Southern York County Life

Life in the fast lane

Susquehannock’s Phillips has two state titles under his belt

Susquehannock’s Zach Phillips is both competitive and candid. Asked why he selected swimming for his main sport, Phillips said: “Swimming is the only thing I’m good at.”

Actually, Phillips isn’t just a good swimmer. He’s an outstanding one.

The junior capped off his first season with the Warriors by winning two state titles. Phillips captured the 200-yard individual medley and 500-yard freestyle during the PIAA Class AA Meet on March 17 and 18 at Bucknell University. He put up winning times of 1:54.86 in the 200 IM and 4:32.97 in the 500 free.

“I wanted to go a little faster in the IM, but I was happy with both times,” he said. “The distance events are my best ones. That’s why I picked the 500. And Brad (Sloan) did the 200 IM last year, so I thought I would do it this year.”

Phillips headlines the 2005-2006 York-Adams League Swimming Coaches’ All-Star Team. The all-stars were selected based on times submitted by their coaches.

Hard-working teen: His high school season is over, but Phillips is still in the water every day.

He drives from his southern York County home to Westminster, Md., to practice with the Green Terror Aquatic Club at McDaniel College. Phillips usually arrives home around at 8:30 or 9 p.m.—just in time to get enough sleep so he’s alert for morning practice, which begins at 5:15 a.m. at the Southern Branch YMCA in Shrewsbury.

By now, you’ve gotten the picture: Phillips is extremely serious about his sport. But then casual won’t cut it when you have the goal he’s set for himself.

“I would like to make the Olympics in 2008, or at least try to make the team in 2008 and maybe make it in 2012,” he said. “Swimming training can be pretty hard, and you always want to kind of quit. But you know that the pain will go away, and you keep going.”

Phillips will keep pushing toward his immediate and long-term goals. He’s going to go after two state records next year and hopes to be swimming on a college scholarship in two years.

“I plan to do the 500 free again, but I haven’t decided at this point what other event I’ll enter,” he said.

Phillips can choose from plenty of events. The longer races may be his best ones, but he’s not exactly a slouch in the shorter ones. Phillips owns the school record in seven of eight individual events, and he’s close to the mark in the eighth one, the 100-yard breaststroke.

“This was my first year coaching, but I competed in swimming, and I’ve never seen someone as versatile as Zach is,” Susquehannock coach Karissa Brown said. “We can count on him in any event, sprint to distance. He made a huge impact on our team. The other kids want to swim faster because of him.”

Phillips joined the Warriors this season after being forced to miss last season with a broken arm he sustained in a scooter accident. The 17-year-old attended York Catholic High School as a freshman. He competed as an independent swimmer in the 2004 PIAA Class AA Meet, placing sixth in the 500 free.

Phillips’ 500 free time this year was 15 seconds better than his freshman year performance. That’s an impressive time drop, but he’ll look to go even faster next year in pursuit of the state record of 4:29.57.

Phillips’ incredible work ethic lifted him to the top of the medal stand this year. It could carry him there again next year as a returning champion and a new state record holder.

-- Reach Dick VanOlinda at dvanolinda@yorkdispatch.com or 505-5407.

Source: The York Dispatch (we obtain permission for external material)
by DICK VanOLINDA
Posted by Dan Baldwin on 04/07/2006 at 05:29 AM in News

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