Spartan swimmers peaking in time for state

The state swimming championships might still be a month away, but now is the time for high school teams and individuals to begin reaching their top form.

Murray High’s swimming squad obviously got that message.

Several Spartan swimmers have earned their fastest times of the season in the last two months with an eye on the 4A championships Feb. 3-4 at Brigham Young University. The girls team has posted fast times in seven of eight individual events in November or December, while the boys team has earned season-best times in five events during the same period.

The majority of the fast times were set during a dual meet against Skyline on Dec. 8, a tri-meet with Olympus and West on Dec. 14 and at the Judge Memorial Holiday Classic on Dec. 16.

Girls

McKenzie Pollei led the Spartan girls in times of four individual events as of Dec. 25. Pollei, a junior, was tops in the 200 freestyle (2:06.39, sixth-fastest in 4A), 200 individual medley (2:23.04, seventh), 100 free (57.87, 10^th) and 50 free (27.22, 27^th). Meanwhile, sophomore McCall Mash led Murray in two events – 100 butterfly (1:06.20, 10^th) and 100 backstroke (1:05.85, 12^th).

Sophomore Alexis Bagley led the Spartans in the 100 breaststroke (1:15.84, 13^th) and sophomore Alexis Walker was tops in the 500 free (6:04.25, 24^th).

Elsewhere, Jaycie Haroldsen and Pollei were 15^th and 16^th in the 100 breast, while Mash was 13^th in the 200 IM and 18^th in the 100 free. Jessalyn Horton was 28^th in the 100 back, Stephanie Smith was 31^st in the 50 free, Sami Walker was 33^rd in the 500 free, and Alexis Walker was 35^th in the 200 free.

Boys

Five different swimmers were each leading at least one event for the Spartans, while Steven Long, Jayden Beardall and Chris Ruben each led two individual events.

Long, a senior, was pacing Murray’s boys in the 200 free (1:53.03, eighth) and 500 free (5:24.36), while Beardall, a junior, led the 100 back (58.38, seventh) and 200 IM (2:12.99, 20^th). Ruben was tops in the 100 free (51.37, eighth) and 50 free (23.47, ninth).

Freshman Tyler Nielson led the Spartans in the 100 fly (59.66, 20^th), while sophomore Nate Taylor had the top individual state ranking for Murray in the 100 breast (1:03.82, second).

Elsewhere, Jaxon Roller was 10^th in the 100 breast (1:06.28) and Long was 12^th in the 100 free and 13^th in the 50 free. Carter Gratton was 19^th in the 100 back, Beardall was 21^st in the 100 breast, Roller was 26^th in the 50 free and Nielson was 30^th in the 200 free.

Mitch Walker was 31^st, Nielson 32^nd and Roller 36^th in the 200 IM, while Tim Smith was 31^st, Nielson 33^rd and Taylor 38^th in the 500 free for the Spartans.

Wrestling

Four individuals placed within the top six in their respective weight divisions at the Viewmont Invitational. Dallas Howard (285 pounds) finished third, while Jackson Lightfoot (126) was fourth, Brad Brockbank (170) fifth, and Raul Aguilar-Macias (220) sixth. All four competed in the 5A state championships last year, with Lightfoot losing in the quarterfinals.

Murray placed ninth overall, while defending 4A champ Box Elder won the tournament.