MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake Mavericks girls swim team got their season started Thursday as they hosted a nonleague meet. Mavs Head Coach Tony Preston said this meet was a great start to the season for the team of 30 new and returning girls. 

“We’ve got a couple first year swimmers that are really going to contribute for us, and we have a good core from last year coming back,” said Preston. “We have a lot of depth, and as we train throughout the year, we’re going to see a lot of that top end speed come out in these girls.” 

The day started off with the diving event, and while the event wasn’t ranked, the coach said he still saw great performances from his returning divers Lexi Gruber and Mia Thompson.

“That was really good to see improvement from last year,” he said. “Then we’ve got a couple first year (diving) girls, so they’re getting that technique down and learning what diving’s all about.” 

Taylor McKay took 10th in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 28.36 followed closely by Andi Hardebeck, who took 11th with a time of 28.66. In the 50-yard breaststroke Paysyn Torrey led the Mavs with a sixth-place finish at 37.44 followed by Sarah Heaps in seventh at 37.8 and Sydney Stevens in eighth at 38.41. 

In the 50-yard backstroke, Ellen Center finished 11th with a time of 34.85 with Stevens close behind in 12th and a time of 34.87. Stevens also took eighth in the 50-yard butterfly with a time of 31.58 followed by Hardebeck in 10th with 32.34. 

The Mavs had three top 10 finishes for the 200-yard freestyle relay. The team of Heaps, McKay, Ava Robinson and Stevens took fourth with 1:57.33, Ava Center, Hardebeck, Kimball Roylance and Torrey took sixth with 1:59.65 and Clara Quilter, Kolby Cobb, Brooklyn Nollette and Ellen Center took ninth with 2:16.75. 

“That was good, having so many girls all around the same place towards the top of each event,” said Preston. “It’s good competition. Iron sharpens iron is what they say. If we can get that competition going inside of our practices, we’re going to be seeing some good stuff going on.” 

The coach said he was particularly proud of the determination he saw from the younger group in their first matchup. Despite their nerves, the girls still pushed themselves to try events they were unfamiliar with, and he saw each of them smiling with excitement afterward as they proved to themselves their potential. 

With a group consisting of both experienced returners and newcomers, the Mavs are focused on their team building concepts, At the same time, he said they are also looking at what each individual athlete will need to succeed in their events. 

Early season goals for Mavs swim consist of implementing strong work ethic, effort and taking personal responsibility. Preston said he also wants the girls to put in forth their best self each day. 

“As we build throughout the year, we’ll keep applying those principles and then adding more in,” he said. “Focusing on values that we want.” 

Navigating through a short and physically intense season has also been on the minds of the Mavs as they countdown toward the start of league and districts at the end of October. Coming out of their first meet of the season, the coach said he wants the girls to train their racing abilities in practice. 

“We just want to make sure that we’re putting our best foot forward with our training,” said Preston. “Trying to balance everything – there’s about 100 things and about time to do 20. High school seasons are very fast for swimmers and divers.” 

As Moses Lake gets into the swing of their season, the coach said there are still some unknowns as some of the athletes get ready to compete in a new environment, but he is still looking forward to seeing how the team develops. 

“We have a lot of freshmen and sophomores, and we have a couple seniors that really are great team leaders,” said Preston. “We know a little bit more about them, but we’re finding out more about what we have in us for those of them who haven’t tapped their full potential or haven’t seen this.” 

The Mavs will host at the MLHS Pool again today in a league match against AC Davis and Eisenhower at 5 p.m. 

    Moses Lake’s Mia Thompson prepares herself during the diving event in the season opener for swim.
  

    Ciara Quilter from Moses Lake races through her lane during a heat at the first meet of the season.
  

    Mia Thompson from the Mavs goes airborne as she leaps into the water during the diving event.
  

    Ava Center from the Mavs gets ready to start her race during the season opener at the MLHS pool.