The Kemmerer High School girls’ swimming and diving team traveled to Green River last weekend for the 3A West Conference Championships, placing fourth as a team.

Host Green River won the team title with 398 points, while Lander finished second, with 299 points. Rawlins was third with 168 points, followed by Kemmerer with 144 points; Evanston rounded out the Top 5, with 115 points.

“We are in the toughest side of 3A, in my opinion, and our side really was excelling in the sprints this year, so I was immensely impressed with my team,” said KHS head coach Amanda Aimone. “Being the only true 2A school in a pool full of 3A schools, I think 4th place is a great finish for us; we were also the smallest school in accordance to team size. I couldn’t be happier.”

Kylie Price led the charge for the Lady Rangers in the pool, winning the 50 freestyle (25.26) and finishing runner-up in the 100 freestyle (55.65), earning All-Conference honors in both events. For her efforts, Price was named Athlete of the Meet.

“Kylie had overall a great meet,” Aimone said. “She had some things to fix and change from day one to day two. We talked about what she needed to fix, and the changes she made helped her to her great second day. She has a good chance of being in the top three in both her events this year. It’s going to be a dog fight between her and Tanith Smith, but you also can’t rule out the girls from the north or Lara Robertson from Lander. It’s really anyone’s ball game, but Kylie has really made huge progress this year, mentally, and in her races, so I am very excited about what could happen at state. She is definitely a state champion contender.”

Other notable performances by the Lady Rangers included Hanna Walker and Kaylie Julander in the diving event. Walker placed fourth, posting a score of 322.35, while Julander finished sixth, with a score of 304.25. Both were 3A state-qualifying scores.

“I am so happy for the divers – they have come so far this year,” Aimone said. “Coach Jessie Willoughby has made great strides with them in the last three weeks, and it was very evident last weekend. I definitely think these two girls are contenders for the Top 6 at state. However –  like for Price – it’s going to be a tough battle. Our side has some great divers, but you never know what could happen when you put all the girls together. Hanna and Kaylie are going to continue to grow, and anything can happen in two weeks. And not only is Julander going to be diving at state, she will be swimming the 100 back for us, because she qualified in that event at conference, as well.”

Ally Bartschi was fifth in both the 200 freestyle (2:15.97) and 100 breaststroke (1:17.76), while Ella Thatcher was eighth in the 50 freestyle (27.48) and ninth in the 100 freestyle (1:02.78).

“Ella Thatcher was tough as nails for us,” Aimone said. Despite being out most of the season, working through an injury, she came back with fire. She made it to the top 12 in both her events, and moved up in her 100 free. She was also important for us in the 200 and 400 free relays.”

In the 100 breaststroke, Brooklyn Larsen and Arianne Dearden finished eighth and 11th, respectively.

“Oh my gosh, we had so many great things happen this weekend,”