Curtis breaks school record in backstroke Three Lady Panthers reached the finals to lead Powell to a sixth-place finish in the 3A swimming championships in Gillette last week.Both freestyle relay teams also reached the finals and six consolation appearances by the Powell girls contributed to the team effort.Jessica Curtis was the top placer for the Lady Panthers, taking second place in the backstroke, and setting a school record in the process. Curtis swam her best time of the season in the preliminaries and knocked nearly a second more off her time on Friday, covering the 100 yards in 1.03.96. The time broke a school record set in 1994.Emily Smith of Jackson, who edged Curtis by .2 seconds in the preliminaries, cut two seconds from her time on Friday to edge Curtis.“Jess came out with the attitude that she was going to do well this year,” said coach Luke Robertson. “She's been practicing hard and she went for the win, but the Jackson girl cut time too.”Samantha Baker joined Curtis in the backstroke finals and finished fifth to add to the team score, and both girls scored in consolation rounds, Curtis with an eighth place in the 200 freestyle and Baker with 10th in the 50 freestyle.The two seniors also helped the 400 freestyle relay team to fourth place, joining Alice Pinter and Monique Zorgati. The quartet cracked the four-minute mark with a 3:59.09 to improve on the time they swam last year at state. Curtis, Baker, Pinter and Maddy Jones also teamed to take sixth place in the 200 relay.Zorgati was Powell's other finalist, finishing sixth in the 100 freestyle, and she added a 10th place in the 200 freestyle consolation heat as well.In other consolation swimming, the medley relay team, Alyssa Smith, Courtenay Zorgati, Anya Tracy and Maddy Jones, finished seventh, cutting two seconds from its Thursday time to move up one place from the preliminaries.Brittany Christensen finished 11th in the butterfly, thanks to a major cut in her time on Thursday. Christensen swam her best time of the season in the preliminaries, knocking nearly seven seconds from her previous fastest time. She swam it even faster on Friday, recording a 1:11.45.Pinter also earned an 11th place in the 100 freestyle and Jones added a 12th in the individual medley. Pinter nearly made the consolation finals in the 50 freestyle as well, missing by only .01 seconds of making the conslolation round in the 50.“Almost everybody cut time in something,” said Robertson of his team's efforts. The sixth-place finish was one place higher than the Lady Panthers achieved last year, and Robertson said that was a reflection of the team's hard work during the season.“They really came a long ways since last year,” Robertson said. “They only moved up one spot, but they scored 102 points. Last year they scored 76 at state.”With the graduation of Curtis and Baker, Robertson said the team has “big shoes to fill” next year, but he believes the girls can build on their success this year.“The girls were happy with their season, and they are looking forward to next year,” Robertson said.

Curtis breaks school record in backstroke

Three Lady Panthers reached the finals to lead Powell to a sixth-place finish in the 3A swimming championships in Gillette last week.

Both freestyle relay teams also reached the finals and six consolation appearances by the Powell girls contributed to the team effort.

Jessica Curtis was the top placer for the Lady Panthers, taking second place in the backstroke, and setting a school record in the process. Curtis swam her best time of the season in the preliminaries and knocked nearly a second more off her time on Friday, covering the 100 yards in 1.03.96. The time broke a school record set in 1994.

Emily Smith of Jackson, who edged Curtis by .2 seconds in the preliminaries, cut two seconds from her time on Friday to edge Curtis.

“Jess came out with the attitude that she was going to do well this year,” said coach Luke Robertson. “She's been practicing hard and she went for the win, but the Jackson girl cut time too.”

Samantha Baker joined Curtis in the backstroke finals and finished fifth to add to the team score, and both girls scored in consolation rounds, Curtis with an eighth place in the 200 freestyle and Baker with 10th in the 50 freestyle.

The two seniors also helped the 400 freestyle relay team to fourth place, joining Alice Pinter and Monique Zorgati. The quartet cracked the four-minute mark with a 3:59.09 to improve on the time they swam last year at state.

Curtis, Baker, Pinter and Maddy Jones also teamed to take sixth place in the 200 relay.

Zorgati was Powell's other finalist, finishing sixth in the 100 freestyle, and she added a 10th place in the 200 freestyle consolation heat as well.

In other consolation swimming, the medley relay team, Alyssa Smith, Courtenay Zorgati, Anya Tracy and Maddy Jones, finished seventh, cutting two seconds from its Thursday time to move up one place from the preliminaries.

Brittany Christensen finished 11th in the butterfly, thanks to a major cut in her time on Thursday. Christensen swam her best time of the season in the preliminaries, knocking nearly seven seconds from her previous fastest time. She swam it even faster on Friday, recording a 1:11.45.

Pinter also earned an 11th place in the 100 freestyle and Jones added a 12th in the individual medley. Pinter nearly made the consolation finals in the 50 freestyle as well, missing by only .01 seconds of making the conslolation round in the 50.

“Almost everybody cut time in something,” said Robertson of his team's efforts.

The sixth-place finish was one place higher than the Lady Panthers achieved last year, and Robertson said that was a reflection of the team's hard work during the season.

“They really came a long ways since last year,” Robertson said. “They only moved up one spot, but they scored 102 points. Last year they scored 76 at state.”

With the graduation of Curtis and Baker, Robertson said the team has “big shoes to fill” next year, but he believes the girls can build on their success this year.

“The girls were happy with their season, and they are looking forward to next year,” Robertson said.