Chiefs look to improve on top 10 finish

MOSES LAKE - The new swim facility at Moses Lake High School is complete, however, the boys swimming team is still taking shape.

The Chiefs are coming off a 10-0 season, a second place finish at districts and a sixth place finish at state.

But the team graduated six seniors, two that scored points at the state meet - Kaelan Connacher and Tristiane Randall.

With over 40 swimmers out this year, head coach Tony St. Onge is looking for that next swimmer that can replace Connacher on the relay team or even qualify for state in an individual event.

"That will be the key, is can that next guy that steps up out of 37 be fast enough to take those relay spots that we lost from last year," St. Onge.

Not everything is in flux for the Chiefs.

State swimmers Brenden Eslick, Madison Molitor and Zackary Johnston are all back.

Eslick finished placed second at last year's state meet in the 200 freestyle, also finishing sixth in the 100 butterfly.

"He's (Eslick) gotten bigger and stronger," St. Onge said. "That's, to me, the biggest benefit he's got. He's a senior, he can grow a beard now. He looks like a young man now. Now, with boys that makes a big difference. So, the ability is there ... Everything's there. It's just going to come down to how hard is he willing to work this whole season."

Eslick said that he had some trouble during the offseason while the high school's pool was under construction, but feels ready to contend for a state championship.

"It's been a tough year," he said. "Summer season was hard because we didn't have our pool, but we're getting back in it and I'm starting to feel good again."

Johnston placed fifth at state in both the 200 and 500 freestyle.

Molitor took 13th in the 100 freestyle at last year's state meet, but St. Onge likes his chances of improving and qualifying in more events.

"He's a stud this year, he could final in two events," St. Onge said.

Returning district swimmers include Dallin Fairbanks, Devon McCornack, Mateo Mejia, Logan Osborne, Joshua Starr, Jaime Vela, Christopher Vidrine, Garrett Widmer and Isaiah Zeller.

New dive coach Jacob Price has also helped the team prepare for its season opener Thursday at home.

"Jacob Price is doing a great job really pushing those guys hard," St. Onge said. "Right now we've got guys doing more difficult dives the first week than they did all last year."

Moses Lake will be tested early when the team hosts reigning district champion Richland Dec. 16. The Bombers and Chiefs have traded the district championship the past two seasons.

The Richland meet could serve as revenge for the current crop of Moses Lake seniors as the only dual meet loss in their high school careers came against the Bombers their freshman year.

St. Onge said he won't be able to have an accurate feel for his team until a couple weeks from now, but did opine on Moses Lake's potential.

"This could be one of our top teams," he said.

The Moses Lake Sprint Meet begins at 4 p.m. on Thursday.