Warrior swimmers impress in first meet of 2017

POWELL - Competing for the first time in nearly a month the Worland Warriors swim team started 2017 with an impressive outing at the Powell Invitational on Saturday.

The last time the Warriors were in a competitive setting was on Dec. 10 at the Rawlins Pentathlon, even then not the entire team traveled. Their following two meets in Buffalo and Newcastle were canceled due to weather, then it was time for Christmas break.

With an unusual amount of practice time the Warriors kept at it by grinding through practices and their hard work paid off in Powell over the weekend.

At nearly full force, Worland added multiple automatic state qualifiers to go with a fourth-place finish.

"They did awesome, I was extremely proud of the kids," said WHS boys swimming coach Danielle Warren.

Swimming against Powell, Buffalo, Douglas, Cody, Riverton, Lander, Sublette County and Newcastle, the Warriors fourth place was the highest finish for a 3A East conference team that day, which bodes well for the small, yet talented, team.

"As a team we finished fourth overall which was ahead of all our conference opponents. The season is still young but I think that was a booster for the team and let them know their potential is quite high," said coach Warren.

The highlights from Powell include the 200-yard freestyle relay team (Zayne Cooper, Tristan Warren, Josiah Sanchez and Dalton Jefferies) earning first with a time of 1:42.14. The 200-yard medley relay team, (Cooper, Warren, Sanchez and Jefferies) placing second with a time of 1:53.29. Jefferies, Caleb Truman and Warren placing third, fourth and fifth in the 50-yard freestyle. Along with adding to their automatic state qualifier list.

Those qualifying for state were Dalton Jefferies (50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle), Caleb Truman (50-yard freestyle), Tristian Warren (50-yard freestyle, 100-yard breaststroke), Josiah Sanchez (100-yard backstroke, 100-yard butterfly), Zane Cooper (100-yard breaststroke, 200-yard individual medley) and the 200-yard freestyle and 200 medley relay teams.

"We had good swims across the board and they came out guns blazing," said coach Warren. "To take the 200 free was really cool. That was their first relay together and to place like they did was great. It was a lot of fun to watch all the boys swim so well."

Considering the long layoff between meets coach Warren was very impressed with her teams showing and energy in Powell.

"They had great drive all day long. They were so excited to be there and for some it was their first meet of the season. We're a month into the season and it's hard to stay focused without any meets, but they kept at it. They saw all of their hard work come together," said coach Warren. "They were pumped to be racing. I think it was neat to see the excitement and it was just electric, they were cheering for each other, the camaraderie is just awesome. I was also impressed with how they're coming together as a team. In Rawlins I saw one or two cheering for their teammates but this week the whole team was cheering each other on. Which is what you want to see as a coach."

Next for the Warriors will be a dual in Powell on Friday followed by another dual against Cody here in Worland at the Worland Aquatic Center at 10 a.m.

Full results from the Powell Invite are as follows.

Team Rankings

1, Lander 319.5.

2, Powell, 270.

3, Sublette, 192.

4, Worland, 164.

5, Douglas, 153.5.

200yd Medley Relay

2, Worland (Zayne Cooper, Tristan Warren, Josiah Sanchez, Dalton Jefferies), 1:53.29.

200yd IM

4, Zayne Cooper, 2:22.16.

50yd Freestyle

3, Dalton Jefferies, 24.88. 4, Caleb Truman, 25.22. 5, Tristan Warren, 25.41.

100yd Butterfly

5, Josiah Sanchez, 1:06.67.

100yd Freestyle

2, Dalton Jefferies, 56.67.

200yd Freestyle Relay

1, Worland (Sanchez, Warren, Jefferies, Cooper), 1:42.14.

100yd Backstroke

9, Josiah Sanchez, 1:10.11.

100yd Breaststroke

4, Tristan Warren, 1:06.45.

5, Zayne Cooper, 1:09.99.