Chiefs boys swim tradition goes on
Rodney Harwood/Columbia Basin Herald Moses Lake freshman Zach Washburn, left, and senior Ander Molitor are helping shape the Chiefs swimming and diving culture. Washburn is currently ranked in the top five in five individual events. Molitor is on the school record board as part of the 2015 400-yard freestyle relay and is also ranked as one of the fastest 50-yard freestylers in the state.
MOSES LAKE — The 2014-15 Moses Lake boys swimming and diving team was the record setters, posting five of the 13 school records on display at the Tony St. Onge Pool of Dreams.
Guys like Brenden Eslick (200 freestyle, 100 butterfly) and Zack Johnston (200 IM, 500 freestyle) own a couple of individual records. They also combined with the Molitor brothers, Madison and Ander, to swim the fastest 400-yard freestyle relay time in Chiefs history.
Before that, the 1995-96 guys were pretty good, posting the best team finish in school history when they finished second at the state swimming and diving championships in 1995. Aaron Fitterer put a couple of numbers on the record board that still stand (50 and 100 freestyles). He was also a member of two record-setting relays (medley, 200 freestyle).
There’s been a little bit of a gap between those two stellar groups, but the Chiefs tradition of senior experience and new blood is once again churning the waters this season and the guys are looking to take a run at a state title.
“I told these guys on Day 1 this team has the potential be the best team ever,” said St. Onge, whose program has finished in the top 10 12 times since 1990. “They are already on the verge of breaking all three school records in the relays. We’ve set the backstroke record twice in the past five days. This group of guys has the potential to be pretty special.”
Ander Molitor was the freshman on the 400-yard freestyle relay that posted 3 minutes, 14.68 in 2015, along with Eslick, Johnston and his brother Madison. To be on the record board with his brother is pretty special, but to come back and erase that mark as a senior. Let’s just say, that would be way cool.
“I wanted to be on that team so, so bad,” Ander said, taking a quick glance to the board as he sat in the stands before Wednesday’s practice. “My big brother was a part of that and it was a great experience.
“They weren’t like, ‘You better not mess up’ to the freshman. They were super cool guys. Brenden was the guy that would get us pumped up. He was that kind of leader. I remember not having a super fast split, but my brother went first and I went off behind him. He was always so way out of my league, but it was fun to swim behind him and to be on the record board with him is special.”
Now Ander’s the senior on a talented 400 relay, which also includes Dylan Bond, Noah Heaps and Zach Washburn. They currently have the fastest time in the state (3:17.27) going into the holiday break, a full second ahead of Camas (3:18.71).
“It’s really cool having a freshman as fast as Zach. He really makes us all faster and that’s what we need to do to get where we want to be,” Molitor said. “I would say there’s not really a strong tradition here. We’re just swimming and everybody has their job and specialty.”
Washburn erased a 15-year 100 backstroke record (54.84) Mike Maier set in 2003 when he touched in 54.46. It lasted five days before Heaps busted a 54.13. His stay on the school record board was short, but the look in his eye on Wednesday afternoon said, “I’ll be back.”
“I’ve been waiting to do this (swim on the varsity team) for a long time,” said Washburn, who is currently ranked in the top five in five individual events and swims on all three relays.
Washburn posted the fourth fastest time in the nation in the USA 14-year-old division last summer, so he’s no newcomer to the sport. He’s been swimming and competing at a high level since he was seven. He’s just the next man up in Chiefs tradition and he’s ready, he says.
“Last summer gave me a lot of confidence, knowing I could come in and face off against some of these guys,” Washburn said. “When I broke the backstroke record I was a little surprised because that’s not my strong stroke. Coach says I’m an IM guy. I say I’m more of a freestyler, so hopefully I can be both.
“I just want to be a team player, make a contribution and be supportive of my teammates and help them get to where they want to go.”
Where they want to go is the top shelf on the podium at the 4A state swimming and diving championships. There’s work to be done, but they are making their presence known with a fair amount in the current top 10 times around the state:
200 medley relay: 1. Noah Heaps, Zach Washburn, Eric Kemper, Ander Molitor, 1:38.51
200 freestyle relay: 1. Dylan Bond, Molitor, Heaps, Washburn, 1:28.88
400 relay: 1. Bond, Molitor, Heaps, Washburn, 3:17.27
200 freestyle: 2. Washburn, 1:47.15
200 individual medley: 2. Washburn, 1:59.53
50 freestyle: 2. Washburn, 22.16; 3. Molitor, 22.26
100 butterfly: 1. Eric Kemper, 53.28
100 freestyle: 2. Molitor, 48.50
500 freestyle: 3. Washburn, 4:52.87
100 backstroke: 2. Heaps, 54. 13; 3. Washburn, 54.46
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