PHS Swimmers Surge Past the Warriors to Claim Fourth at Gene Dozah Showdown

During two home meets, the Powell Panther boys’ swim and dive team faced various opponents, defeating Worland 97-77 in a dual match prior to securing fourth place in the Gene Dozah Invitational on Saturday, where nearly every team in the Panther’s conference competed.

POWELL 97, WORLAND 77

To kick off the weekend, the Panthers hosted Worland on Friday, winning six individual events and two out of three relays to distance themselves from the Warriors.

Will Fuller celebrated two event victories, finishing first in the 200 free with a time of 2 minutes, 17.49 seconds, and also triumphed in the 100 breaststroke in 1:17.41.

Taggart Shumway also secured two top finishes, winning the diving with a score of 202.25 and leading the 100 free with a time of 1:01.29.

“Anytime he dives over 200 it’s impressive. It wasn’t quite his personal best, but he’s always thrilled to exceed 200, so he had a productive night,” coach Stephanie Warren stated.

Hugh Carpenter earned first place in the 100 fly (1:00.9) while Tyler Kruger won the 500 free (6:29.13).

In the relays, the quartet of Fuller, Conner Mayes, Kruger, and Shumway clinched victory in the 200 medley (2:00.66) and the team of Fuller, Mayes, Carpenter, and Shumway triumphed in the 200 free (1:41.27).

Second place finishes were achieved by Sam Williams in the 200 free (2:19.07), Carpenter in the 200 IM (2:16.46), Gabe Buchholtz in the 100 back (1:11.73), and Mayes in the 100 breast (1:18.59).

“They swam impressively. They put forth their best effort,” Warren commented.

GENE DOZAH INVITE

Remaining at home on Saturday, the Panthers welcomed additional teams, including several conference teams along with Worland, Cody, Buffalo, Newcastle, and 4A Riverton.

“Saturday was fantastic as we got to see multiple teams,” Warren remarked. “It adds a bit more energy and more divers.”

Every team the Panthers will encounter at the conference meet attended, except for Douglas, with Warren emphasizing how valuable it is to see the competition as they reach the midpoint of the season.

“It’s beneficial for them to observe both in swimming and diving who our competitors will be and understand what the competition will entail as we start ramping up for training for that,” Warren added.

While Powell did not emerge victorious in any individual events, the Panthers did achieve numerous excellent finishes overall.

Carpenter secured the top result in the 200 free (2:02.83), finishing second.

He was followed by Shumway, who earned third in diving (192.3), and Fuller also claimed third in the 100 back (1:02.94).

Powell recorded additional qualifying times by athletes already eligible for the state meet over the two-day period but did not add any new qualifiers for the state meet next month in Gillette.

Buffalo secured the team competition victory with 305 points, just ahead of Cody with 293, while Riverton finished with 228, and Powell took fourth place with 161.

WORLAND WEEKEND

Following the home weekend, the Panthers are set to travel to Worland on Friday and Saturday for two meets.

Powell is scheduled to face the Warriors on Friday in a dual competition, and Warren hopes Cody will join them to make it a triangular event.

The Panthers will return to Worland on Saturday for an invitational, where Powell hopes to see most of its conference rivals again, including Douglas for the first time, although Buffalo is not expected to participate.

“I hope we might see Douglas, but I’m not certain, so it would be nice if we did get a chance to compete against them before conference,” Warren stated. “We’re eager to start observing the athletes perform as they are capable.”

POWELL 97, WORLAND 77

* Denotes state qualifying mark

200 medley relay — 1. Will Fuller, Conner Mayes, Tyler Kruger and Taggart Shumway 2:00.66; 3. Gabe Buchholtz, Hunter Taylor, Sam Williams and Onyx Miller 2:18.82

200 free — 1. Will Fuller 2:17.49, 2. Sam Williams 2:19.07, 4. Jacob Gardner 2:30.08, 5. Gabe Buchholtz 2:32.84

200 IM — 2. Hugh Carpenter 2:16.46*, 3. Conner Mayes 2:29.64*, 4. Tyler Kruger 2:37.52, 5. Onyx Miller 3:17.08

50 free — 3. Hunter Taylor 28.94, 5. Jacob Gardner 31.87, 6. Dayton Lawrence 32, 7. Onyx Miller 34.72, 8. Jim Black 35.31

1-meter diving (six dives) — 1. Taggart Shumway 202.25*, 3. Dayton Lawrence 129.1

100 fly — 1. Hugh Carpenter 1:00.9*

100 free — 1. Taggart Shumway 1:01.29, 3. Hunter Taylor 1:06.85, 6. Jim Black 1:20.39

500 free — 1. Tyler Kruger 6:29.13

200 free relay — 1. Will Fuller, Conner Mayes, Hugh Carpenter and Taggart Shumway 1:41.27; 3. Dayton Lawrence, Jacob Gardner, Jim Black and Lukas Legler 2:10.78

100 back — 2. Gabe Buchholtz 1:11.73, 4. Lukas Legler 1:21.05

100 breast — 1. Will Fuller 1:17.41, 2. Conner Mayes 1:18.59, 4. Sam Williams 1:25.16, 5. Lukas Legler 1:49.99

400 free relay — 2. Lukas Legler, Jacob Gardner, Hunter Taylor and Jim Black 5:04.95

GENE DOZAH INVITE

Team scores — 1. Buffalo 305, 2. Cody 293, 3. Riverton 228, 4. Powell 161, 5. Worland 133, 6. Newcastle 125

200 medley relay — 4. Will Fuller, Conner Mayes, Tyler Kruger and Hugh Carpenter 1:56.93; 11. Taggart Shumway, Jacob Gardner, Lukas Legler and Sam Williams 2:17.12

200 free — 2. Hugh Carpenter 2:02.83*, 6. Conner Mayes 2:10.45, 10. Tyler Kruger 2:28.69, 12. Lukas Legler 2:41.98

200 IM — 6. Will Fuller 2:25.77*, 9. Trystan Preator 2:32.78*

50 free — 10. Taggart Shumway 27.25, 14. Gabe Buchholtz 27.93, 18. Sam Williams 28.87, 20. Hunter Taylor 29.53, 21. Dayton Lawrence 29.71, 24. Jim Black 33.92

1-meter diving (six dives) — 3. Taggart Shumway 192.3*, 12. Dayton Lawrence 110.25

100 fly — 6. Conner Mayes 1:10.35

100 free — 11. Sam Williams 1:02.09, 17. Hunter Taylor 1:08.92, 19. Onyx Miller 1:11.23, 20. Jacob Gardner 1:11.57

500 free — 8. Hugh Carpenter 6:08.62*, 10. Tyler Kruger 6:33.41, 15. Lukas Legler 7:15.43

200 free relay — 6. Trystan Preator, Gabe Buchholtz, Tyler Kruger and Taggart Shumway 1:51.19; 10. Hunter Taylor, Dayton Lawrence, Onyx Miller and Sam Williams 2:02.39

100 back — 3. Will Fuller 1:02.94*, 7. Trystan Preator 1:11.78, 14. Onyx Miller 1:26.4

100 breast — 11. Gabe Buchholtz 1:24.14, 14. Jacob Gardner 1:33.46

400 free relay — 3. Hugh Carpenter, Gabe Buchholtz, Conner Mayes and Will Fuller 4:03.02; 8. Hunter Taylor, Onyx Miller, Lukas Legler and Trystan Preator 4:36.35