Ray Stang (1966-1968)

Ray enrolled at Wheeler High School as a Junior in 1966 when his family moved to Marietta from Northern Virginia. Ray began swimming competitively at an early age, representing his community pool. Later, representing the 11/12 age group for the District of Columbia AAU, Ray's 4x50 Relay Team set an Area record in that event. Upon Ray's family's moving to Marietta, Ray swam for the Northside YMCA of Atlanta and then the Atlanta Swimming Association. He was coached by

Peter Higgins, a legendary State and National coach from the Westminster Schools Swim Team.

During Ray's tenure at Wheeler, there was no Wheeler Swim Team until he represented the school in the Georgia High School Swimming Championships. In the 1967 State Champion Meet, Ray finished 2nd in the 100 yard Breaststroke. In the 1968 Championship Meet, Ray finished 1st in the 100 Yard Breaststroke, becoming Wheeler's first state champion in any athletic competition. He also finished 3rd in the 100 Yard Freestyle. Ray's achievements earned the Wheeler HS Swim Team a 7th place finish in the State for the 1967-68 school year, and Ray WAS the swim team, as he was the only swimmer!

Ray was also a member of the Track Team, achieving Region Championship in the Shot Put competition. After graduation, Ray continued swimming at the University of Georgia where he represented the school in the 1969 and 1970 NCAA championships.