Every great program needs a foil, a counterpart that pulls the best out of them, even during the regular season.

Newport is a Class 4A school on the Oregon Coast, one that Scappoose won't run into when it takes on the Northwest Oregon Conference district or the 5A state meet. But make no mistake. In the unofficial ranking of the Indians' chief rivals throughout the years, Newport is near the top. The Cubs can make Scappoose dig deep and reach a higher competitive level by their mere presence in the pool. It's a healthy, albeit cantankerous rivalry, especially in the relays, that dates back a decade. And through the sometimes doldrums of the regular season, Newport has been Scappoose's smelling salt, the school that shows up at the same prestigious invitationals, pulls the goggles down and goes after it.