Getting To Know Michael Phillippy

In this week's "Getting To Know," we recognize track & field newcomer and graduate transfer Michael Phillippy. The First-Team All-American (DMR) from Princeton is ready to make an immediate impact.

Q: What brought you to USC as a graduate transfer?
 
MP: I'm from California originally, so when I knew that after COVID I would have remaining eligibility, the first goal was to go back home. The East Coast wasn't for me. I definitely wanted to make my way back to California and then USC is world renowned for track. That was a pretty lofty goal, but I'm glad I could achieve it.
 
Q: What do you like more about the West Coast compared to the East Coast?
 
MP: The sunlight, the weather and the vibe is a little bit more relaxed in general. Yeah, mostly the weather and that it's close to home, close to family.
 
Q: Were you a fan of the snow up there?
 
MP: Absolutely not. 
 
Q: What are your favorite things about LA?
 
MP: The weather, I do like that. I can have my car here, because that isn't something I was able to have on the East Coast. Just being able to get around easier and the ability to go home; being close to my family. I really haven't explored L.A. much. I've lived in Orange County my whole life. L.A. traffic is so daunting that you don't want to go anywhere near it. I definitely need to do a little bit more of that.
 
Q: What are some of your favorite off day activities?
 
MP: Definitely just chilling after some of the harder practices. I don't feel like getting out of bed for weeks at a time after that, much less just for my off day (laughs). I like eating in new places. I eat a lot of food when I can, because I like to cook. I like trying to recreate things I try. I'll chill, I'll read and do homework. Sometimes I'll go home if I have enough time too.
 
Q: What have been some of your favorite places to eat out here? 
 
MP: Honestly, just in The Village, all those little restaurants are kind of good. I don't know if that's because of a proximity bias, but those have kept me pretty happy. 

Q: Which food is better, West Coast or East Coast?
 
MP: West Coast. There are just more options out here, more cuisine diversity. On the East Coast, it's all kind of just the same.
 
Q: Is there anything on the East Coast that you feel is hard to replicate out here?
 
MP: I hated the snow in the winter, but you can't replicate the fall and the spring when everything blooms. I'll miss those things, the snow, the winter and the gloom, absolutely not. The other seasons, okay maybe.
 
Q: What is your favorite thing to do to unwind after a long day?
 
MP: I've started meditating recently which has really been helpful, like keeping my mind calm and my anxiety.
 
Q: Is there a specific thing that you like to read?
 
MP: Tough question. I don't know right now. I've been reading all my school books. I can say that's not what I like. I do enjoy reading fantasy science fiction, realistic fiction, mostly fiction.
 
Q: What are some of your favorite books? 
 
MP: I grew up with the Harry Potter books, so that's obviously going to be a favorite because of childhood memories. There is this really cool book I like, it was a fiction book, but it's about mental health struggles and stuff called Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman. That was really good. Recently, I just read a science fiction book called Winter's Orbit. Those are the recent ones.
 
Q: Harry Potter books vs. Harry Potter movies, which is better?
 
MP: They both have their pros and cons. The con for the books is that reading takes a while. You have to sit down and it's quiet, but it obviously builds the world in the story a lot better. But then the movies are, I think, pretty good for a book to movie translation. As good as they could be, they definitely leave a lot out but it's nicer to just sit and chill. 
 
Q: What do you listen to during your meditation sessions?
 
MP: I have an app that I've been using that I've been working through. I have been working through the basics of meditation, relaxation and sleep stuff. I'll listen to things and they'll help calm me down, center myself and focus on my breathing.
 
Q: What is your master's degree in?
 
MP: My master's here is a master's in educational counseling.
 
Q: What do you want to do with that? 
 
MP: The goal is I eventually want to coach track and field at the college level, but then also help the athletes that I'm working with be successful on the academic side. I want that because you're there for an education and athletics, so I think it's important to focus on your academics just as much. I'm keeping both of those goals in mind, because I think they are doable. 
 
Q: Is there a dream scenario for the start of your coaching career?
 
MP: I mean for any of the coaches reading this, if they want to keep me here, that'd be pretty cool. I would love to work here. I definitely want to stay in California, if I could. Now that I'm back, I'm hoping to stay here, and then hopefully, whatever program I end up in, I can elevate the athletes and the program itself.
 
Q: During the offseason, what are you doing? 
 
MP: I do love traveling. My family and I have been lucky enough to go to Europe a few times. Also, my dad's parents used to live down in Florida on the coast, so that's become kind of a little sanctuary that we still go to even though they're not there anymore. We just relax, recover there, when we have enough time to go down for two or three weeks, and then we just chill on the beach.
 
Q: Beaches or mountains?
 
MP: Definitely the beach. I'm not the person who's going to get there and immediately dive into the water like a labrador retriever, but I do just like to chill on the beach. I also like to drive by it and sit down by it. Once I was on the East Coast and there wasn't any sun, I would make sure to take advantage to soak it in when I could. 
 
Q: Favorite place to travel to?
 
MP: I think Italy was probably the coolest. I went there when I was younger with my family to Rome, Venice and other places, and then during undergrad I actually got lucky enough to do an international trip with the track team and we went to Italy. I got to compete there as well. So that was technically my first international competition, which was honestly remarkable. So that just sticks pretty clearly in my mind.
 
Q: How has the transition of joining a new team been? 
 
MP: I think it's been really good. The team is a lot more focused here. I think that's really nice, because as much as I enjoyed my team at Princeton, sometimes it's such a hectic school that so many other things can get in the way. Here there's a nice clear focus on track, and all of our other responsibilities get done and stuff, but it's nice to be around people who are so talented and dedicated to what they do.
 
Q: What is your favorite moment with the team so far? 
 
MP: Katie (Valdes) the nutritionist set up a track cook-off and that was honestly really fun. We just chilled with everybody and competed against each other. 
 
Q: What did you cook for that?
 
MP: My team and I made Cajun pasta with shrimp, which I think should have won. I call judges biased on that. 
 
Q: Was there a moment you felt at home when you joined this team? 
 
MP: It was definitely an interesting transition. I came in and I was new to everything. I felt like a freshman again, but I also had four years of collegiate track experience under my belt. It was simultaneously that I knew so much, but also I had no clue to what's going on. I think that made the transition a little bit harder, but I don't know if there was a specific moment, but I think I've just slowly acclimated better and as I've gotten closer with the team. it's been nice and when I was out for a couple of weeks with an injury, it was nice to still go and be around and still be checked up on. I think even though I wasn't in practice and participating, I still felt part of the team, so I guess that solidified that feeling.
 
Q: What are your goals for this upcoming year? 
 
MP: Academically, it's pretty set in stone, it's a two-year program, so I'm just getting through it. Mentally, I want to get better at centering myself with meditation and quelling my anxiety and being able to prepare for races and compete at a higher level without my mind getting in the way. Athletically, I mean, I'd love to be an All-American for an individual event. I was an All-American with my distance medley team last year, but I would like to do that for my open. That would be awesome, we have so many talented guys, but I'd love to be on our relay teams, because I think they'll go super far and I think we have a really good chance to claim some national titles.
 
Q: What is something you are looking forward to doing this year? 
 
MP: I'm just really looking forward to competing with this team and representing USC. It honestly has always been a dream of mine. To actually be living in that moment, I just want to enjoy it and go out there and compete with the fastest people I know.