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After the graduation of a strong senior class, a season of uncertainty lies ahead for the Powell High School boys’ swimming team that returns 11 of the team’s 18 state qualifiers last …
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After the graduation of a strong senior class, a season of uncertainty lies ahead for the Powell High School boys’ swimming team that returns 11 of the team’s 18 state qualifiers last year who placed sixth at state.
Heading into the 2022 season the Panthers will feature just two athletes who competed in individual finals on Saturday last season.
Those athletes are senior Rui Parker, who finished fourth in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 100 fly, and junior diver Jon Hawley who placed eighth.
“I am not 100% sure what (this season) looks like right now, it’s hard to say,” coach Stephanie Warren said. “We did graduate almost half our team but we picked up that same amount of kids coming in with varying talents.”
She said that it will take a couple of weeks for the Panthers to discover all that they have on the team.
The graduating Panthers from last year made up a majority of the relay spots for the team, with PHS searching for a way to replace eight of the team’s 12 relay spots.
“We do have some USA swimmers that are coming up which is great,” Warren said.
Powell did take its most qualifiers ever to state last year with 18, but Warren was reminded that the team competed in one of the most difficult state meets she has ever seen.
“State gets harder and harder every year,” Warren said. “It will be interesting bringing Evanston into the mix, it’s going to be even harder now.”
She said the team is focused on ensuring that each athlete has his best performance at the state meet in Gillette in February, and getting into the finals would be a bonus.
On the diving board the Panthers return four of the team’s seven divers from last year. Three of those four qualified for state in Hawley, Taggart Shumway and Ashtin Prentiss while Warren hopes to qualify Justin Hobbs this season as well.
“No new (divers) this year, so we are just going to continue to build on where we left off last year,” Warren said.
Powell hosts an opening meet of the season on Friday at 5 p.m. at the Powell Aquatic Center, welcoming Cody, Newcastle and Worland.
The Panthers then make the short trip over to Cody on Saturday, to take part in the Cody Invitational starting at 10 a.m. at the Paul Stock Aquatic and Recreation Center.
