Sports at USAFA

renegaderaider

renegaderaider

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Jul 12, 2023
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What are the sporting opportunities like for students at USAFA? I am not a recruited athlete, but I have always been a competitive swimmer at a high level. I don't see myself committing to an intramural or anything of a less-serious nature. What are my odds of walking on to a club or even a Division I team? How will my experience at the school change based on this?
 
renegaderaider said:
I don't see myself committing to an intramural or anything of a less-serious nature.
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If you are not an IC athlete or unable secure "limited on-season" status with a club sport, then you are compelled to participate in intramural sports.


renegaderaider said:
What are my odds of walking on to a club or even a Division I team?
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This is impossible to answer. We know nothing about you.


renegaderaider said:
How will my experience at the school change based on this?
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Many many discussions on this topic. I suggest using the forum's search feature.

Here's a recent thread, for example.
 
It depends on what you consider to be "high level".

If you don't have at least AAA or Futures times, you will have no shot at walking on to the swim team.
 
If you are not a recruited athlete then the odds are slim to none you make it on a Division I program at USAFA. With swimming you know your times and can compare them to current times on the team. That would give you a good idea where you stand. If they are competitive, then it never hurts to reach out to the coach.
 
USAFAparent27' said:
If you are not a recruited athlete then the odds are slim to none you make it on a Division I program at USAFA. With swimming you know your times and can compare them to current times on the team. That would give you a good idea where you stand. If they are competitive, then it never hurts to reach out to the coach.
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This! All experienced swimmers can work Meet Mobile like black magic. The beauty & heartbreak 💔 of the sport of swimming: there is NEVER a question on how you stack up to your competition…..no parents sending emails to coaches about playing time. It’s cut and dry (to a fault). Get on MM & see where you stand. I’m sure if there is a club team even they would have some meets on MM. You know better than anyone here on this forum what team you are most competitive for.
 
The site to check is here:

U.S. Air Force Academy - Top Times

U.S. Air Force Academy - Top Times
www.swimcloud.com www.swimcloud.com

You can see current and historical times for both male and female D1 swimmers, sortable by season.

As far as I know, there is no club swim at USAFA, but there is women's water polo. If Coast Guard travels this year, DW and I are looking forward to our first visit to Colorado Springs.
 
renegaderaider said:
What are the sporting opportunities like for students at USAFA? I am not a recruited athlete, but I have always been a competitive swimmer at a high level. I don't see myself committing to an intramural or anything of a less-serious nature. What are my odds of walking on to a club or even a Division I team? How will my experience at the school change based on this?
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Also, remember that a lot of your classmates are similar. I have boys that could have played D2/D3 but chose to give up the sport and go to USAFA instead. DS#1 is happily pursuing other things while playing intramurals. He misses his sport at times. DS#2 hopes to make a club team if he gets an appointment. With so many really good athletes that are not ICs, there is a lot of competition for some of the clubs. The club team he wants to join is super competitive so he is training hard now (thankfully, his Plan B school also has the same club team). DS#1 has tried out for that club team twice and has not made it but thinks his brother has a really good shot.
 
Runnerthirteen said:
I'm curious why you think anything other than D1 is less-serious in nature.
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I'd like to point out that intramurals and club sports at Service Academies are indeed incredibly competitive. At West Point anyways, it's quite difficult to make these teams in tryouts. (You don't just sign up). Tryouts and interviews.
Keep in mind that, while you may infact be a Div1 intercollegiate level athlete, all your classmates are fellow super jocks. Lettered in Varsity, many Captains. Lots could play intercollegiate Div2, 3 in their sports, but choose Service first.
Don't mean to sound like Im lecturing, but suggest all to keep an open mind about this stuff.
 
AA787DRIVER said:
Triathlon Club is always looking for good athletes according to my kid.
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Yes, and my son reports that at West Point at least, being a qualified swimmer is the most important consideration for tryouts/interviews for Triathlon Club. Even though he's done an olympic Triathlon, and finished 1st in his age group, he didn't make Triathlon last fall tryouts. However, the coach actually reached out, and cited video they had taken during tryout, and told him exactly where his swimming needed minor improvements. (He swims a mile regularly for 18 months now).
He had no idea they made video, and would reachout to him recently. It's an incredibly serious club sport! He will most likely tryout again in fall, but Sandhurst is also huge for him....so we'll see.
 
May not hurt to try out for the D1 team, just might get your feelings hurt IF you get cut. I’m not too bad at baseball, but I’d be happy just to make the club team tbh
 
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