During the early stages of the school year, some fall sports are over halfway through, while some are just getting started. 

Powell High School’s [PHS] football team would start the season at 2-1. After losing to Riverton in the season opener 7-0, the Panthers rallied together to win their next two games. One win against Worland on the road with a final score of 17-0, and the other against Lander at home where the scoreboard read 39-8 by the final whistle.

“We had a little rocky start against Riverton, but bouncing back with a win against Worland and Lander was good,” junior quarterback Caden Nelson said. “We are fixing the problems in the early stages which will help us a lot later in the season.”

The Panthers will travel to Douglas to play the 1-1 Bearcats on Sep. 20. Then they will welcome two great teams, the Cody Broncs and Star Valley Braves, to Panther Stadium. The path to state is difficult, but the team is determined to hang the banner.

“Expectations are to win state, which are probably most team’s expectations,” Nelson said. “I’d really like to see us go far this year and if we keep improving, I think we most definitely can make it.”

Moving on to the court, the PHS volleyball team currently stands at 7-3. The Lady Panthers have won a total of 17 sets while losing eight. 

“So far, we have done really well,” senior varsity libero Alexa Richardson said. “We’ve also started to learn how to play as a team and not as individuals. We have a few new additions to the team that work well with all of us and have optimistic attitudes.”

The volleyball team will take on the Worland Warriors at home on Sep 19. More tough competition will follow, but the Lady Panthers will keep working for improvement.

“I expect that we are going to continue working hard in practice to improve our skills and apply them in games,” Richardson said. “[Coach Anna] has also started to implement mental exercises into practices, which I think will benefit us greatly in the future as we enter into regular season games and carry on into regionals and state.”

Changing environments to the pool, the girls swim and dive team tied for fourth at the Gene Dozah Invitational on Sep. 14 in their home pool. Junior Kaitlin Diver and junior Patricia Christensen helped aid the Panthers to their fourth-place finish.

“The team’s performance has been pretty good,” freshman swimmer Claire Hultgren said. “We’ve been practicing hard and we keep improving.”

The Panthers will take their improvements to an invitational at Riverton on Sep. 21.

The PHS golf team played in windy weather during the conference tournament in Cody. The girls’ team had dominant performances from junior Coy Erickson and sophomore Emery Hernandez, while the boys were led by great showcases from fellow sophomore Cody Fisher and senior Trey Scott.

“[We] just need to be confident as a team,” Scott said. “Confidence as a player is key, just play the game that you know how to play.”

The golfers are headed to state on Sep. 18 and their conclusion to the season wants to be ended on a high note.

“Our expectation is to place All-State,” Scott said. “If we don’t do that, that’s okay. I just want everyone to give it their all.”

A different course has runners hungry for personal records. Cross Country has had great times turned in throughout the season. 

“I think [the season] has gone really good,” sophomore cross country runner Elseah Horseley said. “We’re all working very hard to achieve our goal and I think we’ll be able to take state.”

The girls’ team is looking to repeat as state champions while the boys hope to pull off an unexpected performance.

The final fall sport to check in with is tennis. The boys and girls tennis teams left for regionals on Sep. 17. Before then, they enjoyed a great season of growth and hope to continue that growth for their state tournament on Sep. 26 through Sep. 29. 

“There has been a lot of improvement over the season,” sophomore tennis player Memphis Solberg said. “I don’t know that we’ll win [state], but I have high hopes.”