The Kemmerer Middle School girls swim team traveled to Green River on Saturday, March 13, to participate in the Southwest Conference swim meet. There were nine teams there including the Kemmerer girls — Green River, Rock Springs, Jackson, Pinedale, Evanston, Big Piney, Lyman, Rawlins and Kemmerer. Kemmerer finished fourth overall at the conference.

The meet was set up as a championship scoring, which meant only the top 12 swimmers scored points to determine team standings.

Each team’s top three competitors per event were allowed to race in this meet. Fifteen Kemmerer girls participated in the conference — Ella Thatcher, eighth grade, Natasha Martinez eighth grade, Kylee Batista eighth grade; Cambree Dearden, eighth grade; Clara Vega, eighth grade; Regan Jackson, eighth grade;  Kalyn Lockwood, seventh grade; Hannah Walker, seventh grade; Kaylie Julander, seventh grade; Haddy Plowman, seventh grade; Monik Smith, seventh grade; Josie Gunter, sixth grade; Aly Bartschi, sixth grade; Addison Dietrich, sixth grade; Eva Hunter, sixth grade.

The Kemmerer medley relay team of Kaylie Julander, Haddy Plowman, Aly Bartschi and Kylee Batista started out the meet. They had their fastest race of the year and finished third. 

The second event was the 200-yard freestyle.  Ella Thatcher, Clara Vega and Josie Gunter competed. Ella finished third, Clara finished sixth and Josie Gunter finished 10th. All three girls set new personal records.

The third event was the 100-yard individual medley, where each swimmer swam 25 yards of each of the four strokes. Aly Bartschi was eighth, Kalyn Lockwood was 17th and Eva Hunter was 24th. Kalyn set a new personal record.

The fourth event was the 50-yard freestyle. Kylee Batista finished sixth, Natasha Martinez was 11th and Josie Gunter was 14th. Kylee recorded a new personal record.

Diving was the fifth event. Haddy Plowman finished second, Kalyn Lockwood finished third and Kaylie Julander finished eighth. All three girls set new personal bests.

Next was the 50-yard butterfly. Aly Bartschi finished fifth, Cambree Dearden was seventh and Hannah Walker finished 22nd. All three girls recorded new personal records.

The seventh event was the 100-yard freestyle. Ella Thatcher finished second, Kylee Batista finished 10th and Natasha Martinez finished 12th. Ella and Kylee swam new personal bests.

The eighth event was the 100-yard backstroke. Kaylie Julander finished third, Cambree Dearden finished 14th and Regan Jackson finished 17th. All three girls recorded new personal bests.

The 100-yard breaststroke was the ninth event. Haddy Plowman finished 10th, Addison Dietrich finished 12th and Monik Smith had her best time. 

In the final 200-yard free relay, Kemmerer had Natasha Martinez, Kalyn Lockwood, Clara Vega and Ella Thatcher racing for them. They recorded a new personal best and finished fourth. 

“We have had an excellent season,” coach Barry Wergin said. “We wish the best to the eighth graders that head off to the high school next year. The returning sixth and seventh graders will make up a strong core for next year’s team. As coach of these girls, I personally want to say thanks for the great kids, parents and community we have here in Kemmerer.”