Name: Michael Krayer
UNCW Swimming & Diving Class of 2006
Events: 50, 100, 200 free
Degree: Chemistry & Marine Biology
Profession: Scientist
Current residence: Charlotte, NC
What is your favorite memory of being part of UNCW’s Swimming & Diving program?
In the pool my favorite memory was the CAA record setting 400 freestyle relay. It was the last event of the meet and we found out just before the race that we already won the CAA Championship team title (the 2nd in our 13 year dynasty). Everyone was ecstatic, but we still wanted to kick JMU’s butt. I led off with a freshmen record in the 100 free (which ended up being my PB all four years) and UNCW legends Tiago Barreira, Adam Brenneman and Dave Sokolofsky finished off JMU and the rest of the field in record setting fashion.
Outside of the pool my favorite memory was playing “Balcony Ball” for hours on end. The goal of Balcony Ball was to shoot a Basketball and balance it on the railing of the 2nd floor balcony in the Peach Palace (44 Hillsdale ). This was pretty much an impossible shot, so if anyone made it we all (whoever was hanging out at the Peach Palace at the time) had to stop what we were doing (studying, watching SouthPark, napping, playing Tony Hawk,…) and go out.
Kevin Norman playing Balcony Ball
How has your experience as part of UNCW’s Swimming & Diving program impacted or influenced your life?
I always say that being a student athlete was the hardest thing (mentally and physically) I have done in my life. Keeping up with classes while being physically exhausted from hours in the pool and weight room and then having to perform on a high level in exams and during swim meets in front of hundreds of cheering people gave me the confidence to take on most of life’s challenges. There were definitely lessons learned along the way! One particular comes to mind on how to not handle a stressful situation, which involved my fist and a brick wall during a dual-meet against NCSU, but I will not go into further details here.
What have you been up to since your days on the UNCW pool deck?
After graduating from UNCW in 2006 I went to NCSU to get a PhD in Chemistry and then started working for a global Chemical Company (BASF) in 2011. Along the way I met my wonderful wife during a Masters swim meet and we moved to Charlotte, NC in 2013. I continue Masters swimming on a semi-regular basis and love to come back to Wilmington especially for the Pier-2-Pier Races (in memory of Grey Liston and Ryan Young).
Favorite stomping grounds from your time at UNCW?
During the semester there really wasn’t much time outside of the pool, weight room, Wagoner hall (Dining Hall) or Dobo Hall (Science building). Out of those I would like to say the weight room was my favorite . During off season I tried to spend as much time on the beach as possible.
Favorite UNCW Swimming & Diving slogan or cheer?
Of course the best slogan ever is: “It’s a great day to be a Seahawk!”
But my favorite pump up cheer was Billy breaking us down (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROIcMtvtVeY)
Parting advice for current UNCW Swimmers and Divers and/or recent alumni?
Enjoy the ride and regret nothing!