2008 Woodie Awards
Freshman making waves
By: Tiffany Kleekamp
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: Sports
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"I have always wanted to be in the military," Rafferty said.
After high school Rafferty planned to go to the Navy like his brother had. But then Webster swim coach Kevin Mabie discovered Rafferty by talking to Rafferty's high school coach at the state meet.
"He (Rafferty) was certainly very good there (at the high school meet)," Mabie said.
Webster offered Rafferty a grant that would allow him to swim at Webster and it was an opportunity he said he couldn't refuse.
Although Rafferty's original plan changed in the course of a few months, he said he still might pursue a career in the Navy, possibly after he graduates, or he may even join the Navy reserves next year.
Rafferty may have been a loss for the Navy, but because of it, Webster has gained a star swimmer. Rafferty has already broken four Gorlok swimming records this season: the 200-yard individual medley, the 100-yard freestyle, the 200-yard freestyle and the 1,000-yard freestyle. He is one of the numerous Gorloks to already break records this season.
"Rafferty adds a lot to the team because he is a leader in and out of the pool," Mabie said. "He's a guy I can count on to be respectful at all time, He's just an intelligent and outgoing guy."
Mabie added that Rafferty finds ways to better the team even when he is not swimming, and also is actively involved with recruiting.
Making the change from the high school swim team to the university swim team was as easy for Rafferty as it was for him to break records. However, when Rafferty's long time swim coach left him a few years ago, it was a different story.
"I had to go to a different team and it was really uncomfortable for me," Rafferty said.
The change to a university setting came easy also because Rafferty had not been swimming on a competitive team for a while. So to prepare, Rafferty said he performed a lot of mental exercises, especially meditation.