Chiefs swim and dive fourth at district

ELLENSBURG - Moses Lake swimmers turned in some of their best times of the year, but they weren't good enough to land the Chiefs any higher than a fourth-place finish at the district meet Oct. 26 and 27.

Richland took top honors, followed by Wenatchee and Walla Walla. Eastmont placed fifth at the meet.

"The the competition was tough, especially from the Richland and Wenatchee areas," coach Tony St. Onge said. "We swam best times and that is all we can ask for is that we perform our best. Unfortunately, we came up a little short of having more athletes get those automatic state berths."

Only the top two placers in each event receive the automatic berth. The lone Chief to receive the berth was Heather Carbon who finished second behind Carly Garland from Richland in the 1-meter dive competition.

However, there is still a chance for more Moses Lake swimmers to make the cut as 10 wildcat entrants will also qualify for the state meet.

"Only the top 12 in each event at district meet will make it," St. Onge said. "Some swimmers may have faster times during the regular season, but because of budget cuts, they are only using the district championship times."

The entire times have not been posted as of yet, St. Onge said, so the Chiefs won't know who has qualified until Sunday.

St. Onge said the Moses Lake swimmers who have a shot to qualify for the big show are Victoria Dalrymple who placed fifth in the 50 freestyle, Kelly Garrett who finished fifth in the 200 and 500 freestyle, Amber Garrett who took third in the 500 freestyle, and the 200 freestyle relay team of Dalrymple, Grace Hochstatter, and Amber and Kelly Garrett.

"We are in the position now where it is wait and see for the state meet," he said. "We may get a few more or not, but we had our best times at championship finals."