The Powell Swim Club hosted its annual USA Swimming Winter Fiesta recently and finished at the top of the six-team competition.Thirty-five members of the club, including several adults and a number of Powell Lady Panther swimmers competed in the meet, and a number of them qualified for the USA Winter Championships in March. Individual swimmers swam in as many as 10 events each during the two-day event.Among those who qualified for state during the weekend were 10 and under swimmers Maeci Wright, who qualified in five different events, Kasey Creed, who qualified in three events and Porter Jones, who qualified in two. Those were the first qualifying times for Wright, while Jones and Creed had already qualified in two events.Other 10 and under swimmers who competed were JuliaKay O'Neill, Kendyl Bohlman and Paul Cummings. O'Neill previously qualified for state in three events.In the 11-12 age group, Taryn Bohlman and SarahJean O'Neill added their names to the list of qualifiers, each qualifying in one event. Amanda Tracy, who has qualified for state in two events, won a first place in the 100 meter freestyle for the Powell team. Other 11-12-year-olds competing for Powell were Taryn Bohlman, who qualified for state in the backstroke, Reba Lawrence, Katie Brown, Naomi Sims and Morgan Madill.In the 13-14 age bracket, Gretchen Moretti swam qualifying times in two events and finished first in the breaststroke. Jakob Bowers qualified for state in the 50 freestyle and Ed Oursler finished in the top five in 10 events. Oursler had previously qualified for state in three events. Others competing as 13-14-year-olds were Nic Tracy and Jarred LaPierre, both of whom have already qualified for state.Competing in the 15 and older group were Maddy Jones, Belen Quillen, Courtenay Zorgati, Monique Zorgati, Jessica Wurzel, Anya Tracy, Brittany Christensen and Alyssa Smith, all members of this years PHS swim team. All of them had recorded qualifying times at the high school championships in October 2009, and have added additional times in USA meets. Garret Hall also competed in the division and qualifed for state in the 50 freestyle.Others competing in the 15 and older division were Kristen Valenzuela, Tanya Fawcett-Kay, Kaiya Rodrigez, Justin Gillenwater, Luke Robertson, Forrest Smith and Jared Moretti.The Powell Swim Club will compete in the Big Horn Basin Conference Championships Feb. 20-21 prior to the Winter Championships in Gillette March 5-7. The Winter Fiesta was the final meet for the Swim Club in the PHS pool, and Coach Jerry Rodriguez said the swimmers hope to begin their summer season in the new Powell Aquatic Center in April or May.

The Powell Swim Club hosted its annual USA Swimming Winter Fiesta recently and finished at the top of the six-team competition.

Thirty-five members of the club, including several adults and a number of Powell Lady Panther swimmers competed in the meet, and a number of them qualified for the USA Winter Championships in March. Individual swimmers swam in as many as 10 events each during the two-day event.

Among those who qualified for state during the weekend were 10 and under swimmers Maeci Wright, who qualified in five different events, Kasey Creed, who qualified in three events and Porter Jones, who qualified in two. Those were the first qualifying times for Wright, while Jones and Creed had already qualified in two events.

Other 10 and under swimmers who competed were JuliaKay O'Neill, Kendyl Bohlman and Paul Cummings. O'Neill previously qualified for state in three events.

In the 11-12 age group, Taryn Bohlman and SarahJean O'Neill added their names to the list of qualifiers, each qualifying in one event. Amanda Tracy, who has qualified for state in two events, won a first place in the 100 meter freestyle for the Powell team. Other 11-12-year-olds competing for Powell were Taryn Bohlman, who qualified for state in the backstroke, Reba Lawrence, Katie Brown, Naomi Sims and Morgan Madill.

In the 13-14 age bracket, Gretchen Moretti swam qualifying times in two events and finished first in the breaststroke. Jakob Bowers qualified for state in the 50 freestyle and Ed Oursler finished in the top five in 10 events. Oursler had previously qualified for state in three events. Others competing as 13-14-year-olds were Nic Tracy and Jarred LaPierre, both of whom have already qualified for state.

Competing in the 15 and older group were Maddy Jones, Belen Quillen, Courtenay Zorgati, Monique Zorgati, Jessica Wurzel, Anya Tracy, Brittany Christensen and Alyssa Smith, all members of this years PHS swim team.

All of them had recorded qualifying times at the high school championships in October 2009, and have added additional times in USA meets. Garret Hall also competed in the division and qualifed for state in the 50 freestyle.

Others competing in the 15 and older division were Kristen Valenzuela, Tanya Fawcett-Kay, Kaiya Rodrigez, Justin Gillenwater, Luke Robertson, Forrest Smith and Jared Moretti.

The Powell Swim Club will compete in the Big Horn Basin Conference Championships Feb. 20-21 prior to the Winter Championships in Gillette March 5-7.

The Winter Fiesta was the final meet for the Swim Club in the PHS pool, and Coach Jerry Rodriguez said the swimmers hope to begin their summer season in the new Powell Aquatic Center in April or May.