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. 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:
•Breaking the American Record in the 200 backstroke (short course meters)
•Qualifying in the top 8 finals at the 1996 & 2004 U.S. Senior Nationals, 1992 (1500 meter free) , 1995 (100 meter backstroke)
•Three swimmers earned births on U.S. National Teams to swim abroad in 1990, 1994, and 2004
•3rd place team overall at the 1998 Open Water National Championships
•Won the 50 free at 1995 U.S. Olympic Sport Festival
•Won the 100 and 200 backstroke at the South Asian Games
•Three swimmers represented the Raiders at various U.S. Junior National Championships (long course meters)
•Set U.S. National Age-Group Records 1994 and 2009
•Twenty-four swimmers ranked 1st, 2nd, or 3rd nationally in their age division since 1990s
•Seven swimmers have achieved Olympic Trial Qualifying Time Standards since 1990
•Numerous swimmers have achieved Sectional, Junior and Senior National Time Standards
•Numerous swimmers broke numerous state records both short and long course
•Six U.S. Central Zone records since 1998.
•Hundreds have represented the Raiders at the Ohio High School State Championships from 1990-present
•Numerous swimmers qualify for Central ZONES Long Course Championships each year.
•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 providing, high quality coaching in a structured setting though the employment of both a full-time head coaches and assistant coaches with extensive competitive swimming and coaching backgrounds. The Dayton Raiders emphasize a detailed and focused 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.
