Tommy Matheis PO ’28 loved the water long before he arrived at Pomona College and joined the Pomona-Pitzer (P-P) swim and dive team. Taking on diving when he was just 12 years old, Matheis has since become a national competitor and a key asset for the Sagehens.
Hailing from Rancho Santa Margarita, California, Matheis joined Mission Viejo Nadadores Diving, one of the highest-ranked club teams for the sport in the country. He began his training for high diving in 2022, performing feet-first dives from 15 meters. After competing in Park City, Utah, Matheis was selected for the USA High Diving Junior National Team. He went on to represent the United States in 2022 at the World Championships in Montreal, Canada, as well as at the 2023 Pan-American High Diving Championships in Lima, Peru.
“I would definitely say those trips were some of my most formative experiences for my diving career, as a result of getting to train with some of the best divers in the world for my age group,” Matheis said.
According to Matheis, these trips not only left him with increased skills and experience but also unforgettable memories.
“My most memorable experience was diving from the ceiling rafters in the indoor pool in Lima,” Matheis said. “It ended up being almost 16 meters, and the platform was held on by a tow cable. It was definitely scary but very memorable.”
This week marks Matheis’s second consecutive week of being named SCIAC Athlete of the Week. He set a school record in the 3-meter dive scoring 391.28 points on Saturday, Nov. 2 during P-P’s 209-71 win against Cal Lutheran. Matheis also won the 1-meter dive with a score of 375.98. A week prior, Matheis qualified for the NCAA Division III West Regionals thanks to his 318.08 finish in the 3-meter.
Matheis lends immense credit to new diving head coach Miguel Rodriguez, who started with the Sagehens this season.
“He is constantly making sure that all of the divers are well-prepared for meets, and pushes us to be the best divers we can be,” Matheis said. “Whenever we may be struggling during practice, Coach Miguel does his best to tell us exactly what we need to do to improve.”
Rodriguez said he has loved seeing Matheis’ growth as the season has progressed and looks forward to continuing to help him grow as an athlete.
“He stands out because he is able to take corrections and execute them,” Rodriguez said. “We have mainly worked on getting him to spin faster and go higher off the board and he has executed all corrections.”
Another impactful character in Matheis’ diving experience has been fellow Sagehen Liam Hochman PO ’26. Matheis praised Hochman’s mental game in attempting challenging dives.
“[Hochman] never seems fazed by attempting something harder than he’s ever done before, and for that, I admire him as a diver,” Matheis said. “He has been pushing his limits a lot lately during practice and attempting some really hard dives and his progression is definitely visible.”
Hochman also spoke highly of Matheis, emphasizing his work ethic that he said will bode well for future success as a Sagehen.
“Although Tommy is a freshman, he is intent on beating people and setting records at this moment,” Hochman said. “I’m sure he will grow a lot as a diver because he practices his hard dives every day.”
According to Hochman, Matheis has proved to be a powerhouse off the diving board as well.
“He works hard in his classes as one might expect and constantly exudes positive energy,” Hochman said.
As a first-year, Matheis may still be finding his way around campus, but he’s found a sense of home at the college and on the team.
“After discovering the Pomona-Pitzer swim and dive team, I immediately became aware of what to me seemed like a perfect balance between some of the best academics in the country and great athletics, all only an hour away from home,” Matheis said.
Matheis explained the welcoming presence and support the team has provided, both in and out of the pool.
“From the moment myself and the other freshmen arrived on campus, everyone on the team has been there for us,” Matheis said. “Whether it be giving us advice for classes, their opinions on the best dining halls, or even drives to Target when we need something.”
Although the season had just begun, the swim team’s annual biathlon — which consisted of swimming 1,000 meters, running two miles and swimming 500 more meters afterward — proved to be one of Matheis’ most memorable moments.
“I’m not a swimmer, so I didn’t have to do it and I got dead last, but the experience of surviving it with the entire team made it something I won’t forget,” Matheis said.
As the team looks forward to its rivalry meet against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (CMS) on Friday, Dec. 6, Matheis said he hopes to achieve a top-three finish in the 1 and 3-meter boards at the SCIAC Championships. He is also striving to qualify for the NCAA nationals after achieving regional qualification.
“Each season only a limited number of divers advance from regionals to nationals,” Matheis said. “So I’ll be training to make sure I get one of those spots.”
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