MRA's Noah Heaps qualifies for Senior Zones
MOSES LAKE — The Manta Ray Aquatics swim team hosted a “last chance” meet for swimmers to qualify for Senior Sectionals and Age Group Regionals this past weekend at the Tony St. Onge Pool of Dreams.
Both events take place in King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way over the next couple of weeks. Around 200 athletes and their families traveled to Moses Lake to attend this event, which started Friday afternoon and continued through Sunday.
49 athletes from Manta Ray Aquatics competed in the Farewell to Short Course swim meet, and while there were many great performances by the Manta Rays, 16-year-old MRA captain Noah Heaps proved to be one of the strongest competitors in the pool. Heaps earned three first-place finishes in his 400 individual medley (4:33.82), 200 backstroke (2:03.15) and 50 freestyle (23.85).
In addition to his top spots in the competition, Heaps made a Senior Zones qualification cut in his 200bBackstroke, adding this event alongside the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle events that he had qualified for earlier this season.
Moses Lake also boasted three first-place relays during the meet. Winning the girls 10 and under 100 medley relay in a time of 1:20.95 was Julia Heaps, Kathryn Duvall, Melody Lake and Aline Davis. Taking first in Saturday’s 13 and over Boys 200 medley relay with a time of 1:47.91 was the team of Kyle Jorgensen, Zachary Washburn, Noah Heaps and Ander Molitor.
On Sunday, the team of Owen Devine, Dylan Moore, Damien Paluch and Anthony Alvarez took the top spot in the Boys 10 and under 100 freestyle relay in a combined time of 1:12.76.
There were also three new Moses Lake athletes competing in their first ever swim meet with Manta Ray Aquatics. Bryson Aronsohn (9), Tessa Bowen (13) and Jon Phillips (17) all opened up their USA swimming careers on Saturday, competing in their respective freestyle and backstroke events.
Manta Ray Aquatics hosts the IMX Dual Pentathlon swim meet at the Tony St. Onge Pool of Dreams later next month.