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The present day
Raider program is a merger of the great competitive tradition of
the Dayton Dolphins, founded in 1958 by Coach Mac Preston at
Wright-Patterson AFB, and the young enthusiastic spirit of the
Wright State Raiders, founded in 1978 at Wright State University.
This merger took place in 1981 with the new team carrying the name
DAYTON RAIDERS as a symbol of the best of both programs and a new
drive toward national prominence and recognition.
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From its inception,
the Dayton Raider program has established itself as a premier
USA-Swimming club in the greater Miami Valley. On 8 occasions since
1990, its coaches have been awarded "Senior Coach of the Year" and
"Age Group Coach of the Year." The team consistently places in the
top five at State Championships, eight times held the title of Ohio
Senior State Team Champion and Ohio Age Group State Team Champion,
is regularly represented at Sectional, Junior and Senior National
Championships and has had hundreds of swimmers competing at the
Ohio High School State Championships.
Present Dayton
Raider swimmers have achieved significant honors in the sport of
swimming, including:
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Breaking the
American Record in the 200 backstroke (short course
meters)
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Qualifying in the
top 8 finals at the 1996 & 2004 U.S. Olympic Trials
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Two swimmers
placing 1st at U.S. Senior Nationals, 1992 (1500 meter free) , 1995
(100 meter backstroke)
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Three swimmers
earned births on U.S. National Teams to swim abroad in 1990, 1994,
and 2004
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3rd place team
overall at the 1998 Open Water National Championships
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Won the 50 free at
1995 U.S. Olympic Sport Festival
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Won the 100 and 200
backstroke at the South Asian Games
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Three swimmers
represented the Raiders at various U.S. Olympic Sport
Festivals
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Three swimmers won
U.S. Junior National Championships (long course meters)
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Set U.S. National
Age-Group Records 1994 and 2009
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Twenty-four swimmers ranked 1st, 2nd, or 3rd
nationally in their age division since 1990s
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Seven swimmers have
achieved Olympic Trial Qualifying Time Standards since 1990
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Numerous swimmers
have achieved Sectional, Junior and Senior National Time
Standards
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Numerous swimmers
broke numerous state records both short and long course
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Six U.S. Central
Zone records since 1998.
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Hundreds have
represented the Raiders at the Ohio High School State Championships
from 1990-present
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Numerous swimmers
qualify for Central ZONES Long Course Championships each
year.
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The first and only
Ohio program outside of the greater-Cincinnati area to ever win the
Age Group State Championships since AAU and USA-Swimming
competition began in the 20th century -- 6 times (2004, 2006, 2007,
2008, and 2009 winter and 2009 summer)
Many swimmers have
continued their careers on the intercollegiate level on swimming
and academic scholarships. Recently schools such as Ohio State,
Michigan, Tennessee, Southern California, Clemson, North Carolina
State, University of North Carolina, Miami, Purdue, Miami
University, NC State, Eastern Michigan, UNLV, Evansville,
University of Kentucky, University of Michigan, U.S. Air Force
Academy, Ohio University, Florida, Atlantic, Rice, UNC Wilmington,
Georgia, Indiana, University of Cincinnati, John Carroll
University, Wright State University, and others.
Today, the Dayton Raider Swim Team has over 150 swimmers, ranging
in ability from beginners to Senior National level athletes. These
swimmers hail from more than twenty area cities in the Greater
Dayton Area, reaching as far south as Wilmington and Middletown, as
far north as Troy and as far east as Springfield. Over a third of
these swimmers represent their high schools at the Ohio Sectional,
District and State level. Our progressive group advancement
program allows for swimmers to continually improve their level of
performance from age group to senior level to avoid
"swimmers’ plateau".
The Dayton Raiders Swim Club is dedicated to providing the
area youth with a year-round opportunity to train and to
participate in the sport of swimming. The organization is designed
to allow its swimmers to achieve their full potential, by providing
swimmers with high quality coaching in a structured setting. The
Dayton Raider program insures that this instruction is provided
through the employment of both a full-time potential, by providing
swimmers with high quality coaching in a structured setting. The
Dayton Raider program insures that this instruction is provided
though the employment of both a full-time head coach and assistant
coach with extensive competitive swimming and coaching
backgrounds. Our coaches further enhance their abilities by
having college degrees; and many have or are working towards
advanced degrees.
The Dayton Raiders emphasize a very strict technique-based program
for all groups. Our coaches implement a program that teaches
balance, core development, propulsion, technique, starts, and
turns. Age group swimmers (14-unders) are provided with critical
instruction in these areas that is the foundation for success at
the senior level (15-over). Our coaches have setup a program that
avoids the common trap felt by many athletes in this sport - "early
plateau" by young age group swimmers that can potentially hinder
desire, motivation, and opportunity for improvement at the senior
level. As a results, the Dayton Raiders have one of the
highest continual improvement and retention rates in the United
States. We strongly feel that swimming is a long-term sport
where development at the age group level strongly influences
performance at the senior level. For swimmers who intend to make
swimming a career choice, our coaches develop monthly, seasonal,
3-year cycle, and career plans that allow swimmers to reach full
potential at the high school and collegiate level. Swimmers are
introduced to the latest and most effective techniques available
anywhere in the world. Our coaches are well-educated, experienced
coaches that attend national and international coaching clinics
annually.
When a young person becomes a member of the Dayton Raider Swim Club
he/she learns the values of sportsmanship and team work. Swimming,
though The Dayton Raider Swim Club, provides physical, emotional
and intellectual skills that will last a lifetime.
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