Will Raynor
Originally from Omaha, Neb. Will Raynor is a backstroke swimmer at the University of Michigan. Raynor is a junior, and has been a two-time Academic All-Big Ten and earned U-M Athletic Academic Achievement in 2010. He graduated from Omaha Creighton Preparatory in Omaha as a nine-time High School All-American – he also won the state championship in the 200 IM three years in a row. Swimming runs in the Raynor family – his father, Steve, swam at the University of Nebraska, and of his three sisters, Grace, swam at Xavier University and even his uncle swam for the University of Tennessee. Since the Olympic Trials have recently been held in Omaha, swimming in the meet was always a dream of Raynor’s. The 6’3″ Raynor swam club for the Greater Omaha Aquatics Leopardsharks from 2008 until 2012.
Michigan
2012-2013
As a freshman Raynor did not compete at the Big Ten Championships, but he did compete at the Purdue Invitational, where he swam three events.
2013-2014
Raynor made the Academic All-Big Ten team his sophomore year, but did not swim at the Big Ten Championships. Instead Raynor focused on the AT&T Winter Nationals, where he swam three races, and at the Univ. of Michigan Open in November. In a meet against Indiana and Texas Raynor had his highest finish, coming in fourth in the 200 backstroke.
2014-2015
Currently Raynor is in his junior season as a Michigan Wolverine. At his first Big Ten Championships Raynor finished 17th in the 200 backstroke, 19th in the 200 IM and 41st in the 100 backstroke. In the fall semester Raynor competed at the AT&T Winter Nationals, where he swam four races, finishing in his highest place of 21st in the 200 backstroke.
National Competition
In his high school career Raynor was a six-time Nebraska state champion, and was even named the 2012 Nebraska Swimmer of the Meet at the State Championships. Competing for Greater Omaha Aquatics Leopardsharks, Raynor qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials in the 200m backstroke. In 2011 he was a finalist in the 100m backstroke at the Junior National Championships.
