Mavericks qualify swimmers for state meet

MOSES LAKE — While Moses Lake finished third at last weekend’s Columbia Basin Big 9 district championship meet, the Mavericks will send several swimmers to the 4A State Swimming and Diving Championships later this month in Federal Way.

The district meet was divided into two days; prelims Thursday, followed by finals Saturday. Eastmont won the meet with 418 points, followed by Wenatchee in second at 401 and Moses Lake in third with 373. 

“The final day, it was going to be close between us, Wenatchee and Eastmont, looking at potential scores,” head coach Tony Preston said. “That worked out pretty much the same way coming out of finals.” 

The top two swimmers in each event automatically qualify for the state championships; the Mavericks saw two swimmers win individual district championships, with senior Kathryn DuVall winning the 200-yard freestyle and senior Julia Heaps winning both the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyle. 

“They showed up to race,” Preston said. 

Also receiving state berths were senior Adelaide Jensen in the 200-yard freestyle and DuVall in the 100-yard backstroke. 

Moses Lake also qualified two relay teams, with the 200-yard freestyle relay team (DuVall, Jensen, junior Dallie Cobb and Heaps) and 400-yard freestyle relay team (DuVall, Cobb, senior Alli Finnegan and Heaps) both winning district championships. 

“Three of them on each relay are seniors – so just knowing that this is their last chance to swim at districts, they want to be district champions,” Preston said. “I think the inner fire, getting up and racing on the day of (helped them).” 

Preston said Jensen’s second-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle helped spark the team Saturday; the senior finished third during the preliminary swim Thursday but took second in the finals. 

“That was her ticket to state, so she was super excited there,” Preston said. “I think that allowed everybody to ride that wave of energy going forward.” 

Narrowly missing the automatic qualifier to state were Cobb in the 100-yard freestyle and Jensen in the 500-yard freestyle, who each finished third in their respective events. Preston said Cobb may receive a wild card into the state meet depending on other finishes across the state, though they won’t know for sure until Sunday. 

“The girls were really excited going into it on Thursday,” Preston said. “We had almost 100% good swims across the board, and same thing in the finals – more dropped times.” 

Prelims for the 4A State Swimming and Diving Championships begin at 6:15 p.m. at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way on Nov. 15. The finals are the next day, starting at 6 p.m. 

“It’s a fun atmosphere that’s a whole other level compared to what we have on this side of the state,” Preston said. “For them, they’re excited to go on the trip. They have lots of traditions that they’ve been telling me about, whether it’s going to eat at a certain place or listening to certain music ... I think everybody’s looking at is as a great experience, and I think we have a really good shot of progressing on to the finals.” 

    Moses Lake senior Julia Heaps, pictured competing in the backstroke last season, won district championships in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle events on Saturday.