Swim teams win championship

The Marv Jenson Marlins swim team won the Salt Lake County Championship recently at the Fairmont Aquatics Center. The boys and girls squads came out on top of eight other area programs to receive the traveling trophy.

                “This is the first time Marv Jenson has ever won,” coach Tim Pollock said. “And we plan on keeping this trophy with us.”

                The boys team was led by Trevor Maxfield with first places in the 13 and over 50 Freestyle, 13 and over 50 Breaststroke and 13 and over 100 Free.

                “Trevor’s time in the 100 Free was just over a minute, and a lot of kids in high school have a hard time going that fast,” Pollock said.  “And he’s only in the eighth grade.”

Conner Anderson also placed first in the 12 and under 50 Free and the 12 and under 50 Butterfly while Tanner Nelson won the 10 and under 25 Free and the 10 and under 25 Backstroke.

                Other top placements for the boys squad were Grant Church – second (13 and over 50 Free); Jake Rowley – third (12 & under 50 Back); third (12 and under 100 Individual Medley); Adam Strong  -- third (12 and under 50 Free), third (12 and under 50 Breast) and Brayden Parry – third (12 and under 100 Free).

                The girls team was led by Brooke Lyon who won by nearly 12 seconds in the 13 and over 100 IM and took the top spot in the 13 and over 50 Free. Morgan Makar dropped six seconds off her personal best with a win in the 13 and over 100 Free while also placing first in the 13 and over 50 Back and second in the 13 and over 50 Fly. Skyler Lyon came in first in the 10 and under 25 Back.

                Other top finishers for the Marlins were Symone Hanagarne – second (12 and under 50 back), second (12 and under 50 fly), third (12 and under 100 IM); Sara Walters – second (12 and under 100 IM), second (12 and Under 50 Free), third (12 and under 50 back); Adriana Thacker – second (13 and over 100 IM – 1:26.51), third (13 and over 50 breast); Gabriella Smith – second (13 and over 50 back), third (13 and over IM) and Kayla Fowlks – third (12 and under 100 free)

Others on the Marlins team include Xan Allen, Catrina Booth, Darrin Burnett, Isaac Edwards, Danny

Glover, Ruby Jackson, Sydney Jensen, Sarah Makar, Hannah Myers, Zander Nicholson, Mikaela Olsen, Ashli Owen, Mikelle Palmer, Ethan Snow, Jimena Supiciche, Adam Swasey and Harris Swasey.

                Pollock, who swam for West Jordan High, took over the MJ Marlins in August when previous coach Ben Larsen, a former high school teammate of Pollock’s, took another position in the county.

                “Ben really made all of this possible and was a great inspiration for the kids,” Pollock said. “He made it fun to go to practice, and there were tears shed, literally, on his last day with the team.”

The Marlins coaching staff also includes Pollock’s brother Nick, who also swam at WJHS, and recent addition Greg Sparks.

                For more information on the MJ Marlins swimming program, contact Marv Jenson Recreation Center at (801) 253-4404.