“His energy is contagious”
IAN BIVONA | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 1 year, 9 months AGO
Moses Lake junior Danny Thurman is on to the 2023 State Boys Swim and Dive Championships in Federal Way this weekend, having broken two district records in the adaptive swim events to reach state.
REBECCA PETTINGILL/COLUMBIA BASIN HERALD
Hanging out with teammates and coaches is Moses Lake junior Danny Thurman’s, center front row, favorite aspect of swimming with the Moses Lake boys swim and dive team.
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 17, 2023 1:30 AM
MOSES LAKE – Danny Thurman, a junior with the Maverick boys swim team, has found success in the adaptive swimming events this season for Moses Lake. Beyond achievements made in the pool, Thurman has been a key part of the team’s camaraderie throughout the year.
“Hanging out with my friends and my coach,” Thurman said of what he enjoys the most about swimming.
At the district meet, Thurman was “eyeing” the district records in both the adaptive 50-yard freestyle and 50-yard backstroke, according to Moses Lake swim and dive Head Coach Jason Hart.
The junior set district records in both events: his time of 36.31 seconds in the 50-yard backstroke surpassed a 2020 record of 54.69, and his time of 29.25 in the 50-yard freestyle broke the previous record of 40.48 which was also set in 2020.
“I’m so happy,” Thurman said. “(It took) practice, all day long.”
Thurman credited his teammates for helping him set those records, which qualified him for the No. 1 seed in the adaptive events at this weekend’s WIAA Boys Swimming and Diving Championships.
“My team helped me with it,” Thurman said. “Saying ‘Keep going! Keep going!’ I like my teammates, they’re my friends and buddies.”
Whether it’s hyping up his teammates in the pool, laughing in between races or smiling in the pool, Thurman’s energy has been felt by all on the Maverick swim and dive team.
“He loves his teammates to no end,” Hart said. “They are some of his favorite people around, and he shows them every day. The energy he brings is something so unique to him, that really makes our team a light-hearted, energetic place.”
Hart said that being a part of the Moses Lake swimming team has helped Thurman’s confidence in the classroom as well, assisting Hart in demonstrations for aquatics classes at the school.
“Today in my aquatics class, I had him demonstrate things to the other kids in the class,” Hart said. “He’s the best swimmer in there and he’s happy to do it. He likes to go out there and do good, and it worked out really well.”
Thurman will swim on Saturday at the boys state swim and dive meet at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. After a strong performance at districts, Thurman said he has one goal on his mind.
“Get No. 1 in Seattle,” he said.
Thurman is one of nine Mavericks heading on to state this weekend, joining senior Nicholas Moore, sophomore Dylan Moore, sophomore Luke Molitor, senior Ashton McKean, freshman Sam Molitor, sophomore Jay Rodrigues, junior Damien Paluch and junior Kylan Chivers.
“His energy is contagious, and I can’t say enough about that,” Hart said. “He’s so proud to be here and with all of us, and hopefully we can get a state champion or two for Moses Lake High School out of him.”
