Over the past two seasons, the Mountain View boys swim and dive team has experienced a resurgence at the state level, going from scoring 14 points at the Class 4A state meet in 2022 to amassing 132.5 at this year’s event earlier this month. While several swimmers have been a part of the program’s newfound success, the biggest contributions have come from sophomore swimmer JJ Phillips and senior diver Tyler Tolerico.
Both played a major role in this year’s 12th place team finish at by placing in the top five of their individual events. For finishing third in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races and swimming on both of the Mountain Lions’ eighth-place 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, Phillips is this year’s Reporter-Herald boys swimmer of the year. And for finishing fifth in diving — his third straight top-10 finish — Tolerico is this year’s RH boys diver of the year.
As a freshman in 2023, Phillips had no expectations for himself going into the season. He ended that year finishing ninth in the 50 freestyle (22.25 seconds) and 10th in the 100 freestyle (50.
22) at the state meet. “After freshman year, winning one of my events at conference and being on the podium in both of my events at state, it was kind of an epiphanic moment where I realized that I could be good,” he said “So, I started training harder and focusing more on swimming.” His expectations grew from his freshman state experience, and he stepped up his training.
Eventually, he won th.