MOSES LAKE — Work in the offseason is why Moses Lake wrestling is one of the winningest programs in Washington state.

It’s that work during the summer that brings the young guys along. That extra work defines how champions get to the Mat Classic and how Chiefs wrestling is able to rise above year in and year out.

It also takes time and money and the Chiefs wrestling program is hosting its annual fundraiser golf scramble tournament Aug. 4 to help the fund cause. This is a wrestling town, but it’s events like the golf help them take it to the next level.

The Chiefs, who last won a 4A state championship in 2015, will be going after their 19th overall state title at 2019 Mat Classic.

“The amount of support we see from the community is amazing,” said head coach Jaime Garza, who is headed into his seventh season. “I was born and raised in Moses Lake and came up through this program. I feel my role is to continue this legacy that we have. The kids’ job is to do well in school and get after it on the mat. I believe they are students first and athletes second and the support we get out here with things like the golf fundraiser helps make that happen.”

The 2018 tournament is scheduled Aug. 4 at the Links at Moses Pointe. It’s a shotgun, starting at 9:30 a.m. and all proceeds will go to helping the Chiefs program participate in extra tournaments and camps during the summer.

“There’s a lot of growth in the summer and kids need to be exposed to more wrestling,” Garza said. “Going to one camp and wrestling 50-60 times, then going to another camp and wrestling another 20, you can get another whole season wrestling during the summer.”

The 2018 golf tournament costs $350 per-four man team. Local businesses or organizations can sponsor a hole for $150. There will be a silent auction and even if you don’t play, people can come and join in the festivities with a $20 per person barbecue.

It’s also like old home week where Chiefs wrestling alumni get in on the action. Team Zamora has been active the past several years.

“This sport means a lot to me and I think it’s what this community needs,” said Pete Zamora (1995-98), former Washington 4A state champion, who runs a home construction business in Vancouver. “Wrestling in Moses Lake has deep tradition. It’s all about giving back so that we can keep this tradition of winning and state championships going. I love the sport.

“Wrestling teaches us to be better humans. It’s a sport that’s taught me a lot in life. There’s times in your life when you’re going to get knocked down and it’s how you come back after that that matters. That’s what wrestling taught me, how to come back like a champion.”

His brother Joe, a two-time 4A state runner-up, captain on the state champion 1985 team and later coached 13 years as an assistant for Ron Seibel (408-28-2).

“I believe that Moses Lake is one of the finest programs in the state of Washington and the Northwest. It takes alumni’s like us to come back and support it,” said Joey Zamora, who is a pastor at Worldwide Christian Center down in Pasco. “I think it is important to leave a legacy and to leave a good one, you must invest in it with three major things: 1. Your Time 2. Your Talent 3. And your Treasure. Every Zamora that has gone through the Moses Lake program has done all of these. This is the key to making a successful tradition last.”