BACK IN SWIM OF THINGS : AFTER 4-YEAR LAYOFF, CANYONS' MURPHY IS `FASTER, STRONGER'.

Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News

Brian Murphy has made several changes in his career choice since enrolling as a freshman at College of the Canyons in 1992. What hasn't changed, though, is his desire to swim. After a four-year layoff from swimming at Canyons and three changes in majors, the 22-year-old has returned this spring for his sophomore season.

``It was a mental thing, I just had to prove it to myself that I could still swim,'' said Murphy, a Hart High School graduate. ``I knew I would get back eventually.''

It hasn't come without sacrifice. At work, Murphy has cut back almost half of his 35 hours a week as a supermarket clerk to attend school full time in order to compete.

Junior college athletic eligibility standards allow for two seasons of competition but there are no restraints on completion of the eligibility as long as 24 units of classwork have been passed between seasons.

``I had more than enough units,'' Murphy said, laughing. ``That was the least of my problems.''

Many of his peers from his freshman year at Canyons have graduated from four-year universities. But for Murphy, who will transfer to Cal State Northridge in the fall to work on a degree in administrative justice, there has been no rush.

``I know everyone wonders what is taking me so long but I wanted to take it slow and experiment and see what happens,'' Murphy said. ``I changed my mind and wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I would be at the same place now if I started at a four-year school. I would have been wasting my time and my money.''

Murphy, 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, kept in shape during his layoff by swimming recreationally. Although he has added 15 pounds and two inches from his freshman year, he wasn't sure what to expect this season.

``I didn't have a swim team to work out with, I just swam laps,'' Murphy said. ``My main goal was just to equal what I swam in high school.''

He has done even better. Murphy, who is competing in the Western State Conference finals at Ventura College, has timed personal bests of 23.9 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle and 54.11 and 1:51.12 in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle. The WSC finals conclude today.

``He's much faster and stronger than as a freshman,'' said Canyons coach Diana Stanich, who recruited Murphy out of high school. ``He's worked real hard and it's nice to have him back, especially with his leadership and maturity. I kind of lost touch with him after his first year.''

Keeping track of Murphy's career search was equally confusing.

Murphy started as a biology major and aspired to be a park ranger. Then, he changed to physical therapy. Murphy even worked for a year at St. Joseph's Hospital at Burbank as a therapist but found it ``depressing'' before switching to administrative justice to pursue a career in law enforcement.

Murphy, whose parents are divorced, lives with his father, William, who has been supportive of his son's extended stay at Canyons. His teammates at Canyons have been equally supportive.

``He's a role model for all of us,'' freshman Steve Hines said. ``I have a lot of respect for somebody who is so devoted to come back after taking a break. We're years apart but he's a nice guy you can talk to just like anybody else.''

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Photo: ``It was a mental thing, I just had to prove it to myself that I could still swim,'' Brian Murphy said. ``I knew I would get back eventually.''

Terri Thuente / Daily News