The Kemmerer Rangers boys’ swim team placed fourth at the 3A state swim meet in Laramie on Friday, Feb. 16.

“Getting fourth was awesome. It was a great accomplishment for these boys,” said Rangers head coach Amanda Aimone. “They showed real focus and I was so proud of them.”

Lander took first place at the state meet for the 22nd season in a row. Lyman finished second, and Powell came in third.

Aimone said the Rangers really stepped it up on the second day of competition to secure their fourth place team finish.

“Going into the second day of state, the numbers came out for them getting 6th place, but their determination gave them fourth, so they really did an awesome job,” Aimone said.

In the 100-yard butterfly, Kemmerer senior Carl Krell crushed the competition with a first place finish.

Krell broke the record time (set by him at state in 2016) in the race twice, once in the preliminaries with a time of 50.79 seconds, and then in the finals with a time of 50.39 seconds.

Krell earned 2A All-State recognition for his performance at the state meet.

“I was so happy for Carl. I think that he had two great swims and to call yourself a state record holder and a three-time state champion in that event is a great accomplishment,” Aimone said. “I know that he was shooting to swim a 49, but his 50.3 was still really cool. I will add that I was a little sad as well, because that would be the last time he swam the 100 fly as a Ranger.”

Kemmerer senior swimmer Carl Krell broke the state record in the 100-yard butterfly at the 3A state swim meet in Laramie with a time of 50.39 seconds. (COURTESY PHOTO / Barry Wergin)

Kemmerer senior Carl Krell hugs Rangers head coach Amanda Aimone after his record-breaking 100-yard butterfly swim at the Feb. 16 state swim meet in Laramie. (COURTESY PHOTO / Barry Wergin)

In the 200-yard medley relay, the Ranger team of sophomore Benjamin Wergin, sophomore Easton Rydstrom, freshman Brayden Dearden and senior Carl Krell earned fourth place.

Alvaro de Vicente earned seventh place in the 200-yard freestyle.

In the 200-yard IM, Wergin earned seventh place.

Aimone said that the Rangers’ state performance was a great reflection of their hard work throughout the season.

“We talked about state a lot through the season so they already had it in their heads that they were doing all of this to get to state,” Aimone said. “I think they did a great job of bringing all their hard work to the table at state. Their mental preparation for this meet really gave them a boost.”

Carl Krell earned third place in the 50-yard freestyle.

In the 100-yard freestyle, Benjamin Wergin earned fourth place with a time of 51.64. Alvaro de Vicente swam to a third place finish in the 500-yard free. Sophomore Collin Smith earned 10th place in the 500-yard free.

Sophomore swimmer Benjamin Wergin prepares to start the 100-yard freestyle race at state. (COURTESY PHOTO / Barry Wergin)

In the 200-yard freestyle relay, the Kemmerer team of Michael Clarke, Collin Smith, Easton Rydstrom and Alvaro de Vicente earned 8th place.

Freshman Brayden Dearden finished in 8th place in the 100-yard breaststroke.

In the 400-yard free relay, the Ranger team of Wergin, Krell, de Vicente and Dearden finished in fourth place.

Aimone said she was proud of the Rangers’ season as a whole.

“I would describe the season in one word: focused,” Aimone said. “I think that these guys set out to accomplish some great things and they got there. Not only did they have more individual success than we saw last year, but as a team as well. Being the only 2A school in a pool of all 3A is a tough battle and I think that fourth place really showed how focused and tough they really are.”

Aimone said the Rangers are already preparing to be even more competitive for next season.

“We always encourage them to swim as much as possible through the year and to get to camps,” Aimone said. “The more time in the water the better off they will be for next season.