Powell High School’s [PHS] fall athletics give athletes the opportunity to walk with their families on their respective senior nights. Cross Country was the first of the autumn sports to celebrate their upperclassmen on Oct. 10.
“[Senior Recognition Night felt] really special because it makes you take a step back and look at all the hard work you’ve put in,” senior Kenna Jacobsen said. “It went by way too fast. When I was little, I couldn’t wait for the moment I was a senior on Senior Night, and now that it’s here I just hope I’ve been able to make little me proud.”
The experienced runners were featured at their home meet after all the races had concluded, a great way to celebrate a 2nd Place finish for the girls and a record-setting course time from senior Kinley Cooley.
The next sport in line to recognize its one senior was Girls’ Swimming and Diving. Senior Kate Miller was honored on Oct. 15 as Powell hosted a triangular with Cody and Worland to end their regular season.
“Senior night went pretty good,” Miller said. “It was a good meet, and we had a lot of fast swims.”
Junior Kaitlin Diver won the 200 IM and 500 free while fellow junior Patricia Christensen placed first in the 100 free.
Powell Panther Football had the most seniors out of all the sports in the early stages of the school year with 20 players and two managers. The upperclassmen walked the track with their families right before their dominant 34-14 victory over the Jackson Broncs.
“I was looking forward to senior night because we were favored to win,” senior Landon Smallwood said. “My mom hasn’t been able to do much with football, so then she was able to be included. She stepped in and helped put together some of the senior gifts.”
The win against the Broncs punched the golden ticket to the playoffs where the journey for a state championship begins.
Volleyball’s Lady Panthers showcased their participants from the class of 2025 on Oct. 22.
“Senior night was definitely bittersweet,” senior Saige Kidd said. “I love all the girls on the team, so it was very hard to know that after this year I won’t be playing with them. As far as the senior night game goes, I think we played fantastic and definitely played to the level that we needed to.”
With a roaring crowd fulfilling a thriller setting, the volleyball team came very close to upsetting their neighboring town. They fell just short after losing an all-or-nothing fifth set 15-12.
Tennis gave their farewells to its seniors on Oct. 29 during their awards night. Uniquely, it is the only fall sport to not do so during a tournament or game as the tennis season concluded on Sep. 24.
“I am really looking forward to our awards night,” senior Isaac Stensing said. “I would have preferred it either right after the season or before state. I still expect the recognition to go well.”
