Manta Rays team sets meet record

SPOKANE - The Moses Lake Manta Rays Swim Team boys 14-and-under 400-yard freestyle relay set a new meet record in the Inland Empire Swim Championships in Couer d'Alene Idaho last weekend.

The team consisting of Corey Bradshaw, Zack Johnston, Kaelan Connacher and Brenden Eslick swam over three seconds faster than their previous best and beat the meet record by two seconds.

They also won the 400-yard medley relay and Brenden Eslick won the boys 13-and-14 200-meter-freestyle.

These were some of the highlights from the rebuilding Manta Rays swim team.

Last year in the same meet the Manta Rays placed 13th out of 15 teams scoring 67.5 points and less than 10 swimmers qualifying for the meet.

This year the Manta Rays had 18 swimmers qualify and placed eighth with 174 points and were in the running for a top five place throughout the meet.

Another swimmer, Megan Washburn placed second in the girls 12-and-under 1,650-meter freestyle.

Several swimmers won medals in one or more events.

Medal winners were 10-year-olds Halle Johnston, Jere Johnston and Noah Heeps, 12-year-olds, Megan Washburn and James Nicoricci, 13-year-olds Jordan Richeson and Zack Johnston, 14-year-olds Corey Bradshaw, Kaelan Connacher and Brenden Eslick and 16-year-old Courtney Schwiesow.

Amber Garrett dropped three seconds in the 200-meter butterfly and qualified for the Age Group Sectional Meet which includes teams from Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Alaska.

She joins Zack Johnston, Corey Bradshaw, Brenden Eslick, Kaelan Connacher and Courtney Schwiesow as other Manta Rays that have qualified for this meet.

The Manta Rays practice Monday through Friday at the Moses Lake High School Pool.

For more information go to mlmr.org or call 760-6567 or come to the pool between 5-6PM.