The thick of the winter sports seasons at Powell High School [PHS] are officially underway. Countless victories across all athletic environments started the second semester of the school year as an overall success.
Boys basketball entered the Big Horn Basin Classic [BHBC] tournament at 7-1 before tipping off against the Burlington Huskies on Jan. 17. The Panthers would outscore their first three opponents of the tournament 233-155 including a thriller 63-60 triumph over the Cody Broncs to advance to the championship game against the Lovell Bulldogs.
“The team’s performance in the beginning of the season was great,” senior Alex Jordan said. “I felt that the wheels had fallen off after we lost against Lovell in the BHBC. That Lovell team outworked us. It started to fall worse throughout the next two games.”
Powell would fall to the Bulldogs 38-74, which would begin a hat trick of horrors. The Panthers would lose their next two home games to Cody (69-55) and Worland (64-58). They hope to bounce back at Buffalo High School where they’ll play Lovell and the Bisons.
The girls varsity team entered the BHBC with a chip on their shoulder, beating every team they faced. Along with their tournament victory, the Lady Panthers had a combined score of 242 across four games. A win against Cody’s JV sent the team to an exciting matchup against the Lovell Bulldogs where they came out on top with a score of 50-36.
“I think [the victory] was a good motivator,” sophomore Emery Hernandez said. “It was good motivation for our team because we won it and won all of our games by a lot. I’m hoping and expecting that our team can do well and make it to state and hopefully get a trophy there.”
Following the tournament, the Lady Panthers faced off in a game against conference rivals, the Cody Broncs, resulting in a loss (50-37). Only a day later on Jan. 24, they regained their stride with a conference victory over the Worland Warriors (46-27).
The boys wrestling team continued to go strong in the month of January, placing 10th in the Jug Beck Rocky Mountain Classic in Missoula, Montana on Jan. 18 and 19. Senior Doug Bettger lost in the finals at 285 lbs.
“I think we are better than we have been in years past, and I think we will continue to get better,” junior Tyler Wenzel said. “Hopefully we can come out as team champs, and I can become a champ myself.”
Wenzel looks to the future of the season after making the podium in the tournament when he finished 3-3 along with Jonathan Hine. A week later, the Panthers beat Lander in a dual 50-26.
Girls’ wrestling initiated their first year separate from the boys team. They took eighth in Douglas on Jan. 10 and 11. Junior Allison LeBlanc led the way winning the 110-pound bracket after going 3-0. Fellow junior Nalani Jordan placed second and sophomore Eleasah Horsley took third at 115 pounds. The Lady Panthers are under the instruction of special education teacher, Mr. David Holland.
“I feel like we have a decent team, [Holland’s] a good coach,” sophomore Caydee Eden said. “I think our team placed fifth in Lander. The goal is to go to state, and I think most of us will probably place.”
During the Lander Invitational, the girls had eerily similar results. LeBlanc won her second straight tournament in the 110-pound class. In the 140-pound division, Jordan was the runner-up. Solid performances were delivered from Eden and Horsley after both went 4-1.
PHS boys swimming and diving had an eventful weekend during the early stages of the new year. On Jan. 10, the swimmers outdueled Worland 97-77 before placing fourth at the Gene Dozah Invite the next day.
“There are tons of ups and downs and we all need to key in on all the little improvements that make all the difference,” senior Taggart Shumway said. “I think that I still have a long way to grow and reach my true potential as a diver.”
Shumway won two events during the duel against the Warriors while [grade] Will Fuller also posted two event victories. During the Gene Dozah Invite, the Panthers finished top five in five different categories.
Indoor track was scheduled to start its season on Jan. 18, but poor weather conditions led to eerie roads, ultimately canceling the meet. Therefore, they started competitions on Jan. 24. The difference between indoor track and other sports is they compete against the top athletes in the state by merging 4A and 3A talent.
“I think a meet that big makes it really hard for kids to see where they fit in 3A as opposed to overall,” science teacher and Head Coach Mr. Scott Smith said. “That said, I think that they now have a good idea of what the whole thing is about and will go out and do what they need to in order to improve.”
Although the Panthers battled against bigger schools, senior Kinley Cooley broke her old 1600 meter record by running a time of 5:25.70. Another school record fell after juniors Colin Walker, Korbyn Warren, Troy Cheatham, and freshman Michael Stensing ran a 9:11.83 in the 4×800 meter relay.
Lastly, PHS has already won a state title in 2025 after the dance team became 3A State Champions for Jazz on Jan. 24. The dancers also took 3rd at the 3A level for Hip-Hop. Cheer concluded their season by taking bronze in 3A Game Day and Co-ed Cheer.
