Amy Murphy

Barry Faulkner

On all swim relays, the anchor is the star, the savior, the supreme

talent most capable of making up any deficit, or making the smallest

of leads hold up.

Amy Murphy, a senior on the University of Nevada swim team, is not

quite anchor material. In the pool, at least.

But the former Newport Harbor High standout, who was Wolfpack

coach Mike Shrader’s first recruit and has helped the Reno-based

school climb up the Western Athletic Conference standings (it was a

surprising second to perennial champion SMU last season), hopes to

make her living as a television news anchor, upon graduating in

December.

“I love watching the news and I want to be on the news,” said

Murphy, a journalism major who will complete her athletic eligibility

at the WAC championships next month in San Antonio, Texas.

Murphy has made few headlines at Nevada, but some would say her

work ethic, attitude and ability to inspire her teammates, is at the

heart of the Wolfpack’s success story.

“When I got here, there weren’t many upperclassmen in the

program,” Murphy recalled. “So the younger swimmers got really close,

like a family.”

Murphy, a team co-captain as a junior, has helped that family

flourish, both as an example, and a productive contributor,

frequently scoring in all seven events in which she competes.

She was ninth in the 200-yard freestyle at the WAC championships

last year and also had top-13 individual showings in the 100 free and

500 free.

She was also a member of three top-three relay finishes, including

a second-place showing in the 800 free relay.

This year’s 800 free relay, as well as Nevada’s 400 free relay

quartet, have a shot to advance to the NCAA championships, a feat

Murphy believes would provide a fantastic finish to her collegiate

career.

“I really want to go to the NCAAs and I think there is a really

good opportunity to do it on both those relays this year,” she said.

Murphy’s favorite event is the 200 free, where her lack of

sprinter speed can be compensated for with drive, technique and

experience.

“I loved the 200 free in high school and it’s even better in

college,” said Murphy, who came to Reno on a partial scholarship,

but, through diligence and desire, earned a full ride. “It’s not a

50, so you don’t have to be at top speed right off the block. You

really get to race, which, for me, makes it really challenging and

exciting. I don’t think I really learned how to race, until I got to

college. Now, I’m not really looking for times, as much as places.”

Murphy believes Reno has been the perfect place for her college

experience, though she was initially hesitant to leave California to

go to school.

“I’m really glad I came here,” she said. “It’s a big city, at

least compared to other cities around here, but it feels really

small. It’s a great community to be an athlete in, because there

aren’t any professional sports teams. We become the center of the

community.”

At the center of Murphy’s success is her willingness to compete.

“I think my competitiveness really improved when I came to

college,” she said. “And not just in swimming. I think no matter what

you do, if you maintain a steady drive, you’re going to have a little

more left than other people and you’ll be able to beat them.”

Murphy, who competed with the Irvine Novaquatics club program and

has been swimming competitively for 15 years, acknowledges there will

be a void when her senior season ends.

“We just had our last home meet [Jan. 10] and we had a ceremony

for all the seniors,” Murphy said. “I was the one who cried the most.

I know I’m going to miss it, but I’m ready to take the next step in

my life.”