Mavericks defeat Wenatchee 97-85

MOSES LAKE — The Mavericks kicked off their league swimming schedule with a win over Wenatchee on Thursday, besting the Panthers 97-85 at home. 

“Getting ready to get up and race and give it our best against them, they’re always a challenge,” head coach Tony Preston said. “We were able to meet that challenge (Thursday) night and win, so that was great.” 

With Moses Lake not having any divers this season, the Mavericks were down by 13 on the scoreboard before the swimming events even began, and later found themselves down by as many as 20; however, high finishes throughout the meet — including finishing first, second and third in the 100-yard backstroke — allowed the Mavericks to claw their way back on top of Wenatchee. 

“They were missing some key guys, so they loaded the front half of the meet and we just kept chipping away at it,” Preston said. “Each event — we had event where we went one, two, three, and that helps when you outscore them by 10 points. More than anything, I’d use the word depth.” 

Moses Lake won both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay, besting the Panthers by three and four seconds in each relay respectively. Wenatchee won the 400-yard freestyle relay. 

“Those kids were excited, they just wanted to get out and race. The energy that Wenatchee brings out of us, it was awesome to watch,” Preston said. “Just put them where I thought they could do their best, and they stepped up to the challenge.” 

In total, the Mavericks won seven of the 12 events at Thursday’s meet; the 200-yard medley relay (senior Dylan Moore, senior Luke Molitor, junior Sam Molitor and junior Josiah Wallace), Sam Molitor won the 50-yard freestyle, Luke Molitor won the 100-yard butterfly, Dylan Moore won the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke, freshman Lennox Leeder won the 500-yard freestyle and Moses Lake won the 200-yard freestyle relay (Sam Molitor, Dylan Moore, junior Sam O’Shea and Luke Molitor). 

“I told them, ‘Get out there and race — if you race, then the times come next and the winning comes after that,’” Preston said. “It’s just a matter of getting out on the blocks and giving it their all against whoever they’re swimming next to. That’s really what I encourage, and try to temper that with having fun.” 

Among the standouts at Thursday’s meet were Luke Molitor in the 100-yard butterfly, Dylan Moore winning both the 100-yard backstroke and freestyle events and Leeder who won the 500-yard freestyle and took second in the 200-yard freestyle, Preston said. 

“For him to go 55 (seconds) in the 100 butterfly was pretty fun to watch,” Preston said of Molitor. “He was a little bit tired afterwards, but I fully expect him to make that state cut in the 100-(butterfly), which is a 52.5.” 

Winning your first league meet of the season also serves as a boost in morale, Preston said. The next meet on the schedule for Moses Lake is a league meet at Davis on Thursday. 

“I think it gives the guys confidence; they can go out and say, ‘Hey our training means something, racing means something,’” Preston said. “When you see the results of that, it really helps reinforce that.” 

Later this month, Moses Lake will host an alumni meet that pins current swimmers at the high school against former Moses Lake swimmers who swam both for the school and competitively at the local circuit.  

“Anybody that’s swam in Moses Lake competitively — whether it’s high school, club swimming, just want to give them a chance to come back and check out the facility if they haven’t seen it and to honor Tony St. Onge’s legacy,” Preston said. 

The racing begins at 10:30 Dec. 23. Those interested in participating in the meet can contact Preston at apreston@mlsd161.org. 

    Moses Lake senior Luke Molitor swims at last season’s state championship meet. Molitor won 100-yard butterfly at Thursday’s meet against Wenatchee.