Moses Lake girls sweep Eisenhower, Davis in swimming, diving

Moses Lake High School girls swim and dive team won both matches in its double-dual meet with visiting Eisenhower and Davis High schools on Thursday. Moses Lake defeated Eisenhower, 147-35, and Davis, 150-31.

Makhaela Parrish took first place in the 100-yard butterfly and 500-yard freestyle in addition to taking first in the 200-yard medley relay and 400-yard freestyle relay. Issabelle Parrish joined her sister on the 200-yard medley relay team, in addition to taking first in the 200- and 100-yard freestyle events and 200-yard freestyle relay.

Julia Heaps took first place in the 200-yard individual medley, 200-yard medley relay and third place in the 100-yard backstroke event.

Kathryn Duvall placed second in the 100-yard freestyle, took first in the 100-yard breaststroke and joined Heaps and the Parrish sisters on the 200-yard medley relay team.

Laurel Knox joined her teammates on the 200-yard freestyle relay and 400-yard freestyle relay teams that took first, in addition to taking third in the 200-yard freestyle and second in the 100-yard breaststroke. Madeline O’Neil won the 50-yard freestyle, placed third in the 100-yard freestyle and joined both the 200- and 400-yard freestyle winning relays.

Aniston Dana took second in the 50-yard freestyle. Alli Hines placed second in the 200-yard individual medley and third in the 100-yard backstroke.

Rebecca Shaporda took first in diving, followed by teammates Trishelle Walker and Aniston Dana in second and third.

Senior Laurel Knox discussed taking to the water again for her first meet this season after an unusual junior season in spring. Knox said it’s exciting being back this fall.

“I’m really looking forward to being able to have the regular atmosphere you have at meets and compete with everyone and not just certain teams,” Knox said. “It’s exciting to get a chance to go to state again and have that opportunity.”

As a senior this fall, Knox said she has had to step outside of her comfort zone a little bit as she takes on more of a leadership role this season. She said she’s focused on a good team atmosphere where everyone cheers for everyone and has fun. In past years, she said she has focused on her own results and progress.

After the jamboree two weeks ago and Thursday’s meet, Knox said the team looks strong, with a lot of talented newcomers from the Manta Rays club program in the mix.

Freshman Heaps is one of those club swimmers stepping into a varsity role. Heaps said it’s been a really cool opportunity competing for the Chiefs, getting to hit the water in a lot of different circumstances through relays and individual events.

“I’m really grateful to have such a good team, and everyone’s so supportive of each other, and the coaches are great,” Heaps said. “It’s such a good environment.”

She credited the Manta Rays swim program. If it weren’t for the club program keeping her busy year-round, she said she doesn’t think she’d be anywhere close to the swimmer she is today.

Moving forward this season, Heaps said she is focused on finding ways to improve and having fun with her team.

“I want to go to state in some relays and maybe some individual events and see how far we can go, I guess,” Heaps said.

Moses Lake swim head coach Lindy Williams said the girls swim and dive program is on a course for success, not just this year, but for the next three or four years with a lot of young “shining stars” stepping into the mix this season.

“They’re very competitive in practice, and you see that they’re very competitive in the pool in meets, as well,” Williams said. “Competing-wise, we’re right where I want us to be and more. We’ve been training really hard, so the swims you see tonight are out of exhaustion workouts and that’s what I like.”

With talented newcomers, Williams said it’s a huge benefit having seasoned veterans like Knox, Issabelle Parrish and Makhaela Parrish. She said those three swimmers are three of the hardest workers she has ever coached.

“Something that’s nice is that they become coaches just by leading by example,” Williams said. “When I’m paying attention to our middle lanes or our kids just learning how to swim, I can look over and know they’re working extremely hard based on these kids being leaders in their lanes.”

She said the team discussed the state meet at the very first practice this year, hoping to get girls aiming early for state-qualifying times in hopes of having them by midseason. Williams said state times this fall are particularly fast and she knows her team will have to work hard to meet those marks.

Having a post-season adds motivation. Williams said she’s confident the Chiefs will have fast relay and individual times at state this year.