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There is a common saying in sports – speed kills – and two-sport standout Reggie Ray proved that to be true, as the athletically-gifted speedster became the top sprinter in College of Wooster history on the track, while also developing into a game-changing wide receiver for the football team, which ultimately earned him a professional contract with the Arena Football League.
Ray didn’t intend to run track at Wooster, instead looking to concentrate on his first passion, but after spending his freshman year strictly on the gridiron, Ray decided to come out for the track team as a sophomore, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Ray’s impact on the track program was instant, starting with the indoor season, where he broke a North Coast Athletic Conference record while winning the 55-meter dash (6.52), and was all-conference (top-three) in two other events (long jump, 4x200 meter relay), helping the Fighting Scots to an NCAC championship. Ray was only getting started, though.
At the outdoor conference meet, Ray was an individual champion in the 100 (10.91) and 200 meters (21.83), recording national-qualifying times in both events, and was a member of two winning relay teams, on his way to being named NCAC Sprinter of the Year, which he earned again as a senior in 2000.
Ray became an All-American in his first trip to the 1998 NCAA Div. III Championships, as he tied for second in the 200 (21.61), which is believed to be the highest finish by a Wooster track athlete at the NCAA’s.
With all that success coming in just his first season with the team, Ray further cemented his legacy the next two years. Overall, he ended his track career as a three-time All-American after finishing fourth nationally in the 100 (10.77) and sixth in the 200 (21.71) in 2000, and as a seven-time NCAC champion.
He is still the owner of five individual school records, including the indoor 55 (6.49), outdoor 100 (10.65), indoor 200 (22.46), outdoor 200 (21.41), and the outdoor 400 (48.70), with his times in the outdoor 100 and 200 being NCAC records as well.
Meanwhile, Ray was steadily carving out a similarly impressive career with the Scots football team. While his natural ability allowed him to literally sprint to the top as a track athlete, he had to work much harder to develop into an eventual first-team all-conference wide receiver.
As a freshman in 1996, Ray played sparingly, but did manage two touchdowns on seven receptions and blocked a punt that led to a game-defining score against rival Wittenberg University. Ray earned a starting position as a sophomore (507 yards, 4 TDs), helping Wooster to a 9-1 record and its first NCAC championship in that sport. Individually, he was honorable mention all-NCAC.
Ray continued to improve, catching eight touchdowns as part of a 28-reception junior season, good for second-team all-conference laurels, and by the time his senior year rolled around, he was clearly the top target, totaling 45 receptions, 810 yards, and eight touchdowns – which all rank among the top-10 for a single-season in team history – and he was voted first-team all-NCAC.
For his career, Ray is one of just three receivers in school annals to go over 2,000 yards (2,044). He’s also third all-time in receiving touchdowns (22) and fourth in receptions (107).
Ray’s speed and ever-improving football skills gained attention from professional scouts, as he received a tryout with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and then played one season with the Grand Rapids Rampage of the AFL.
Ray, an art history major at Wooster, has held several jobs over the last 10 years, all with one common theme – helping youth. His experience, which includes working with at risk students and time as a high school principal, led him to forming his own company – Ray Consulting LLC – where he trains teachers and administrators on classroom and behavior management among other skills.
Currently residing in Uniontown, Ohio, Ray enjoys spending time with his wife Christina and his children Ravel (11) and twins Raven and Cameron (10).