Young Tae Seo, the #7 recruit in the country according to collegeswimming.com, has changed his commitment from the University of Florida to the Naval Academy, he announced today.
Seo, who signed a National Letter of Intent in the fall, will take one year to attend the Peddie School in New Jersey, a preparatory school with a legendary swimming program, for one year before enrolling at the United States Naval Academy. He said that it was always his mother’s dream to go to the Naval Academy and serve his country. His mother’s health is not good, and he told us that when the opportunity came up, he just couldn’t pass it up.
For those unfamiliar with the process of being accepted to the Naval Academy, here is a description from their website.
A nomination is required in order to receive an appointment. All students can apply to their congressman, senators, and the Vice President for a nomination. Alternative nomination sources are also available. Applying for a nomination is a separate process from applying to the Naval Academy. All nominating sources officially notify the Naval Academy of their nominees by the end of January. Students should apply to all the nomination sources for which they are eligible. Appointments are invitations to attend the Naval Academy. In a typical year, approximately 4,000 candidates receive nominations. However, only 1,500 appointments will be given out. In other words, obtaining a nomination in no way guarantees that a candidate will receive an appointment. You will be notified of your appointment status by the middle of April.
The key is that students don’t find out if they’re accepted until April; and this is not a case of “well, you don’t find out, but if you had good grades we’ll get you in.” The academies process is highly competitive, and done on a completely above-board basis even when it comes to top athletes.
Seo, who swims for Crescenta Valley High School and SwimPasadena, is a huge grab in a class full of NCAA-ready-swimmers. In yards, he has bests of 55.38 and 1:58.57, respectively, in the 100 and 200 breaststrokes, plus bests of 1:47.3 and 3:47.7 in the 200 and 4o0 IM’s. Showing how versatile he can be in those IM’s, he has also been 49.81 and 1:46.37 in the 100 and 200 yard butterflys.
At Navy, though he will have larger pursuits than strictly athletics, he could serve a big role beyond just his primary events as well; he has bests of 46.84 and 1:40.69 in the 100 and 200 yard freestyles. The Midshipmen had pretty strong, and young, freestyle groups, but Seo’s potential when joining them could make him a part of that plan long-term.
Seo had considered both swimming and participating in Florida’s ROTC program: a precursor to military service.
See Also:
Young Tae Seo, top-2 recruit out of the state of California, commits to Florida.
Talking about swimmers leaving Florida, any word on where Nicholas Caldwell is going to swim next Fall?
Good luck Young Tae! My son is going to the Naval academy in the fall. He was excited to hear you will be joining him in 2014. He met you on the official visit last fall. Go Navy!
Is it Ethan?
Yes…
Congrats Young Tae Seo you will be well served in life by your education at Annapolis and I am sure your country will be well served by you!!
Hello! This is Young Tae. This is real. Not April fools. And thank you for the support
You’re welcome keep up the good work and have a blast at Navy.
I’ve had an eye on him for a couple years now since he pulled off some impressive doubles at Jr Nats in 4IM/2FL/2BR/2IM very versatile in the toughest events.
The program is not only adequate, it’s excellent. The Midshipmen have a rigorous training program and have hovered just outside the top 25 for the past few years. With Young Tae, plus several outstanding other recruits and the talent already in the program, I would expect the team to be a top 20 program in this coming year (possibly) or the next (defiantly). This isn’t just Young Tae’s mother’s dream, he has long been interested in the Academy and even spent time there this past fall. It was very hard for his to turn down the opportunity and choose Florida, so my guess is, he looked to his future and saw what a Navy education could do for him.
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LOL this is a total April Fool’s joke.
Don’t tell a midshipman that he is on scholarship. He or she will snap at you we earn every dollar that is used in our education. Have 2 brother-in-laws and made the mistake of saying they were on scholarships one time. Why the Peddie for a year and how does he hold the appointment for another year?
Thank you very much!
I have a feeling this is an April Fool’s joke…
His swimming and academics should thrive as long as this is truly his own dream and not just his mother’s.
Good for him! It’s an honor to serve one’s country. Is the coaching staff adequate at the Naval Academy? I haven’t heard too much about the program lately…