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Despite a strong swimming tradition — with eight state titles to its credit — the Murray swim team has recently fallen on hard times.

A 12-place finish at last season's state meet didn't sit well with the team and they wanted to do something about it.

"We have been really thinking about our tradition, it's a big factor in what we do," said junior McKenzie Pollei. "Everyone has more motivation this year to make it on the podium at state."

To help the team achieve its dream of a state title, second year coach Amber Rogers instituted a 'tear down' program, a series of swimming sprints designed to help with endurance.

"The idea is to tear down muscles so they are used to swimming a lot and can swim for a long time," said Rogers. "A few weeks before state, we stop the program and give muscles a chance to rest so they are in top shape for state."

So far this season, the program appears to be working. Twenty-four Murray swimmers show up in 15 events on the Utah top 50 list. Steven Long is the on the list in four events, the 50, 100, 200 and 500 meter freestyles.

"The past few years we have been getting to know each other and that has made a big difference in our success," said Long. "In swimming, you build your success off of others pushing you, so it's really helpful to have friends on the team that you can compete against and push each other to do your best."

Long has been pushed this season by teammate Chris Ruben. Ruben, who also shows up on the Utah top 50 in the 50 and 100 meter freestyle, knows the tear down program has helped him drop time.

"Tear down is the worst month of your life — it makes everything sore," said Ruben. "It's rough and hard but it's good for you and we are better because of it."

The Spartans last won a swimming state championship in 2006. Although Rogers knows that success won't come overnight, she wants the program to get to the level that they enjoyed in the 1990s, when the school won three straight titles.

"Coming from Arizona, I didn't know anything about Murray swimming and I have been very impressed with what I have learned," said Rogers. "I want to get back to that standard and make a name for ourselves again. If we work really, really hard, I know we will." —

Big Number • 2. Number of game-winning shots hit by Midvalley boys basketball teams last week. Skyline's Garrett England hit a 3-pointer as time expired in overtime to give his team the victory over Cedar, and Parker Rawlings of Olympus hit a buzzer-beating 3 to give his team an upset win over Bountiful.

Player • Miquelle Askew, Skyline girls basketball. Askew recorded a double double, 20 points and 12 rebounds, in the Eagles victory over Highland.

Game • Hillcrest at Woods Cross boys basketball, Friday, 7 p.m. The upstart Huskies get a chance to prove they are for real when they face one of the top teams in Class 4A.