05/06/08

       After half a year in Danny's group, mostly spent learning the basics of swimming, Will decided it was time to raise the stakes.  He joined his Bolles High School Swim Team and senior group, a world renowned program that has not failed to win State Championships in nearly two decades, and has claimed several National Championships along the way.  While at Bolles, Will was coach exclusively by Olympic Gold Medalist Martin Zubero.  While an extreme privilege, Will had literally jumped in the deep end, going from about three 1,500 meter practices a week to nine to eleven practices, sometimes in excess of 100 kilometers per week!  While Will considers this the most difficult pursuit of his life, it really allowed him to take off.  Over the next two years, Will clawed himself to a 5 minute 500 SCY, as well as earning a spot on the Team Aegis Junior National Team in 2005. 

       While racing for Team Aegis, Will had the privilege of racing, literally, around the world, both in junior and professional races.  During this time Will forged friendships with many top tier professionals, and had the opportunity to visit the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. 

       In 2006, Will chose not to return to Team Aegis, in pursuit of a college running career.  While swimming, Will also ran track and field, placing sixth in the Florida State Championships with a best time of 4.25 in the 1600m.  Will decided to attend college at the University of Florida on a full scholarship, and focused all his efforts on running track for the University; a pursuit that ultimately never came to fruition.  Devastated, Will became very discouraged, and tried to sell off his bikes on several occasions.  Luckily, all of these attempts failed as well. 

       In the winter of 2007, Will began running heavily again.  Though running completely alone, Will proved himself by running unattached and turning in times faster than his UF peers on several occasions.  In a last ditch effort to enjoy the sport, Will returned to racing shortly there after.  Will shocked his family, friends, and most of all himself when he began terrorizing every event he raced all year!  Back in full force, and his resolve stronger than ever, Will has picked up where he left off in 2005 (actually much further along) in his pursuit of an Olympic appearance. 

       In 2008, utterly frustrated with UF, Will transferred to the University of North Florida where he now runs competitively.  Will has already seen tremendous leaps forward in his brief time in college running.  Will is expecting big things from his running future.

       It seems, as no one could have foreseen, that Will's brief absence from the sport is allowing him to sharpen the ever important skill of running.  It is now his strongest weapon in racing, where it had previously been his weakness.