It’s almost funny to look back and think about the tiny moments that could have changed the entire trajectory of a person’s life.
Maybe it’s sitting next to that one kid in the cafeteria in first grade who becomes your lifelong best friend. Perhaps it’s signing up for a sport that quickly becomes your life’s passion. One small decision leads to another, then suddenly you’re on a Division I roster.
Or, the things you ignore could get in your way.
For incoming Sun Devil freshman swimmer Eleaunah Phillips, three things could have kept her from reaching her dreams. The road to Mona Plummer Aquatic Center came with more than a few unexpected twists and sneezes, but rather than derail her dream, each challenge only strengthened her resolve.
Obstacle one: Swimming through pneumonia
As a second-grader, Eleaunah was excited to join the local “Learn to Swim” program. But there was a caveat. There were tryouts, and swimmers had to complete 25 meters on their own, all at once. That was no big deal for Eleaunah. She could do it. She had done it before, and she could again.
But the timing was not ideal. That summer, Eleaunah was hospitalized with pneumonia. Unfortunately, the tryout was a mere two weeks after she was discharged from its care.
“She was on such heavy antibiotics that she could barely move. She couldn’t even walk up the stairs and through the kitchen. But she was still determined to go, so we took her,” Melissa Phillips, Eleaunah’s mother, remembered. “We have no idea how she did it, but she did. She swam that 25 meters.”
At such a young age, Eleaunah was already displaying resilience well beyond her years, setting the stage for her future success.
Obstacle two: Allergic to the pool?
In an ironic twist of fate, Eleaunah’s second obstacle almost doesn’t seem real.
Eleaunah began sneezing uncontrollably during practices and meets after swimming her laps.
“And they aren’t quiet sneezes,” said Clayton Phillips, her father. “My family is full of loud sneezers. She would finish her laps, and it would be sneeze after sneeze after sneeze. She just goes bananas.”
“At one point, one of her coaches said, ‘You have to stop sneezing, you’re going to get us kicked out of here,’” laughed Melissa.
Turns out Eleaunah is allergic to pool water. Or chlorine. Or some other chemical in the water. Her parents aren’t exactly sure what the exact allergy is. They just know she sneezes a lot when she’s in the water.
It’s an easily solved problem, however. Eleaunah now wears a nose plug. That, paired with the immunity built up over time, means she won’t sneeze or have watery eyes and can’t compete with any problems or significant discomfort.
Obstacle three: Outpacing the haters
Lastly, and maybe the most challenging obstacle, is the adversity that Eleaunah faced. Heavy is the head that wears the crown, and other swimmers at her local clubs were not fond of her talent or how fast she was developing.
Lesser personalities may have drowned under the pressure, but Eleaunah kept swimming despite the negative energy from her teammates.
“The cream rises to the top. When you’re where you’re supposed to be, you grow, said Clayton.
“I just have such adoration for her and respect for her and her ability to overcome adversity, focus, and be disciplined.”
Where she’s supposed to be
No longer ostracised for her incredible talent, Eleaunah is among her peers on the Sun Devil Swimming and Diving squad. With a Big 12 Championship behind both men’s and women’s teams in the 2025 season, the only adversity Eleaunah will face is pushing herself and her teammates to be better each and every day.
After countless teams and handfuls of not-so-great teammates, she’s finally found a home in Tempe. It’s where her parents feel she’s supposed to be, evidenced by the fact that, for Eleaunah, it was love at first sight.
“She went on one official visit and then was done,” recalled Melissa. “The camaraderie and the coaches’ connection with the team really stuck out. That was the hook for Eleaunah.”
Now in her new home, she’s in a place where her growth is welcomed, encouraged, and embraced. She has teammates and coaches who lift each other up instead of tearing each other down.
“She’s part of a new family. She’s with her people and with like-minded people,” said Melissa.
“We’re excited for her to be with Head Coach Herbie Behm and build that confidence. His coaching is still in the early stages and will expand. We believe in him,” added Clayton.
The journey is just beginning
Every twist of her journey has prepared Eleaunah for this moment. What once could have kept her out of the pool entirely has made her stronger, more resilient, and ready for the challenges ahead.
Now, as she begins her journey at Arizona State, she’s not just swimming for herself, but alongside a team and a community that celebrates her. With her determination, discipline, and support system in place, Eleaunah is ready to rise to the next level, and the Sun Devils are prepared to rise with her.
Have a Sun Devil story to share? Fork it over to Meredith Cunningham, Digital Content Manager for sundevils.com, at mcunni43@asu.edu.