Making a shorter trip to Cody on Friday the Powell High School girls’ swim and dive team placed third at the Terry Bartlett Invitational, as the Panthers continue learning in the early season.

Leading the way with the highest placements were Autumn Kleinfeldt and Lynea Christensen.

Kleinfeldt earned a second place finish in diving with a score of 187.7, and Christensen took second in the 500 free with a time of 6 minutes, 22.23 seconds.

Christensen added a sixth place finish in diving with a score of 159.05.

The next highest placement for Powell came from April Weckler, who took fourth (1:42.72) in the 100 breaststroke.

Additional top eight individual finishes included Tempie Day who took sixth in the 200 free (2:40.02); Lilly Pittman took eighth in the 200 IM (3:19.95); Autumn Weckler placed eighth in the 50 free (35.83) and the 500 free (8:38.76), while Michelle Hedges took eighth in the 100 back (1:54.79).

The highest placing Panther relay was the 200 free which finished third. That team included Day, April Weckler, Kleinfeldt and Christensen with a 2:05.73.

“I think the girls especially have learned that they can do more than they think they can. They can do harder races than they think they can,” coach Bailey Jackson said. “Even if they’re scared, and even though it might not be fun, they can do it. That’s part of why youth sports are so important. They teach kids that they can and should do difficult things.”

As a team the Panthers took third with 171 points, just one ahead of host Cody.

Worland was second with 212 points as Lander took the top spot with 491.

Powell continues to focus on the basics early in the year,  staying at home for the first time this season.

“We’re still focusing on the basics. It doesn’t matter how fast you swim if you get DQed (disqualified). We only had one DQ in Cody, so that was an improvement,” Jackson said. “We’re also working on some things that I guess are just so second nature to me that I don’t remember I need to teach them. For instance, after a race, swimmers need to come and talk to a coach about their race. I didn’t tell the new girls that, and they didn’t know they needed to do it. But that’s on me, sometimes I need to slow down.”

The Panthers host the Gene Dozah Invitational at the Powell Aquatic Center starting Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

TERRY BARTLETT INVITATIONAL

* Denotes state qualifying mark

Team scores — 1. Lander 491, 2. Worland 212, 3. Powell 171, 4. Cody 170, 5. Newcastle 40

200 medley relay — 4. Lilly Pittman, Lynea Christensen, Stella Leighton and Tempie Day 2:25.87

200 free — 6. Tempie Day 2:40.02, 11. Meredyth Giltner 3:09.11

200 IM — 8. Lilly Pittman 3:19.95, 10. April Weckler 3:27.9

50 free — 8. Autumn Weckler 35.83, 13. Michelle Hedges 43.03, 14. Lily Paisley 47.71

1-meter diving (six dives) — 2. Autumn Kleinfeldt 187.7*, 6. Lynea Christensen 159.05*

100 free — 11. Tempie Day 1:13.1, 12. Lilly Pittman 1:14.46, 16. Meredyth Giltner 1:25.78

500 free — 2. Lynea Christensen 6:22.23*, 8. Autumn Weckler 8:38.76

200 free relay — 3. Tempie Day, April Weckler, Autumn Kleinfeldt and Lynea Christensen 2:05.73

100 back — 8. Michelle Hedges 1:54.79, 9. Lily Paisley 1:55.55

100 breast — 4. April Weckler 1:43.72

400 free relay — 6. Meredyth Giltner, Michelle Hedges, Autumn Weckler and Lilly Pittman 5:50.99