MOSES LAKE — The Manta Ray Aquatics Swim Team hosted the annual Sizzlin’ Summer Splash meet over the weekend at the Surf n’ Slide Aquatic Center in Moses Lake. The meet, which brings around 400 athletes from across Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Canada to compete.
For many competitors, this was their last chance to compete in long course (50 meter) events for the season, before returning to short course (25 yard) races for the rest of the year.
Nearly each of the swimmers for the Manta Rays achieved new personal best times during the meet. Some swimmers saw improved times up to a minute less than their previous bests.
Luca Critoloveanu, Sofia Estudillo, Laurel Knox, Melody Lake, Lennox Leeder, Cole Lindberg, Ashton McKean, Iver Minor, Damien Paluch, Makhaela Parrish, Marcus Quezada and Zachary Washburn each had finishes within the top eight, to score for the team.
Washburn, Lake, Lindberg, and Knox finished 3rd in the 13 & Over 400 Medley Relay. Knox, Parrish, Lindberg and Alex McLain finished fifth in the 13 and over 400 freestyle relay.
Manta Ray Aquatics team president Steve Washburn was thankful to everyone from the community and teams who came out and helped to make this event possible.
“Our Manta Ray families did an amazing job making sure that this event was successful, while also ensuring that our guests had a great time,” Steve Washburn said. “This team is truly blessed to have such great volunteers, coaches, and amazing swimmers.”
The Manta Rays will next send a large part of the team to compete at the Inland Empire Swimming’s long course championship taking place in Pasco in two weeks.