Several Manta Rays fare well at home swim meet

by Submitted Manta Ray Aquatics
| September 25, 2018 1:00 AM

MOSES LAKE — Manta Ray Aquatics hosted the Sprint Shootout swim meet recently.

Teams from around the Inland Empire competed at the Tony St. Onge Pool of Dreams in the short course season kickoff event which is a pentathlon meet with a tournament style shootout at the conclusion. The Manta Rays had 50 swimmers attend, all with successful swims throughout the meet.

Several new team records were also set. Some notable swims included: Annika Burke dropped nearly 10 seconds in her 100 individual medley to set a new team record for the 13- 14-year-old girls.

Zachary Washburn set new team records in the 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke and 100 individual medley for the boys 15 and over age group.

Jessica Williams set a new Manta Ray record in the girls 15 and over 100 individual medley. Aline Davis, Marcus Quezada, McKinley Fulk, Noah Heaps, Zachary Washburn, Brett Jorgenson and Jessica Williams all qualified for the freestyle shootout.

Noah Heaps dropped a whopping 20 seconds to finish in fourth place in the boys 15 and over 100 individual medley. Brett Jorgenson placed third in the 50 breaststroke.

Melody Lake was also successful in the 50 breaststroke with a fourth-place finish. Lennox Leeder, in his first meet, finished in fourth place in the 25-yard backstroke for the eight and under boys.

Also competing in their first swim meet were: Colin Stanberry, Angie Molitor, Jenna McHargue, Addison Ellis and Anderson Addink.

In between the pentathlon events and the freestyle shootout, teams were able to take part in a couple of fun exhibition relays. The younger swimmers’ event required them to swim lengths of the pool using a kick-board and pull buoy, which eliminated the use of their arms and legs forcing them to rely only on kicking their feet. The older swimmers’ event required them to swim wearing a very oversized t-shirt which they had to transfer to their teammate at the end of their leg of the relay.

The Manta Rays head to Spokane for their next meet before hosting their annual Thankswimming Open in mid November.