Powell High School students are gearing up for the start of spring sports.

Boys’ and girls’ soccer practices started March 5. The girls got off to an early start at 6 a.m.  and continued the practices that 4:30 p.m. The boys’ team started at 4 p.m. Meanwhile the first track meeting of the season drew nearly 100 participants, and their practice starts March 12.

The girls’ soccer team hosts their first game at home Friday, March 16, at 3 p.m. against Pinedale.

“Overall, my goal is to work well with the team and make it to state for my senior year,” senior Treva Robson said. “I feel good about the team this year. We have a lot of new people, but I see potential in all of them.”

Robson hopes the Lady Panthers will overcome their weaknesses and get further this season than last season.

“If we believe in ourselves we’ll go far,” Robson said. “It will be a reward at the end of the season seeing how much we have all improved as a family.”

The boys’ soccer team also has their first game March 16 in Powell against Pinedale. The game will start at 5 p.m.

“My main goal is for us to make it to state,” senior Jace Smith said. “We have a lot young, good players that know the game well and are able to communicate well with one another.”

The first games are the main focus right now, but not the only one as the Panthers finished their first week of practice.

“It’s looking decent so far,” Smith said. “We don’t have a lot of upperclassmen to show them the ropes so it will be a learning process throughout the season.”

Powell’s first track meet of the season will be Saturday, March 24, at 1 p.m. in Cody. PHS also will host meets April 7 and May 11-12 (Regionals).

The track team has a very large group of participants this year with around 104 kids going out for the team.

“We have a lot of good competitors this year and definitely have a good shot to do very well this year,” senior Jesse Erickson said.

Erickson’s goal for the team this season is a trophy.

“I hope to take home a trophy for placing in the top three at state this year.”

The spring tennis team starts practice March 26.

“My goal is to get as many people out on the court and keep them on the courts through the fall,” tennis coach Joe Asay said. “I understand we all have other interests, but I hope people will see how much fun it is.”

The spring season of tennis is not the regular season. It is more of a time to get new athletes out on the court to try it out. There are many opportunities to play.

“Beginning in June, I will have open hitting on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and any day people would like to hit,” Mr. Asay said. “The Cody Tennis Association offers tournaments in June, July and August.

Open hitting is open to anyone and there is also a week long clinic the first week of June with the coaches of the UW tennis program.

PHS golf starts April 4. The first tournament is between April 6 and 13, depending on the weather.

“Spring golf is less of a competitive season and more of a practice season,” Coach Mr. Troy Hildebrand. “To get anybody that’s kind of starting out the fundamentals.”

With tournaments most Fridays in April, the team gets practice and experience in preparation for the fall season.