Moses Lake turns in top performances at districts

ELLENSBURG — The Chief swimmers peaked when it mattered most, but despite excellent swims from the entire team, Moses Lake finished second to Wenatchee at the Columbia Basin League District Meet Saturday.

The Chiefs, with 427 points, finished just back of Wenatchee's 488. Richland finished a distant third with 325 points.

"After a season of preparation, it all came together for the Chief swimmers and divers with lifetime best performances by every athlete," said Moses Lake coach Tony St. Onge. "We improved in every aspect and climbed up in places; not enough to overcome Wenatchee in the team scores, but enough to move several athletes on to state."

Leading the Moses Lake contingent at the state meet will be district champion Marshall Goodrich and also the first-place 400-yard freestyle relay team of Federico Bettini, Goodrich, Eric Butterfield and Jeremy Grant.

Goodrich, who won the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:09.25, will be joined at state in the event by Brad Reeder, who put up a time of 2:11.62 to finish second at districts and make the state meet.

Additionally, Reeder qualified for state in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:05.19, also good for second at districts. Grant also made the state meet as an individual, swimming the 50 freestyle in 23.18 for second place at districts and a trip to the season-ending meet in Federal Way in two weeks.

Chad Borg finished fifth in the diving competition to earn a trip to state as well.

Not only did the 400 freestyle relay team qualify for state with their district winning time of 3:23.78, the same four swimmers also earned a trip to state in the 200 freestyle relay. In that event, Moses Lake posted a time of 1:34.14.

While there were many exciting moments during the district meet, St. Onge pointed to the final swim of the weekend, the 400 freestyle relay, as the high point.

The event, the most competitive swim of the meet, saw four teams hit automatic state-qualifying times in the finals. The Chiefs broke out to an early lead after the first leg of the swim that they were able to maintain to earn the district championship.

CBL District Meet, Moses Lake Results: (Top 16 score team points)

200 Medley Relay - 5, Moses Lake A (Dylan Grigg, Austin Massart, Brad Reeder, Nick Kardong); 200 Freestyle - 3, Federico Bettini; 4, Eric Butterfield; 10, Nick Kardong; 14, Ceasar Seanez; 200 Individual Medley - 1, Marshall Goodrich; 2, Brad Reeder; 9, Austin Massart; 11, Reuben Huddleston; 50 Freestyle - 2, Jeremy Grant; 13, Cameron Goodrich; Diving - 5, Chad Borg; 6, Chris Cowles; 7, Bobby Jackson; 11, Jay Bowser; 100 Butterfly - 7, Dylan Grigg; 10, Cameron Goodrich; 11, Ceasar Seanez;

100 Freestyle - 3, Eric Butterfield; 10, Marc Bales; 500 Freestyle - 4, Federico Bettini; 6, Marshall Goodrich; 10, Nick Kardong; 12, Kyle Reeder; 200 Freestyle Relay - 2, Moses Lake A (Federico Bettini, Marshall Goodrich, Eric Butterfield, Jeremy Grant); 100 Backstroke - 3, Jeremy Grant; 8, Dylan Grigg; 12, Marc Bales; 15, Trevin Byington; 100 Breaststroke - 2, Brad Reeder; 6, Austin Massart; 9, Sam Dunning; 400 Freestyle Relay - 1, Moses Lake A (Federico Bettini, Marshall Goodrich, Eric Butterfield, Jeremy Grant).

— Staff report