Traynowicz was a three-sport athlete at Bellevue West from 1977-1980, earning nine varsity letters in football, wrestling and track. Traynowicz was a first team All-State football selection in the fall of 1979 and later that year won the Nebraska Class A state heavyweight wrestling championship, finishing with a 29-1 record. He qualified for the Nebraska State Track and Field Championships in discus (1980) and shot (1978-1980) at West.

Mark earned a football scholarship to the University of Nebraska, where he played offensive center for coaching legend Tom Osborne. He started as a junior and won All-Big Eight Honors and was also named to the Big Eight All-Academic Team.

Traynowicz was a consensus first team All-American his senior year in 1984, as well as Academic All-American. Traynowicz was drafted as the first pick in the second round by the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. He played in the NFL for five seasons, the first four with the Bill’s before finishing his career with the Phoenix Cardinals in 1989.

Traynowicz currently lives in Lincoln and works as the Head Bridge Engineer for the State of Nebraska.