Maverick swimmers prep for district meet

Moses Lake senior Dylan Moore sets up on the starting platform at the Boys State Swimming and Diving Championships last year. Moore won the 100-yard backstroke at the Big 9 Championships meet last week.
FILE PHOTO

Moses Lake senior Luke Molitor competes at the 2024 Boys State Swimming and Diving Championships in Federal Way. Molitor won both the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly at the Big 9 Championships meet last week.

by IAN BIVONA
Ian Bivona serves as the Columbia Basin Herald’s sports reporter and is a graduate of Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. He enjoys the behind-the-scenes stories that lead up to the wins and losses of the various sports teams in the Basin. Football is his favorite sport, though he likes them all, and his favorite team is the Jets. He lives in Soap Lake with his cat, Honey. | February 5, 2025 3:00 AM

MOSES LAKE – The postseason begins later this week for the Moses Lake boys swim team, who recently competed in the Columbia Basin Big 9 Championships last week.

The meet, which goes unscored, serves as one final opportunity to get in the pool before districts begin Thursday.

“Pretty loose and relaxed,” Moses Lake head coach Tony Preston said of the team heading into the Big 9 Championships meet. “I think we had all of our ducks in a row and had a good idea of where the season has been, was at the time and where it was going.”

The Mavericks won four individual events at the meet; sophomore Matt Molitor won the 200-yard freestyle (1:54.64 minutes), senior Luke Molitor won the 50-yard freestyle (23.24 seconds) and the 100-yard butterfly (55.33 seconds) and senior Dylan Moore won the 100-yard backstroke (59.89 seconds). Moses Lake’s 200-yard freestyle (1:33.43 minutes) and 400-yard freestyle teams (3:26.83 minutes) also won their respective events.

“I think it was nice being in our home pool and racing events they want to race,” Preston said. “We let pretty much everybody pick their own races; that’s just a tune-up event before the big one this weekend, so I think with the relaxed atmosphere, they were able to compete and dictate everything on their own terms.”

Prior to the Big 9 Championships meet, Moses Lake had finished the regular season unbeaten in league meets; the Mavericks defeated Wenatchee 97-85, Davis 131-41, Eisenhower 143-15, West Valley (Yakima) 128-37, Sunnyside 139-29 and Eastmont 108-68.

“It’s a combination of depth and standout performances,” Preston said. “We had a lot of swimmers – second, third and fourth places – scoring points, but at the same time, our top-end swimmers stepped up and raced every single time.”

Among the standout swimmers this season are Moore in the individual medley and backstroke, Luke Molitor in the 100-yard butterfly and sprint freestyles, junior Sam Molitor in the 200 and 1,500-yard freestyle and freshman Lennox Leeder in the 500-yard freestyle, Preston said.

“They’re always there doing their job, and it’s really fun to watch,” Preston said.

Two seniors have stepped into leading roles on the team.

“Really strong performances in leadership – Caleb Dickinson, Hunter Blackman are great leaders and lead by example, always working hard,” Preston said. “Great to have those seniors out there.”

This week’s Big 9 district championships are a two-day event; preliminary rounds begin Thursday at 5 p.m., while the finals will be hosted at 11 a.m. Saturday. Both events are in Moses Lake.

“We’re really working towards our Saturday goals of getting as many people into the finals as possible, and getting the best performances out of them,” Preston said. “I expect every day we’re going to be feeling better and better.”

The top two in each event, individual and relays, advance to the 4A State Swimming and Diving Championships, hosted later this month in Federal Way.

“I just stick to the same thing I always say -— ‘Go out there and race, and the times will come,’” Preston said. “Race to win, whether it’s beating the person next to you or winning the entire heat or event. If you go out and race, you’ll be happy with your times.”