University of Tennessee Athletics
Could You Have Been Anyone Other Than You?
February 18, 2003 | Men's Swimming & Diving
Feb. 18, 2003
By Craig TerBlanche
Could you have been a tollbooth collector? Could you have been Joe Millionaire? Could you have been lost somewhere in Belize? Could you have been an Olympic diver? Have you ever wondered if you've made the right decisions in life? University of Tennessee diver Phillip Jones knows he has.
Jones's athletic adventure started at age 7, when he was a swimmer in his hometown of Lexington, Ky. Jones admits that swimming bored him and that he only did it because his older brother swam. When he noticed a new diving tower being built he discovered his new passion.
"I thought the tower was cool and it looked like fun to jump off of it," Jones said. "I asked my mom if I could take lessons and she said I could try. My parents actually allowed me to try as many sports as I could and I figured out which one I wanted."
After his parents agreed on the lessons, Jones never looked back--but his parents did.
"I just found out a few years ago that my parents were going to pull me out of the lessons because they didn't see any progress," Jones said. "But the coach asked them to keep me for just a couple more lessons and he promised they would see a lot of changes."
With those changes came three state championships, two in Kentucky and one in Indiana. Jones was also a two-time national high school champion. Continuing to hone his skills, Jones went to the 2000 Junior World Championships and took home first place in the 1-meter competition and finished third in the 3-meter. That same year, he qualified for the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.
"Phillip was in an outstanding junior program and he was coached very well," head diving coach Dave Parrington said. "The exciting thing about him is the he is doing this well and there is still a lot more for him to learn."
Next came the decision to be a Tennessee Volunteer.
"That was an easy choice," Jones said. "I have always wanted to go to school here. I grew up on Tennessee football and when I went to my first game at Neyland Stadium, I was sold."
Jones is just a sophomore and is regarded as one of the best divers in the nation. With the season drawing to a close, Jones has yet to compete in a dual-meet without winning the 1-meter competition, the 3-meter or both. To be blunt, he has been the dominant force for the No. 12 Aqua Vols, claiming wins in the 1-meter on six different occasions while finishing first in the 3-meter eight different times.
"I just try to do my part for the team and try to get as many points as I can," Jones said. "Each week will be different, depending on the competitors. But when I get on the board and I'm by myself, it's just the board, the water and me. If I am on my game I am going to win."
Jones swept the 1-meter and 3-meter boards five times this season with the first coming at home Oct. 25, against Kentucky. In the 1-meter competition, he took home top honors with a score of 295.95 while winning the 3-meter with a mark of 323.10. Jones also swept the boards against South Carolina, Penn State, Virginia, Georgia and Florida.
"Phillip has really come in and had a lot of success for us this year," Parrington said. "And the most amazing thing about it is that he is only a sophomore.
Jones tackled another obstacle earlier this season in one of the brightest moments of his collegiate career. On Jan. 11, he captured the 3-meter title at the 2003 Speedo American Cup, qualifying him for the 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials. Jones's career-best score of 632.07 points also moved him up to second place on UT's all-time top-10 list for the 3-meter springboard.
"Winning the American Cup was big for me," Jones said. "This meet is just as big as NCAAs or even bigger. Going in I only needed one more point to qualify for the Olympic Trials and my goal was to get that done."
This year's improvement and added confidence will help Jones as he heads into the Southeastern Conference Championships. Jones looks to repeat as 3-meter champion at this year's SECs, which will be held Feb. 19-22, in Auburn, Ala. Last year, he claimed his first SEC crown with a score of 596.25.
"I want to win both boards this year," Jones said about capturing both the 1- and 3-meter titles at SECs. "Tennessee has a tradition of winning the 3-meter and I want to keep that streak alive."
After his run at the conference titles, Jones will have a chance to prove himself on a national stage at the 2003 NCAA Championships in Austin, Texas. Jones finished third last year on both the 1-meter and 3-meter springboards.
"I definitely want to get the 3-meter," Jones said. "Two seniors finished above me last year so I am confident that I can get it done."
Phillip Jones is a phenomenal diver, but only because he chose to be. Could you have been anyone other than you? Yes, but it would have taken a lot of work, dedication and most of all, time.
