Moses Lake High School Hall of Fame 2005 Inductees

Editor's note: This is the second-part of a two-part series highlighting the 11 inductees into the Moses Lake Hall of Fame

MOSES LAKE - Last year, Valynn Grant-Wooley became the first swimmer at Moses Lake High School to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

A year later, the induction committee has added two more - 1996 Moses Lake graduate Aaron Fitterer and 1999 graduate Nick Jarman, who did more with less than any other swimmer in Moses Lake history, said Tony St. Onge, former coach for both swimmers.

"Their legacy to Moses Lake helped get this pool for the high school," St. Onge said. "They will have helped some kid go farther."

Fitterer was a state champion swimmer, gold medalist at state, state record holder, national junior college champion and junior college all-american. St. Onge said Fitterer was the fastest swimmer to come out of Moses Lake, accomplishing what he did in backyard pools and a small pool at the South Campus Athletic Center that doesn't exist today.

Fitterer owns the Moses Lake High School record for both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle and the state record for the anchor leg of the 200-free relay in 1996, leading the Chiefs to a state championship in that event. He earned four individual gold medals and three relay medals during his tenure for Moses Lake.

Jarman was the last state champion for Moses Lake swimming.

But, his is a legacy that almost was lost after a car accident on the first day of swim practice his junior year of high school.

On the way to school, Jarman was in a car accident that nearly cost him his life. Following the Christmas break, he was back in the pool gearing up for the state tournament more than a month away.

"He is the best all-around swimmer that has ever come out of Moses Lake," St. Onge said.

Jarman qualified for state in all eight individual events, a finalist in the 200-free and 100-breaststroke all four years and was named the Eastern Washington swimmer of the year in 1999.

"Nick would rank up there with any other athlete," St. Onge said. "He was a nationally ranked athlete and he was a state champion with less to work with than most swimmers."

Jason Cooper has received a lot of honors during his high school, college and professional baseball careers, but his entrance into the Moses Lake Hall of Fame may top the list, he said.

Cooper was part of a trio of Moses Lake baseball players all selected in the 1999 Major League Baseball amateur draft, but selected to play baseball and football at Stanford University.

He played three years of baseball for the Cardinal and then entered the draft, during which, he was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the third round.

"I cannot think of a more special way of remembering my roots than being selected to the hall of fame," Cooper said.

Cooper earned the Mid-Valley triple crown his junior year of high school, batting .600 with 12 home runs and 47 RBIs.

While with the Indians' farm team Akron Aeros last season, Cooper batted .239 with 101 hits, 24 doubles, six triples, 14 home runs and 69 RBIs in 111 games. He was then called up to triple-A Buffalo Bisons, where he hit .176 in 16 games with three home runs and seven RBIs.

"I definitely feel humbled by the fact that I am mentioned up there," Cooper said. "I feel there are others who have stood out (more than me)."

Ryan Doumit was drafted in 1999 along with Cooper by the Pittsburgh Pirates organization in the second round and remains with the program this year. He was named to the 40-man roster the last two seasons and this year moved up to triple-A by the Pirates.

He was a first-team Mid-Valley league catcher both his junior and senior years with Moses Lake.

His induction with Cooper brings full circle the three Moses Lake graduates who were chosen in the 1999 draft, B.J. Garbe being the other, who have been inducted into the Moses Lake Hall of Fame.

"That is an honor because Ryan is one of the hardest workers I have ever known in my life," Cooper said. "Along with his dedication, persistency and who he is as a person, inspired me as a person, as well as B.J."

Baseball America Team Prospect Rankings ranked Doumit the sixth top catching prospect in baseball No. 10 in the Pirates' organization.

Justin DeBeaumont graduated in 1989, was a full-scholarship football player at Washington State University and has succeeded in his career, working for the Arizona State Prison, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and currently the City of Las Vegas.

He earned nine varsity letters at Moses Lake High School in football, basketball and baseball. As a member of the Cougar football team, he earned three varsity letters and a degree in criminal justice.

"When I started, there were 25 fullride scholarship athlete's and nine walked down the isle when I graduated," DeBeaumont said about his time at Washington State.

DeBeaumont said Moses Lake High School gave him his jump on college football and his professional career. His induction into the hall of fame captures that beginning.

It means a lot and I am honored," DeBeaumont said. "I worked my butt off in high school to get where I am today and it paid off. It is a big honor to be in a group of athletes that I have been selected with."

For the last 22 years, Ray Mayo has been responsible for keeping score during Moses Lake's home football and basketball games. His other job has been the spotter for Mike Love, "the Voice of the Chiefs," during the same span.

But, this recognition into the hall of fame has a different meaning for the unpaid volunteer, he represents the rest of the volunteer help at Moses Lake events.

"For the people that will never be recognized, I accept this for them," Mayo said.

Mayo said he felt responsible to volunteer at Moses Lake because of its small school atmosphere. To be honored for that responsibility, he said, he felt undeserving.

"People say I have given so much and I don't think I have been so special," he added.