The Kemmerer High School girls’ swimming and diving team competed at the Evanston Invitational Saturday, placing fourth as a team against some talented 4A competition.

“We had an awesome weekend,” said KHS head coach Amanda Aimone. “The girls have been so consistent, I don’t have any complaints. We had some notable performances that I think we weren’t necessarily expecting, but we are so excited about.”

The Lady Rangers were led by diver Hanna Walker, who finished runner-up in the diving competition. Walker’s score of 185.90 was a 4A state-qualifying mark, and was just 22 points behind Evanston’s Rachel Johnson, the defending 3A State Diving Champion.

“We love our divers,” Aimone said. “I really enjoyed watching Hanna battle with Rachel — both are great divers and awesome kids. Hanna has really grown as an athlete and has become mentally a tough competitor, and I believe that is what has put her in the same category as athletes like Rachel. Coach Willoughby has really been working with all our divers on that, and it has made a big difference. Just really proud of Hanna.”

Freshman Tazlynn Wagner — fresh off her state championship in golf — competed with the divers for the first time this season, placing fifth.

“We are so excited to finally have Tazlynn,” Aimone said. “She came off a great golf season, and we can’t wait to see what she is going to do for us the rest of the season. She is really energetic, and is excited to learn new dives. She has a gymnastics background, so that will help her, as well.”

In the swimming events, Ally Bartschi placed fourth in the 500 freestyle (6:28.69) and sixth in the 50 freestyle (28.45), while Ella Thatcher posted a pair of fifth-place finishes in the 50 freestyle (28.42) and the 100 freestyle (1:03.12).

“They [Bartschi and Thatcher] have been tried and true for us this season,” Aimone said. “Both Ella and Ally are having a great season. We didn’t have any new qualifiers, but Ally did add to her list of events — she qualified in the 50 and the 500 freestyle, so that was exciting.”

Other notable performances included freshman Emileen Dearden, who placed fifth in the 200 freestyle (2:30.97); she also placed sixth in the 100 backstroke (1:19.16). Senior Cambree Dearden swam to a seventh-place finish in the 200 freestyle (2:33.18), while fellow senior Destiny Shepherd finished 13th in the 100 breaststroke (1:33.22).

“We did have some spectacular performances from freshman Emileen Dearden, and seniors Cambree Dearden and Destiny Shepherd,” Aimone said. “Emileen placed in the Top 6 in both her events, and cut a lot of time in each one. As well as Cambree, she is swimming tough and cut time in her 200 free. Destiny also showed up to compete in the 100 breaststroke. She cut five seconds from her original time. All three of these ladies are knocking on that 3A state-qualifying door and it’s exciting.”

The Lady Rangers have a busy week ahead, with a dual at Lyman Tuesday, then the Pinedale Invite Saturday. Aimone said she is pleased with where the team is heading into the second half of the season.

“We are being so consistent and mentally tough, that I think we are on the right track as the season progresses,” she said. “I would like to see that continue.”

Evanston Invitational

Team Scores

1. Green River 353, 2. Riverton 312, 3. Evanston 192, 4. Kemmerer 162, 5. Sublette County 137, 6. Lyman 107, Rock Springs 95

200 Medley Relay

10. Eva Hunter, Destiny Shepherd, Hanna Walker, Emileen Dearden 2:33.84

200 Freestyle

5. Emileen Dearden 2:30.97, 7. Cambree Dearden 2:33.18

50 Freestyle

5. Ella Thatcher 28.42, 6. Ally Bartschi 28.45, 19. Arya Newell 31.48, 28. Eva Hunter 34.95, 29. Emma Culler 35.58

Girls 1 Mtr Diving

2. Hanna Walker 185.90, 5. Tazlynn Wagner 142.75

100 Freestyle

5. Ella Thatcher 1:03.12, 30. Emma Culler 1:23.52, 31. Tazlynn Wagner 1:25.20

500 Freestyle

4. Ally Bartschi 6:28.69, 7. Arya Newell 6:45.12, 10. Cambree Dearden 7:03.21

200 Freestyle Relay

4. Ally Bartschi, Ella Thatcher, Cambree Dearden, Arya Newell 1:59.33, 10. Emileen Dearden, Tazlynn Wagner, Hanna Walker, Emma Culler 2:18.86

100 Backstroke

6. Emileen Dearden 1:19.16, 16. Eva Hunter 1:27.34

100 Breaststroke

13. Destiny Shepherd 1:33.22

400 Freestyle Relay

3. Ella Thatcher, Ally Bartschi, Cambree Dearden, Arya Newell 4:28.36