Manta Rays host swim classic

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Manta Rays swim team wrapped up a successful Sizzlin’ Summer Swim Classic at the Moses Lake Family Aquatic Center over the weekend.

The Sizzlin’ Summer Swim Classic was a senior sectional and Inland Empire Swimming Championship long-course qualifier and Manta Rays head coach Steve Witcher said the event was a success.

“It was awesome,” Witcher said. “There were 200 more people here this year than last year. We had some great entrants from the northwest and Canada.”

The Sizzlin’ Summer Swim Classic brought together some of the best swimmers from the Pacific Northwest and Canada. Witcher said his team performed well.

“We saw some great improvements,” he said. “We are starting to come around as a swim team. It was really fun to watch.”

While Witcher said his team of 41 swimmers performed well over the weekend, the Manta Rays have work to do in the pool.

“Most of my kids are pretty young,” Witcher said. “It takes them a while to grasp all of the ideas, but they are getting it. They will go places here in the next couple of years. It’s kind of amazing. They have really come together well.”

More than 480 swimmers congregated at the Moses Lake Family Aquatic Center Friday, Saturday and Sunday and Witcher said the parents of his participants helped make the event a success.

“We were swimming 484 swimmers,” Witcher said. “Our parents group was well organized. They were terrific. They had to make sure the event ran smoothly.”

With nearly 500 swimmers competing in the Sizzlin’ Summer Swim Classic, Witcher said the event could not have happened without the support from the community.

“We appreciate the hospitality from the City of Moses Lake,” he said. “We had 2,000 to 3,000 more people in the community over the weekend. (People) were really impressed with the whole city. The people of Moses Lake took care them.”