Murphy Joining REDS

(FREDERICTON, NB) The UNB REDS men’s swimming team is adding Saint John’s Zackary Murphy to their recruiting class of 2025.

The 17-year-old, who’s completing his Grade 12 year at Saint John High School, has signed a U SPORTS Letter of Intent and will join the REDS ahead of the 2025-2026 Atlantic University Sport season.

“Zack has impressed us for as long as we’ve been watching him,” said REDS’ head coach Marta Belsh. “He has great technique and the strategies he employs, with a little help from us, will provide an opportunity for him to be successful.”

A veteran member of the Saint John Fundy Tide swim team, Murphy has been a member of provincial teams that have competed at the Eastern Canadian championships and the Canada Games.

He holds provincial records in the boys 11-12 age division category in the 50 and 100-metre freestyle and 50 and 100-metre backstroke.

“I’ll bring a positive mindset to the team,” said Murphy. “I’m also very competitive.”

At Saint John High, Murphy has been part of provincial team championship efforts in each of his four years.

At the 2024-2025 New Brunswick Interscholastic Athletic Association Championships, Murphy won the senior boys’ 50-metre backstroke and earned the silver medal in the senior boys’ 50-metre freestyle. He also anchored the Greyhounds gold medal winning 4-by-50-metre mixed relay effort.

“Zack has experience from some significant events and that should help his transition to swimming at the university level,” said Coach Belsh. “We’re excited to get him in the pool here and working with our group.”

Murphy says he’ll be looking to improve his times in all his events and put his name in the AUS and U SPORTS record books.

STORY BY: Andy Campbell/UNB Athletics

PHOTO: Submitted