The Kemmerer High School girls’ swimming and diving team hosted the 3A South Conference Championships over the weekend, placing second as a team and winning three individual events.
“It was a great meet overall,” said KHS head coach Amanda Aimone. “The kids did have to take a minute and settle in. They were really excited and let their nerves get to them, but once they did that they performed so well.”
Lander finished in the top spot with 439 points, followed by Kemmerer with 283 points and Sublette County with 208 points. Lyman and Rawlins rounded out the field with 146 and 73 points, respectively.
Hanna Walker led the charge for the Lady Rangers, winning the diving event —and breaking her own school record, as well the conference record — with a score of 443.25 points. The previous conference record was held by Evanston’s Rachel Johnson. Kemmerer had three divers make the podium, with Kalyn Lockwood finishing third (347.45) and Gabby Bartschi placing fourth (298.70).
“All three divers were solid,” Aimone said. “It was dive after dive, and nothing was going to throw them off. We had a great crowd, and they fed off of that. Also, Coach Willoughby had them very well prepared, so that gave them confidence. I was really proud of Gabby. As a freshman, she handled it very well. Only kids to beat her were seniors. Kalyn not only was solid on the board, but was awesome in the water, playing a huge role in relays and placing fifth in the 50 freestyle.”
Freshman Logan Rogers won both of her individual events, finishing in the top spot in both the 50 freestyle (27.73) and 100 freestyle (1:02.47). Her time in the 50 free was a new school, pool and conference record.
“I was very pleased with Logan,” she said. “She was a bit nervous the day prior, but did a great job of holding on to those nerves and using them to her advantage. She was able to beat the returning state champion in the 50 and 100 free in Sara Kearns. It wasn’t easy, so she put up a good fight. She also set the pool, school and conference record in the 50 free. She will need to clean up a few things like Charlie and just continue to believe in herself. Anything can happen at state, and we know Lander will be ready, but we will be ready, too. Logan has a good chance of placing in the top, as well.”
Fellow freshman Charlie Boylen also had a great weekend, finishing runner-up in both the 200 individual medley (2:44.70) and the 100 breaststroke (1:19.51), in which she set a new school record.
“These two ladies had a great weekend,” Aimone said of Rogers and Boylen. “They performed tough, and I am so proud of them. Charlie set the school record in the 100 breaststroke, as well as being All-Conference in both her events. She really showed her competitive spirit the second day. I think she has a great chance of placing in the top six in two events at state. She will just need to clean up some things, keep her competitive spirit and keep working hard, which she has done all season.”
A pair of podium finishes were turned in by Ally Bartschi, who placed in both the 200 IM (6th, 3:02.06) and 100 backstroke (4th, 1:19.20).
“Ally Bartschi swam tough the second day,” Aimone said. “She loves to compete, and we saw that on day two. Ally has a great chance of earning us some points at state, as well. Her leadership will also be very valuable for us. Her leadership is showing in and out of the water.”
Other podium finishes included Kalyn Lockwood in the 50 freestyle (31.60), Saige Erickson in the 100 butterfly (5th, 1:49.83), Gabby Bartschi in the 100 freestyle (5th, 1:11.10, Payton Scherr (5th, 5:37.45) and Arya Newell (6th, 5:43.57) in the 400 freestyle and Demi Thatcher in the 100 breaststroke (6th, 1:30.35).
“Payton Scherr and Arya Newell did great in the 200 and 400 free,” Aimone said. “They have a tough job, because they have to swim the longer races, but they showed up and did well for themselves and their team. Demi Thatcher is another athlete that was a huge help for our team. She saw a great leg in the 200 free relay. She made the biggest change in that relay for us. Helped that team cut three seconds from day one to day two. That’s hard to do.”
The Lady Rangers finished runners-up in all three relay events, with the team of Ally Bartschi, Payton Scherr, Gabby Bartschi and Kalyn Lockwood leading off the meet with a second-place finish in the 200 medley relay (2:20.47). The team of Logan Rogers, Charlie Boylen, Demi Thatcher and Kalyn Lockwood 2:00.87 placed second in the 200 freestyle relay (2:00.87), while Logan Rogers, Charlie Boylen, Payton Scherr and Gabby Bartschi 4:35.14 finished second in the 400 freestyle relay (4:35.14).
The Lady Rangers will compete Thursday in a Last Chance Meet in Green River; the 3A State Championships are scheduled for next week in Laramie.
3A South Conference Championships
Team Scores
1. Lander 439, 2. Kemmerer 283, 3. Sublette County 208, 4. Lyman 146, 5. Rawlins 73
200 Medley Relay
2. Ally Bartschi, Payton Scherr, Gabby Bartschi, Kalyn Lockwood 2:20.47
200 Freestyle
7. Payton Scherr 2:37.32, 8. Arya Newell 2:41.34, 12. Eva Hunter 2:55.70
200 IM
2. Charlie Boylen 2:44.70, 6. Ally Bartschi 3:02.06, 8. Demi Thatcher 3:04.60
50 Freestyle
1. Logan Rogers 27.73, 5. Kalyn Lockwood 31.60
Girls 1 Mtr Diving
1. Hanna Walker 443.25, 3. Kalyn Lockwood 347.45, 4. Gabby Bartschi 298.70
100 Butterfly
5. Saige Erickson 1:49.83
100 Freestyle
1. Logan Rogers 1:02.47, 5. Gabby Bartschi 1:11.10, 8. Emileen Dearden 1:12.88
400 Freestyle
5. Payton Scherr 5:37.45, 6. Arya Newell 5:43.57
200 Freestyle Relay
2. Logan Rogers, Charlie Boylen, Demi Thatcher and Kalyn Lockwood 2:00.87
100 Backstroke
4. Ally Bartschi 1:19.20, 9. Eva Hunter 1:25.85, 10. Emileen Dearden 1:26.67
100 Breaststroke
2. Charlie Boylen 1:19.51, 6. Demi Thatcher 1:30.35
400 Freestyle Relay
2. Logan Rogers, Charlie Boylen, Payton Scherr, and Gabby Bartschi 4:35.14
