College Recruit Rankings Profile: Four-Star Rocky Raybon, Class of 2010

PHOENIX, Arizona, September 2. RAQUEL "Rocky" Raybon is next up in our Swimming World College Recruit Rankings Profile series. Raybon is a four-star butterfly specialist who swims for Sarasota YMCA and Riverview High.

Raybon, who keeps her profile in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks updated on a regular basis, owns a time that clears the U.S. Olympic Trials cut (an integral part of the rankings system) in the women's 200-meter fly. Raybon has a 2:15.71 in the event to her credit.

Meanwhile, Raybon also has a time that would have cleared the NCAA Division I B cut this past year. She clocked a 4:21.85 in the 400-yard IM.

Raybon is interested in a wide variety of schools. She has listed the following universities as those she has interest in early in her recruiting cycle:

University of Alabama (div 1)
Auburn University (div 1)
Emory University (div 3)
Florida State University (div 1)
University of Georgia (div 1)
Louisiana State University (div 1)
University of North Carolina (Wilmington) (div 1)
University of Tennessee (Knoxville) (div 1)
University of Texas (div 1)

To be eligible to be featured in this series, please make sure you create a new profile, or request to take over your admin-created account in the Swimming World College Recruit Rankings powered by Take Your Marks. Click here for information on how to do so.

Where and when did you start swimming?
Sarasota YMCA at 6 years old. I haven't been able to be happy in any other sport!

Who would you name as the most influential person and coach in your swimming career?
I can't name only one. I have had three larger-than-life leaders in my life at different stages in my swim career. Coach Sherwood Watts, Coach Steve Brown, and Coach Larry Shofe

What, to this point, is your best moment in the sport and why?
2008 Southern Zone Meet at Georgia Tech. I made my 200 fly Olympic Trials cut, set two meet and four team records. One of them was a 28-year-old record. Awesome way to end my summer season.

Walk us through a day of practice:
Mon-Sat. 3 hr Practices, Doubles M W F for 1 1/2 hours, Dryland for 30 minutes daily. Main set is usually distance followed by 400 IM sets or straight fly sets. Some running. This is all year long. I get a two-week break at the end of summer.

What is your favorite set?
Repeating 400 IM and fly sets

What is your least favorite set?
Dive 100s

What are your short-term goals?
Top 3 at Florida State H.S. Championships, Top 3 YMCA National Championships, and make finals at the U.S. Spring Nationals. Pick the right college or university that will allow me to continue to improve. One that has a strong club team they are affiliated with, and trains long course after college season is over.

What are your long-term goals?
Although high school swimming does not offer ideal events for me, I would like to earn a personal state championship before I graduate. Making finals at NCAAs would be a thrill, and most of all compete in the 200 fly and 400 IM at the 2012 Olympic Trials.

What colleges are you interested in so far?
Georgia, Auburn, Tenn., LSU, and FSU. Although, depending on my major I am not counting out a Division 2 school with a great swim program that is a good fit for my events.

How is the recruiting process going?
Right now, I am enjoying receiving letters from different schools. I am doing research on the teams by looking up their swimmers current times. I am taking SAT prep classes to prepare for a spring test. I am looking forward to July 1 so I can begin discussions. I really want to sign early and enjoy knowing where I am going before my senior year.

Is there anything else that you'd like our readers to know about you?
I have a brother, 5, and sister, 13, who also swim. I am involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes. My high school is back-to-back Florida State Champs, we are going for our 3rd this year! High School Scholar Athlete, and received the High School All American Award in the 200 IM.

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