Bateman becomes first Moses Lake diver to win 4A District 6 championship

MOSES LAKE — Sometimes not knowing just how close things are is a good thing.

She had one more. Moses Lake junior Bethany Bateman had one more dive at the Tony St. Onge Pool of Dreams with everything on the line. The Chiefs junior, who is in just her second season of competitive diving, went into Championship Saturday at the 4A District 6 meet with a five-point lead over Wenatchee’s Emily Brault. Her forward one-and-a-half in pike was good for sixes and sevens on the judges scorecard. Her inward one scored five-five-and-a-halfs. But she needed to close strong to seal the deal.

Bateman stepped onto the 1-meter springboard Saturday morning, took her approach and executed a reverse, one with a half-twist. She was a little forward on the entry, but was rewarded with a strong enough score to beat Brault for the first time in her career and become the first Moses Lake girl’s diver to win a District 6 championship.

“I’d never beaten Emily before, so it was a big deal,” Bateman said. “I knew I was five points ahead going in (to finals), but I didn’t know how the scoring as we went.

“There was a lot of pressure, but I think having the lead helped. I think it’s going to take some time to sink in (being the first diver from Moses Lake to win a district title), but it’s exciting.”

Chiefs coach Tony St. Onge been around swimming in Moses Lake for quite a few years. The name on the pool recognizes his efforts, but this is the first time he’s ever had a diver win it all.

“It’s the first time ever that the Moses Lake High School girls have had a district champion in diving,” he said. “Now she’s headed back to state.”

Bateman won the district title with score of 366.35 points for her 11-dive routine. It was her best scoring effort of the season, some 21 points higher than the 4A state qualifying standard. She was going to the 4A state swimming and diving championships by virtue of meeting the standard, but now she’s going in as the District 6 champion.

Brault also qualified, finishing second with 362.35. Alyssa Merrill (329.35) of Eastmont was third and Moses Lake’s Lauren Tolley (306.35) was fourth.

“I started diving two weeks before my sophomore year,” said Bateman, who has competed on the national stage as a cheerleader and also has a gymnastics background in all four events. “People don’t really know how much work or what it takes to prepare or to handle the pressure when everybody’s watching. It’s a lot of work.

“So to be able to go back to state is important. The King County Aquatic Center is really big and it’s cool to be in that building one more time.”

Team scores — 1. Wenatchee, 576. 2 Eastmont, 357. 3 Eisenhower, 337. 4 Moses Lake High, 276. 5. Davis, 239. 6. West Valley, 131. 7. Sunnyside, 97.

Local placers

1-meter diving - 1. Bethany Bateman, 366.35. 4. Lauren Tolley, 306.35

Medley relay - 4. Moses Lake (Brittney Richeson, Jessica Williams, Cora Dana, Lacy Johnson), 1:58.21

200 freestyle relay - 3. Moses Lake (Cora Dana, Laurel Knox, Jessica Williams, Lacy Johnson), 1:44.91

400 freestyle relay - 3. Moses Lake (Cora Dana, Laurel Knox, Jessica Williams, Lacy Johnson), 3:57.44

50 freestyle - 4. Cora Dana, 25.90

100 freestyle - 5. Lacy Johnson, 59.38

500 freestyle - 3. Brittney Richeson, 5:42.44

100 backstroke - 6. Jessica Williams, 1:12.90

100 breaststroke - 6. Jessica Williams, 1:12.90