’ve heard it’s (Cheyenne) a great facility … I think the boys are excited for that, which will be another thing that will hopefully help them have an exciting meet as well.”

TERRY BARTLETT LAST CHANCE

* Denotes state qualifying mark

200 medley relay — 1. Kooper Arends, Hunter Taylor, Trystan Preator and Sam Williams 2:06.56

200 free — 1. Gabe Buchholz 2:07.87*, 2. Tyler Kruger 2:18.78, 3. Gabe Leighton 2:33.6

200 IM — 2. Kooper Arends 2:52.17

50 free — 4. Hunter Taylor 26.64, 8. Ethan Haslem 35.07

1-meter diving (six dives) — 4. Dayton Lawrence 178.25*, 5. Sam Williams 163.85*

100 fly — 1. Trystan Preator 1:03.46*, 2. Tyler Kruger 1:03.8*, 3. Hunter Taylor 1:10.01

100 free — 1. Sam Williams 1:01.35, 3. Kooper Arends 1:08.02

500 free — 2. Trystan Preator 5:53.59*, 5. Dayton Lawrence 8:06.12

200 free relay — 2. Hunter Taylor, Ethan Haslem, Kooper Arends and Tyler Kruger 1:56.09

100 back — 2. Gabe Buchholz 1:08.69*, 4. Gabe Leighton 1:16.04

100 breast — 3. Ethan Haslem 1:31.09

400 free relay — 2. Sam Williams, Gabe Buchholz, Tyler Kruger and Trystan Preator 3:55.09

STATE QUALIFIERS

Listed in alphabetical order by last name, athletes can participate in two individual events and two relays

Kooper Arends — 100 back 1:07.94

Gabe Buchholz — 50 free 25.82, 100 free 58.29, 200 free 2:07.87, 500 free 5:59.85, 100 back 1:08.69, 200 IM 2:24.36

Hugh Carpenter — 50 free 23.73, 100 free 50.79, 200 free 2:01.18, 500 free 5:37.35, 100 back 1:03.91, 100 breast 1:13.44, 100 fly 55.29, 200 IM 2:08.38

Will Fuller — 50 free 22.83, 100 free 55.35, 200 free 2:07.72, 100 back 1:02.12, 100 breast 1:15.48, 100 fly 1:04.85, 200 IM 2:20.84

Tyler Kruger — 50 free 25.59, 100 free 56.79, 100 back 1:08.09, 100 fly 1:03.8, 200 IM 2:29.04

Dayton Lawrence — 1-meter diving six dives 178.25, 1-meter diving 11 dives 276.25

Trystan Preator — 50 free 25.22, 100 free 58.27, 200 free 2:04.59, 500 free 5:53.59, 100 fly 1:00.56, 200 IM 2:24.25

Hunter Taylor — 100 breast 1:12.86

Sam Williams — 1-meter diving six dives 163.85