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Ellen and Tommy Gilbert

DIII50: The Gilberts

12/17/2023 1:07:00 PM

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of NCAA Division III, the Illinois Wesleyan University athletic department will highlight various stories of the Titans and their DIII history through a monthly series.

Titan Green could easily be considered a primary color in the Gilbert household, as Illinois Wesleyan University swimmers spanned nearly a decade, siblings Tommy, and Ellen Gilbert made IWU's Fort Natatorium a second home and even their brother, Bobby, had a part in the Illinois Wesleyan pipeline. 

Tommy, a 2012 alumnus, paved the IWU pathway for his younger siblings as he earned four varsity letters as a member of the men's swimming and diving team. A multiple-time All-College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin (CCIW) swimmer, Tommy built quite the resume setting program records in the 200-yard individual medley, the 400-yard medley relay, the 400-yard freestyle relay and the 800-yard freestyle relay. His squad's 200 and 400-yard medley relay records still stand today. 

Following his career as a student-athlete, Tommy served a two-year stint as the men's and women's swimming and diving graduate assistant from 2013 to 2015, earning a master's degree in sport management from Illinois State University before working his way up to a one-year part-time assistant coaches' role. Tommy became the full-time assistant coach of the swim and dive programs in 2016.

Growing up watching her brother compete for the Green and White, Ellen knew what kind of experience IWU could offer her someday. "I remember being nine-years-old watching Tommy and his teammates competing in the CCIW Championship and hoping that I could be a part of that team one day," said Ellen. "Even as a young spectator, I could see how every single Titan was valued and supported."
Tommy & Ellen Gilbert 2022 CCIW Championship

When it came time for Ellen to choose where she would spend her next four years swimming, she found herself reflecting on her college checklist and noticing Illinois Wesleyan checked all of her boxes both academically and athletically. Ellen knew swimming at a Division III school would be the best fit for the goals she set for herself. 

"I knew the smaller class sizes would allow me to make strong connections with my professors and my fellow students," the psychology graduate said. "While I was very committed to my sport, academics always came first. I wanted to find a program that would align with my values. DIII sports make room for student-athletes to prioritize their academics while competing at a high level and getting involved in campus life. On my recruit trips, I saw IWU swimmers finding that balance and succeeding in many areas of their lives. When it was my turn to attend IWU, I found that balance for myself, and I appreciate all of the opportunities I had throughout my four years."

While considering the school her brother also coached at in her 2018 college search, head coach Teresa Fish made sure to take the lead in Ellen's recruiting process, allowing Tommy room to step back and giving Ellen the space to find the right fit for her goals and personality.

With an extensive age gap, Tommy and Ellen made the most of the extra time allotted to them as they teetered between the coach-and-athlete and sibling relationships. On the pool deck, Tommy coached Ellen as he would any other swimmer, to the point of the newcomers not quite realizing the sibling ties until much later. Nevertheless, the two created a habit of spending time outside of the pool – with no swim talk – and are still working through a Bloomington-Normal restaurant bucket list the duo started during Ellen's freshman year.

"My favorite part about being coached by Tommy was knowing that I always had someone in my corner," said Ellen. "Tommy was always one of the first people to support me during the hard moments, and he was also one of the first to celebrate with me during the exciting moments. It was wonderful to have him so nearby and to share all of those moments with him."

Tommy eagerly handed over the reins to Ellen as she began to build an impressive swimming career of her own, becoming one of the most decorated student-athletes at Illinois Wesleyan. A champion in the classroom, Ellen was a three-time College Sports Communicators (formerly College Sports Information Directors of America) Academic All-America honoree and a College Swimming & Diving Coaches Association of America Scholar All-American Team member. She was also inducted into the Psi Chi and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies. 
 
Ellen Gilbert - in pool


In the pool, Ellen was an NCAA Division III All-American in the 200-yard butterfly and an eight-time CCIW individual champion amongst a plethora of all-conference honors. Ellen was voted the conference's Swimmer of the Year twice and was even named the CCIW's Woman of the Year in 2022. An 2022 NCAA Woman of the Year semifinalist, Ellen still holds two school records in the 100-yard butterfly and as a member of the 400-yard freestyle quartet. 

"Swimming at the collegiate level is a long journey with a lot of ups and downs," said Ellen. "Going through four years as a swimmer [with Tommy as one of my coaches] helped us create so many special memories that will always be important to me. One of my favorite memories is training for the NCAA Championships my senior year. Tommy gave me the perfect balance of goofiness and motivation that I needed to help me work through my final few weeks of training. Competing in that meet was very emotional because it was my last meet ever, and I am so glad I got to share that with Tommy."

Ellen still frequents the Titans' pool as a coach of the Funky Fish Swim Club. "I love that I still get to be involved in the sport even though I'm done competing."

"It was an honor to be a part of such a special program. I loved representing IWU for four years, and I look forward to seeing the next group of Titans continue to strengthen the program," Ellen concluded. 
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