Big Ten Senior Spotlight: Tim Phillips of The Ohio State University

Ohio State University senior Tim Phillips entered college as one of the most highly sought after recruits in the Class of 2013, and for very good reason. Hailing from the Marietta YMCA Athletic Club in West Virginia, Phillips set multiple YMCA national records, including records in the 100 yard fly (46.96), 50 meter butterfly (24.18), and 100 meter butterfly (52.88) that still stand five years later. He was also a proficient IMer with a 1:48.13 200 IM to his name, and there was never a doubt that Phillips would make a significant impact regardless of which collegiate program he decided to take his talents to.

It did not take long for this impact to be noticed, as Phillips immediately factored as a reliable relay choice and a talented individual event competitor for the Buckeyes. At his Big Ten debut, Phillips anchored OSU’s 200 freestyle relay to victory with a 19.42 split to just keep off a hard-charging Gopher relay from Minnesota, and he also provided legs on the 400 freestyle relay (43.52, 3rd place), 400 medley relay (46.40 fly, 2nd place), and 800 freestyle relay (1:36.23, 2nd place). Individually, Phillips snared 2nd place in the 100 butterfly (46.99) behind Big Ten record holder Chris Brady from Michigan and he also added a 9th place finish in the 100 free (44.04) and a 13th place finish in the 200 IM (1:47.31). As many fans of the Big Ten will remember, Phillips’ swims were key to Ohio State’s upsetting of Michigan for the Big Ten Team title in 2010.

At that year’s NCAAs, Phillips continued to make a statement via his performances individually and on relays. Phillips only competed in the 100 fly individually (12th place, 46.47), but he improved on nearly all of his relay legs with a 45.86 butterfly leg in the 400 medley relay helping Ohio State take 9th in the 400 medley relay, a 20.68 fly leg contributing to a 10th place finish for the Buckeyes in the 200 medley relay, a 1:35.95 anchor leg in the 800 free relay leading to an 8th place finish, and a 43.57 anchor in the 400 freestyle relay leading to a 15th place finish at NCAAs. Phillips would continue to become a driving force for the Buckeyes during his sophomore year in 2011 and his redshirt junior year in 2013 with numerous top 8 finishes at both Big Tens and NCAAs padding his resume steadily along the way. He was the runner-up in the 100 fly at Big Tens in 2011 (45.92) and in 2013 (45.85), and he would finish 5th (45.90) and 8th (46.19) in that event at NCAAs in those respective years.

Despite Phillips’ tremendous ability in short course swimming, his long course talent has proven to be arguably even more impressive throughout the years. He represented the United States at the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships after qualifying for the meet at that year’s National Championships, and he secured a 7th placed finish in the 50 fly (23.92) after going a 23.69 in prelims, and he also was 9th in the 100 fly in a 52.21. Notably, Phillips posted the 5th fastest time in prelims, but due to the two-swimmers-per-country limitation for finals heats, he competed in the B-final. Beyond the 2010 Pan Pacific Championships, Phillips also won the 100 butterfly at the 2011 National Championships (51.69) and he also won a trifecta of golds at the 2011 World University Games in the 50 fly (23.51), 100 fly (52.06), and the 400 freestyle relay (48.96 2nd leg).

In 2012, Phillips redshirted his junior year in order to prepare for the 2012 Olympic Trials in Omaha, Nebraska. Phillips ultimately fell just short with a 6th place effort in 52.54. Though his Trials swim may been a disappointment, Phillips redeemed himself the next year with a second place showing at the 2013 US Open Championships when his 51.78 came second only to California Aquatics’ Tom Shields, who was just .13 seconds ahead. After choosing to continue training with SwimMAC Carolina for the first semester of his 2013-14 school year, Phillips demonstrated his ability once more when he teamed up with Nick Thoman, Eric Knight, and Cullen Jones to set an American record in the 200 medley relay at the USA Swimming Winter Nationals Meet. Tim contributed a very fast 20.02 butterfly split as part of the effort.

If you haven’t noticed already, it is an exhausting affair just listing Phillips’ achievements and accolades over the last four years (and I know I haven’t covered his full NCAA resume, but this article is long enough as it is). What is most important to recognize is that Tim Phillips is one of the most talented and consistently fast all-around swimmers in NCAA history, and his trademark speed has made him one of the most enjoyable swimmers to watch both at the collegiate and club levels. As a multiple record holder at Ohio State, Phillips will get one last chance to show off his talents at the conference level starting this Wednesday, and though there is always a considerable amount of talent within the Big Ten in the butterfly races, it is hard not to like Phillips’ chances in every event that he will compete in.

Best Times (SCY/LCM):
100 butterfly: 45.61/51.69
200 butterfly: 1:48.44/2:08.96
50 freestyle: 19.92/23.31
100 freestyle: 43.30/49.77
200 freestyle: 1:34.98/1:50.75
200 IM: 1:46.21/2:09.95

School Major/Degree: Agricultural Business and Applied Economics, Minor: Entrepreneurship
Favorite Event: 100 Butterfly
Favorite Hobby/Hidden Talent: Golfing
Favorite Movie: 300
Role Model Growing Up/ Person You’d Like to Meet: Dale Earnhardt
Favorite Food/ Pre-Race Meal: Pasta with steak

At what age did you become involved with swimming? How did you get into it?

I became involved with swimming at a very young age. I would say 8 and under. I got involved with the sport as a summer league swimmer. Also, my father was the coach of the local swim club.

What is your favorite collegiate swimming memory and why?

My favorite collegiate swimming memory would have to be back to my freshman year when we won Big Tens. It was amazing to be involved in that and an asset in winning the meet. Also being on a relay that won that I think changed the attitude of the team to a “we can do this” mentality was really cool.

This past December, you teamed up with Olympians Nick Thoman and Cullen Jones as well as fellow SwimMAC Carolina Elite Team Member Eric Knight to set a new American Record in the 200 yard medley relay. What was that experience like, and how have you carried the momentum from that race into your senior season with OSU?

We initially went into the meet training pretty hard and didn’t have super expectations for the meet. I was at the meet and saw the time of the American Record and said to myself that we could possibly break the record. I approached our coach David Marsh and told him than and he agreed that it was a pretty cool goal to go for and something that could get us jacked up for the meet, Fortunately, we were able to put together 4 really good swims to get that record. I have never swam that fast in season before and after that I had the confidence going in to my season with OSU that I was going to have a good one.

Like other standout senior swimmers in the Big Ten, you have had significant international experience, including performances at the 2010 FINA Short Course Worlds and at the 2011 World University Games. How have these big races helped you become a better swimmer from a mental perspective?

Being on multiple Junior National Teams and the National Team trips have given me the great experience of racing under any condition, anywhere, and anytime, no matter how you feel. That has helped me exponentially throughout my college career, by giving me that confidence that I can compete with anyone in the world, especially at the college level.

Though some big name butterfliers like Sean Fletcher, Jacob Jarzen, and Sean Grier will not be returning for this year’s Big Ten Championships, there is always a strong level of competition in this particular conference year in and year out. What are your expectations for yourself in your individual events this year?

My expectations for this year in all my events is obviously to try and win. And if that doesn’t happen then I want to be able to put up as many points possible that I can in all my events, including the relays, for Ohio State.

As you did not join the rest of your OSU teammates until after the fall semester, how was your transition back into a collegiate environment when you joined your team for training trip? Where did the team go for training trip this year and what was it like?

This year Ohio State went to Boca Raton, FL and trained at the Saint Andrew’s School. The transition back into the team was extremely smooth. I was able to travel from Charlotte to Columbus a couple times in the fall to visit the team and get everything in order for my return. It almost seemed like I had been there the whole time when I arrived in Florida to meet the team.

What/who do you think has been the single most important catalyst to your swimming career?

The single most important catalyst I would have to say would be my father. From coaching me at a young at while my career was progressing. Even as I have transitioned into my collegiate career and have been in the post-grad swimming world he has been there with so much support.

Do you have any plans/commitments following the completion of your collegiate career?

I plan to continue my swimming career in the post-grad/professional scene. I will also continue my training until the 2016 Olympic Trials.

What should we look forward to from Ohio State as a whole at this year’s Big Ten Championships?

I think that Ohio State as a whole will surprise some people. We have had an excellent year to date with progressing as a team and swimmers. I personally think that we will be extremely competitive in many individual event as well as right at the top in relays.