Steele Takes Two Golds, Leads Lander to State Title

GILETTE, Wyoming, March 1. LANDER, despite not winning any relays, took advantage of their depth in winning the Wyoming 3A men's state championship.

Rawlins settled with the runner-up honors with 215 points and Sublette finished close behind with a third-place worthy 203 points.

Aaron Steele, a Lander junior, overpowered the other Wyoming men. He placed first in both the 200 freestyle (1:44.87) and the 100 butterfly (51.03). Steele flirted with the state record in the 100 butterfly falling just .01 off the mark set by Phil Rehard of Rawlins back in 1996.

Buffalo standout Terry Rolfe claimed titles in both the 100 freestyle (49.08) and the 100 backstroke (55.42).

Rawlins utilized its top four swimmers in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay, and the plan worked to their advantage. Devin Shepard, Bryan Shears, Coulten Shepard and Austin Hofmann joined up to swim a winning time of 1:41.77 in the 200 medley relay. The same four senior men in a different order (Devin Shepard, Hofman, Coulten Shepard and Shears) showed no mercy on their way to a 3:21.16 time and a first-place finish.

Lander sophomore Garret Hamilton captured the diving title. Ryan Palmer of Rawlins scored 385.15 points and took second while Sublette sophomore Nick Jaquez scored 315.95 points and took third.

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