Moses Lake swimmers make clean sweep
Sophomore Jack Johnston qualified for state in two events last week, and is also on both of the state qualifying relay teams.
YAKIMA - The Chiefs swim and dive team has hit their stride, and is performing at level in which no team in the Big Nine has come close to achieving. This past weekend Moses Lake blew past Davis 124-46, Eisenhower 127-41 and Sunnyside 129-22 and are now 9-0 with one meet left before district competition.
The Chiefs finished first in all events in the dual meet Thursday, and set several district qualifying times along the way.
The 200 medley relay team of Kaelan Connacher, Nick Osborne, Brenden Eslick and Zack Johnston took top honors with a time of 1:46.89. Dallin Fairbanks won the 200 freestyle events finishing at 2:05.90. Connacher (2:08.71) placed first in the 200 individual medley and Johnston first in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.87.
In the 1-meter dive event it was Jacob Price taking first with 174 points. Ben Breaky kept the string of wins in tact out pacing all swimmers in the 100 fly with a time of 58.49. Osborne followed suit in the 100 freestyle touching first at 54.30. Fairbanks swam past the competition for a first place finish (5:31.37) in the 500 freestyle, and the 200 freestyle relay the team of Connacher, Johnston, Breaky and Osborne left all others in their wake, taking first with a time of 1:38.10. Johnston's fourth first-place finish of the meet came in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:00.70. Eslick ended the individual competition with a first place finish (1:04.80) in the 100 breastroke. The final event of the day saw Tristian Randal, Fairbanks, Madison Molitor and Eslick take top honors in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:40.00,
On Friday Moses Lake hosted an 11-dive meet with all Eastern Washington divers. Three Chiefs; Jacob Price, Garrett Widmer and Josh Snook entered the competition and qualified for the district meet.
"We now have 20 athletes qualified for the district championships which will be held in Ellensburg at Central Washington University Feb.1 and 2," coach Tony St. Onge said. "We have one remaining league meet this Thursday at Moses Lake against Eastmont, which will also be Senior Night. We are looking forward to a good week of practices, and aiming for districts in two weeks."
The final results of the Kentridge Invite that took place in Federal Way last week are now being made available. The Chiefs scored 170 points to finish 11th out of 41 teams.
"This was a huge meet attracting the top teams from Washington and some from outside the state," St. Onge said. "The winning team was from Omaha, Nebraska. Mercer Island finished second.
A handful of Chiefs qualified for state at the meet. Zack Johnston (1:50.47) made it in the 200 freestyle, and the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:00 68. The 200 freestyle relay team of Connacher, Breaky, Johnston and Eslick (1:32.78) will also be representing Moses Lake on the big stage.
"We now have three individuals; Brenden Eslick, Kaelan Connacher and Zack Johnston who have made individual state qualifying times," St. Onge said. "We also have two relays that have made automatic state qualifying times as well."