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Aug 14, 2017
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Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone on these forums is/was on the varsity swim team at the Naval Academy, or if you know someone that is/has been on the team.

I'm just wondering if anyone knows how many people walk on the swim team each year, and how many people try out for sports (If I'm correct, the numbers are smaller than tryouts for other sports like crew/football). Just trying to evaluate my chances and options.

Thank you so much.
 
DD has a Plebe swimmer for a roomie. I can have her ask plus you can look up the times of the team to judge your chances. Have you reached out to the coach? They would probably be your best info.
 
DD has a Plebe swimmer for a roomie. I can have her ask plus you can look up the times of the team to judge your chances. Have you reached out to the coach? They would probably be your best info.

Thank you so much for asking, that would be greatly appreciated.

I have looked at times and all, and I'm definitely capable of swimming for them, it's just that my times this year haven't been great, which prevented me from being recruited. I have talked to the coach, and he basically said that my times weren't at recruited level yet.

Just don't know how many kids he actually lets walk on every year, because I think I would be competitive in tryouts (if not recruited)
 
The coaches pretty much let anyone try out.

The process of making the team for track, cross-country and swimming are pretty easy to understand. Be faster, jump higher, or throw further. If you are faster than the other swimmers at the tryout - the coach will have a hard time articulating why you wouldn't make the team.

The major problem for athletes (especially walk-ons) competing for spots on any team - Plebe Summer is a terrible situation to train for D1 sports - especially for Fall sports.
 
The coaches pretty much let anyone try out.

The process of making the team for track, cross-country and swimming are pretty easy to understand. Be faster, jump higher, or throw further. If you are faster than the other swimmers at the tryout - the coach will have a hard time articulating why you wouldn't make the team.

The major problem for athletes (especially walk-ons) competing for spots on any team - Plebe Summer is a terrible situation to train for D1 sports - especially for Fall sports.

Cerberi is spot on. Trying out for a D1 team or even one of the very competitive club sports during Plebe Summer is the tough part. Being competitive while being completely ruined down is tough. Doable, but tough. Good luck.
 
DD is a recruited swimmer at the USNA. The guys team may be different. While talking to Coach Rob over the summer, this exact issue came up. He said 4 or 5 walk-on swimmers are allowed to practice with the team during the plebe summer. However, when the season actually starts, usually only one (at most) is allowed to stay on the team. Basically it comes down to resources. Keep in mind that they already filled their needs with their recruits. USNA has more swim recruits than an average school with 12 or 13 every year.
 
DD is a recruited swimmer at the USNA. The guys team may be different. While talking to Coach Rob over the summer, this exact issue came up. He said 4 or 5 walk-on swimmers are allowed to practice with the team during the plebe summer. However, when the season actually starts, usually only one (at most) is allowed to stay on the team. Basically it comes down to resources. Keep in mind that they already filled their needs with their recruits. USNA has more swim recruits than an average school with 12 or 13 every year.

Thanks for the insight. By off chance, do you know how late recruited swimmers at USNA commit by? In other words, if I have a really good taper meet this winter/spring (of my senior year), do I still have a chance of being recruited, or would I have missed their 'deadline'?
 
Thanks for the insight. By off chance, do you know how late recruited swimmers at USNA commit by? In other words, if I have a really good taper meet this winter/spring (of my senior year), do I still have a chance of being recruited, or would I have missed their 'deadline'?

I'm not really sure about the exact answer to your question. My DD received LOA early but did not get her appointment until mid-January because she needed a waiver. I'm sure that it's case by case but I'll make a conjecture. Even some recruited athletes end up not coming to USNA for a variety of reasons (medical issue, acceptance at a different school, change of heart, etc). Until the recruits accept their appointments, I think the coaches assume that they can always go elsewhere. As such, if you have real good meets early winter, it may definitely help your case.
 
They are all recruited athletes and their times are fast. Check your times vs. their times if you are as fast or faster contact the coach and speak with them. If your times are not close that is just the way it is.
 
Both of my roommates are on the team. They were recruited; however, you can pick swimming as your sport for Plebe Summer and stick with it until the ac year. From what they have told me, almost no one makes it as a walk on but only a few. The coach doesn't tell anyone how many spots are open if any. He just expects you to show that you want to be there.
 
Thanks for the insight. By off chance, do you know how late recruited swimmers at USNA commit by? In other words, if I have a really good taper meet this winter/spring (of my senior year), do I still have a chance of being recruited, or would I have missed their 'deadline'?

My DS is on the men's swim team. I believe 2021 had 14 recruited swimmers and 6 walk on's, 2020 had 11 recruited and one walk on. Five of the 2021 walk on's were cut last week. The one plebe that made the team earned it. He really worked hard and impressed the entire team. It seems to be very difficult to make the team as a walk on. The coach carries about 40 swimmers on the team total. So to some extent it depends on the number of upperclassmen remaining on the team.

Look at the Navy/Army meet and Patriot League Championship times to see how your taper times compare. I am sure that the coaches have a list of swimmers they are actively recruiting now and will assist those recruits through the application process. If you are not a recruited swimmer, you will "just" have to get a appointment under your own steam, walk on, and show them what you can do.

Go Navy Beat Army
 
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