SPOKANE - The Moses Lake Manta Rays swim team is heading to Spokane this weekend for the Inland Empire swimming championships.

The Moses Lake club is coming off a strong performance at the Manta Ray Invitational meet two weeks ago.

Manta Rays head coach Steve Witcher said he has 25 swimmers competing this weekend, and is excited about his club.

"This is more swimmers than I expected," he said. "It's really good for the club."

Witcher became the head coach of the Manta Rays four months ago, after numerous coaching changes, he said.

Witcher said his team is ready to compete this weekend in Spokane.

"I expect everyone to swim well," he said. "The basis of this is for personal improvement."

The Inland Empire Championships is an opportunity for the Manta Rays swim club to prove itself, Witcher said.

"I'm all about the team," Witcher said. "This is going to be a measure of who we are as a team."

Witcher expects all of his competitors to have a solid performance this weekend, he said.

"They will represent themselves and their team well," Witcher said.