PJ Ransford
Born Sept. 8, 1996 PJ Ransford is a distance swimmer at the University of Michigan. Originally from Pittsford, N.Y., PJ Ransford was born Patrick James Ransford, but prefers to go by PJ. Ransford is a freshman at Michigan, but graduated from Pittsford Mendon High School – he was a Youth Olympian and named All-Greater Rochester Swimmer of the Year in 2014. He also trained with PACK Swim Team near Rochester. Ransford is an excellent distance swimmer, with national titles under his belt, and besides Michigan’s success with distance swimmers, he had another reason to choose Michigan – his father is a Michigan graduate. Ransford is studying Engineering, which its excellent engineering school also played a roll in his college decision. When recruited, Ransford was expected to play a big roll in Michigan’s program – in 2013 Michigan made up 6 of the 8 fastest 500 swimmers in the conference, but during Ransford’s freshman season, only one returned. And in just his first year at Michigan, he earned NCAA All-America honors in the 1,650 freestyle.
Michigan
2014-2015
Ransford is currently in his freshman year as a Michigan Wolverine. Ransford qualified for the NCAA Championships immediately, and finished second in the 1,650 freestyle, and came in 27th in the 500 freestyle. At the Big Ten Championships he finished in the top eight in the 1,650 and 500, and came in 20th in the 400 IM. He made the All-Big Ten Second Team.
International Competition
Ransford represented Team USA at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in China. He’s competed at multiple national events, including the Phillips 66 National Championships, Junior Nationals, AT&T Winter Nationals – he won the national title of the NCSA Junior Nationals in the 1,650 freestyle.
At Pittsford Mendon High School he won four Public School state championships, and won back-to-back team state championships his junior and senior year.
