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U.S. Air Force Academy

Military academy appointments include soccer standout

June 20, 2018 By Kevin Weiss

Growing up, Victoria Mitchell always knew she wanted to serve her country with a career in the military.

She’ll soon get the chance, when she’s officially inducted into the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, on June 28.

The 17-year-old recent Wesley Chapel High School graduate received her official appointment to the Navy in late March — about 10 months after she verbally committed to play soccer there last May and five months after she was nominated for appointment from the 12th Congressional District by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Wesley Chapel High graduate Victoria Mitchell will be inducted into the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland on June 28. She was nominated for appointment in November from the 12th Congressional District by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. (Courtesy of Victoria Mitchell)

Mitchell is one of six Tampa Bay area students who were nominated and subsequently received appointments to a United States service academy through Bilirakis’ office.

The others are: River Ridge High School’s Connor Beckman, United States Military Academy; Mitchell High School’s Austin Jerome, United States Merchant Marine Academy; Clearwater Central Catholic High School’s Annalise Klopfer, United States Naval Academy; Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School’s Dennis Teicher, United States Military Academy; and, Wiregrass Ranch High School’s Payton Wilson, United States Air Force Academy.

Mitchell, for one, vividly remembers when her acceptance letter arrived in an email.

“I was pretty much overwhelmed with excitement,” Mitchell recalled. “I actually read the email several times and couldn’t believe that, like, I actually got in. I remember showing the email to my dad and being like, ‘Is this for real? This means I’m going straight there?’ I thought I was going to a prep school at this point, so I was kind of down; I didn’t think I was going to get in immediately. I had almost given up hope and then I got that email when I least expected it. I was just overwhelmed, excited — like, it was one of the best days ever.”

Each year, members of Congress nominate candidates for appointment to four of the five academies: U.S. Military Academy, West Point, New York; the U.S. Naval Academy (USNA), Annapolis, Maryland; the U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado; and, the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, New York.

The fifth service academy, the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, New London, Connecticut, does not require a congressional nomination for appointment.

Applications far exceed open slots
Appointments by service academies are usually made between January and April, and sometimes as late as May. Congressional service academy nominations don’t always guarantee acceptance.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis held an annual reception last month to honor local students who received his nomination and subsequent appointment to a United States service academy.
Appointees, pictured from left, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School’s Dennis Teicher, United States Military Academy; Wesley Chapel High School’s Victoria Mitchell, United States Naval Academy; Wiregrass Ranch High School’s Payton Wilson, United States Air Force Academy; and, River Ridge High School’s Connor Beckman, United States Military Academy. Other Bilirakis’ nominated appointees not pictured are Mitchell High School’s Austin Jerome, United States Merchant Marine Academy; and, Clearwater Central Catholic High School’s Annalise Klopfer, United States Naval Academy.

Approximately 1,200 candidates are selected each year for the Naval Academy’s “plebe” or freshman class, and each student is required to participate in Plebe Summer. Last year the Academy received more than 16,000 applications for the Class of 2022.

A 2018 study by the U.S. News and World Report found the U.S. Naval Academy to have an 8 percent acceptance rate — the 12th most selective among all colleges and universities in the United States.

Attending a service academy comes with an obligation and commitment to serve in the military for a minimum of five years upon graduation. Each student receives a full scholarship.

The application process alone is arduous, Mitchell said, from filling out hundreds of pages of paperwork to undergoing a background check and a physical fitness test.

It also requires a series of interviews before a group of retired and active duty service members, which she labeled “probably the most complex part of the application.”

Mitchell’s passion for the military traces back to her grandfather, Patrick Mitchell, who served in the Air Force for 24 years.

As a young girl, her family would take her to Air Force bases throughout Florida, where she was in awe of “seeing our soldiers in uniform and just everything they stand for.”

Mitchell, too, has always considered herself “a patriot at heart.”

Said Mitchell, “I love my country, and I’ve always known I wanted to serve my country and protect our land — especially like nowadays with all the controversy going on, there’s a lot of disrespect towards our nation and it kind of motivates me to stand up (and) encourages me to go join our military…”

Immediately after induction, Mitchell will report for Plebe Summer, which is designed to help freshman prepare for their first academic year at the Naval Academy.

During this time, plebes have no access to television, movies, the Internet or music, and restricted access to cellphones. They are only permitted to make three calls during the six weeks of Plebe Summer.

As the summer progresses, the new midshipmen learn basic skills in seamanship, navigation, damage control, sailing, and handling yard patrol craft.

Plebes also learn infantry drills and how to shoot 9-mm pistols and M-16 rifles.

Other daily training sessions involve moral, mental, physical or professional development and team-building skills. Activities include swimming, martial arts, basic rock climbing, obstacle, endurance and confidence courses.

Forty hours are devoted to the instruction of infantry drill and five formal parades.

Mitchell is looking forward to all of it.

“I know the summer’s going to be very difficult, very busy,” she said, “but overall, I’m excited for the structure of the academy.

“I’m really excited to gear up, do PT (physical training) with the brigades, I’m excited to basically learn to be a soldier, and I’m going to be living that life for the next four years, and they’re grooming me to be the best officer I can for our country, so I’m excited to learn everything over the next couple of years.”

Juggling academy life and soccer
Besides handling responsibilities of the service academy life, she’ll also be a member of the Navy women’s soccer team, a Division I program.

Mitchell, a forward, opted to strictly play club soccer her senior year after playing varsity soccer at Wesley Chapel High the past three seasons.

Her junior year, she posted a team-leading 34 goals in just 16 games played, earning second-team All-Sunshine Athletic Conference honors.

Also throughout high school, Mitchell was a member of Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She volunteered for Special Olympics and Relay for Life, and was a youth soccer coach for a local development academy.

The Naval Academy was the only school she applied to, after vetting other service academies and what they offered.

“It’s a pretty good fit for me,” she said, “because I get to play Division I soccer, go to school and then I also graduate as an officer.”

She plans to serve for at least 10 years, noting she also has an interest in entering the aviation field at some point.

“I’m going to see where it takes me,” she said of the Naval Academy. ”I know there’s a certain point in the Academy where you can sign on for more years in the service, which I’ll probably do,” she said.

Published June 20, 2018

Filed Under: Education, Local News, Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News Tagged With: All-Sunshine Athletic Conference, Annalise Klopfer, Austin Jerome, Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, Clearwater Central Catholic High School, Connor Beckman, Dennis Teicher, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Gus Bilirakis, Mitchell High School, Patrick Mitchell, Payton Wilson, Relay for Life, River Ridge High School, Special Olympics, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Coast Guard Academy, U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, U.S. Military Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. News and World Report, Victoria Mitchell, Wesley Chapel High School, Wiregrass Ranch High School

Local athletes sign with colleges

February 8, 2017 By Kevin Weiss

The athletic talent pool continues to flourish throughout north Hillsborough, and east and central Pasco.

Zephyrhills High’s Antwione Sims will play football for the U.S Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. He missed the 2016 season after tearing his ACL last March.
(Courtesy of Antwione Sims)

Dozens of local high school athletes signed their letters of intent (LOI) on Feb. 1 to various colleges and universities as part of National Signing Day, held annually on the first Wednesday in February.

Once again, schools in our coverage area were well-represented.

Wiregrass Ranch High School led the way with 13 signings, followed by Land O’ Lakes High with nine. Other high schools, including Gaither and Steinbrenner, featured a handful of signings.

While Zephyrhills High had just one signing, it was arguably the most memorable.

Bursting with emotions and tear-filled eyes, senior running back/safety Antwione Sims signed his LOI to play football at the U.S. Naval Academy.

The day signaled a redemptive moment for Sims, who missed his entire 2016 senior season after tearing his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) last March.

A trio of Freedom High School athletes signed to various colleges on Feb. 1. From left: Kalijahe Spann (Warner University), Megan Clark (Tennesee Tech University) and Tyler Bray (Maryville College).
(Courtesy of Freedom High School)

Oftentimes, football players — even those as talented as Sims —have athletic scholarships withdrawn after a serious injury, particularly from Division I programs.

But, Navy upheld its offer.

“It’s a blessing to have (this) opportunity,” Sims said, “because not everyone has that…”

Putting pen to paper marked the end of a “long journey” for the 5-foot-11, 208-pound gridiron star.

It, too, signals the beginning of a new one.

“It’s not about the next four years,” Sims said, “it’s about the next 40.”

Sims, one of the most dynamic athletes in Pasco County, was one of just four football players from the county to sign with a Division I football program.

The others were Wiregrass Ranch quarterback/kicker Chris Faddoul (Florida A&M University) and defensive lineman Jason Winston (Stetson University), and Wesley Chapel safety Ellrie Allen (Florida A&M University).

Four athletes from Wesley Chapel High School participated in National Signing Day on Feb. 1. From left: Bailey Hern (Saint Leo University), Lauren Campoe (Ave Maria University), Jacob Thomas (Mars Hill College) and Ellrie Allen (Florida A&M University).
(Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School)

Sims, though, is the most high-profile prospect of the group.

At one point, the consensus three-star recruit had scholarship offers from nearly a dozen schools.

His recruitment picked up steam after he rushed for a school-record 2,093 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2015.

Despite that production, he won’t likely play in Navy’s offensive backfield.

Instead, he’s expected to contribute in their defensive backfield, as a safety.

Sims noted he started closely following Navy’s football program “ever since they started recruiting me.”

On the surface, he made a solid selection.

Navy, renowned for its vaunted triple-option offense, went 9-5 in 2016. Under coach Ken Niumatalolo, they’ve had a winning season in eight of the past nine years.

Sims’ choice is about more than football, however.

“I feel like making this decision will allow me to set myself up for life,” he said.

A roundup of signings of athletes in our coverage area:
Gaither
Football
Decalon Brooks—Florida State University
Estefano Feliciano—Old Dominion University (Virginia)

Soccer
Ben Hickson—Florida College
David Garzon—Florida College

Softball
Kasey Heslin—Pasco-Hernando State College

Freedom
Basketball
Megan Clark—Tennessee Tech University

Football
Kalijahe Spann—Warner University (Florida)

Golf
Tyler Bray—Maryville College (Tennessee)

Land O’ Lakes
Baseball
Troy Klemm—Palm Beach Atlantic University
Max Law—University of North Florida
McCabe Sargent—Saint Leo University
Dustin Harris—St. Petersburg College

Football
Spencer Childress—Lyon College (Arkansas)

Soccer
Devyn Cabral—Erskine College (South Carolina)
Haley Eckel—Florida Southern College

Cross Country
Skylen Acuna—Pasco-Hernando State College

Steinbrenner
Basketball
Mary Katherine Miller—Hillsborough Community College

Football
Devon Connors—U.S. Air Force Academy (Colorado)
Noah Ruggles—University of North Carolina

Soccer
Claire Morrison—Stetson University

Softball
Emmalee Jansen—University of Tampa

Sunlake
Football
Tyler Peretti—Southeastern University (Florida)

Softball
Casey Gottschall—Broward College (Florida)
Shelby Lansing—Southeastern University
Haley Kirinsky—Flagler College (Florida)

Wharton
Softball
Mackenzie Allen—University of Tampa

Volleyball
Kathryn Attar—Yale University (Connecticut)
Alexandria Schneider—Florida College

Wesley Chapel
Football
Jacob Thomas—Mars Hill University (North Carolina)
Ellrie Allen—Florida A&M University

Soccer
Lauren Campoe—Ave Maria University (Florida)
Bailey Hern—Saint Leo University

Wiregrass Ranch
Golf
Morgan Power—King University (Tennessee)

Football
Chris Faddoul—Florida A&M University
Jason Winston—Stetson University

Tennis
Noah Makarome—University of Pennsylvania

Soccer
Connor Nixon—Presbyterian College (South Carolina)
Erin Brenner—Huntingdon College (Alabama)
Ysabelle Borgstadt—Andrew College (Georgia)
Sydney Chase—Saint Leo University
Maddie Moore—Shaw University (North Carolina)
John Pease—Jacksonville University (Florida)

Softball
Alexis Ridolph—Hillsborough Community College
Samantha Hiley—Edward Waters College (Florida)
Jaime Valenta—St. John River State College (Florida)

Zephyrhills High
Football
Antwione Sims—U.S. Naval Academy (Maryland)

Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Football
Serion Bellamy—Shorter University​ (Georgia)

Published February 8, 2017

 

Filed Under: Local Sports Tagged With: Alexandria Schneider, Alexis Ridolph, Andrew College, Antwione Sims, Ave Maria University, Bailey Hern, Ben Hickson, Broward College, Casey Gottschall, Chris Faddoul, Claire Morrison, Connor Nixon, David Garzon, Decalon Brooks, Devon Connors, Devyn Cabral, Dustin Harris, Edward Waters College, Ellrie Allen, Emmalee Jansen, Erin Brenner, Erskine College, Estefano Feliciano, Flagler College, Florida A&M Universitry, Florida College, Florida Southern College, Florida State University, Gaither High School, Haley Eckel, Haley Kirinsky, Hillsborough Community College, Huntingdon College, Jacksonville University, Jacob Thomas, Jaime Valenta, Jason Winston, John Pease, Kalijahe Spann, Kasey Heslin, Kathryn Attar, Ken Niumatalolo, King University, Land O' Lakes High School, Lauren Campoe, Lyon College, Mackenzie Allen, Maddie Moore, Mars Hill University, Mary Katherine Miller, Maryville College, Max Law, McCabe Sargent, Megan Clark, Morgan Power, National Signing Day, Noah Makarome, Noah Ruggles, Old Dominion University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Pasco-Hernando State College, Presbyterian College, Saint Leo University, Samantha Hiley, Serion Bellamy, Shaw University, Shelby Lansing, Shorter University, Skylen Acuna, Southeastern University, Spencer Childress, St. John River State College, St. Petersburg College, Steinbrenner High School, Stetson University, Sydney Chase, Tennessee Tech University, Troy Klemm, Tyler Bray, Tyler Peretti, U.S. Air Force Academy, U.S. Naval Academy, University of North Carolina, University of North Florida, University of Pennsylvania, University of Tampa, Warner University, Wiregrass Ranch High School, Yale University, Ysabelle Borgstadt, Zephyrhills High School

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03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

The Pasco County Library Cooperative will offer “Foodie Feast: Apple Pie Bombs” on March 5. Participants can learn how to make tasty, apple pie bombs. Watch the prerecorded video between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., online at Facebook.com/hughembrylibrary or Facebook.com/newriverlibrary. For information, call 352-567-3576, or email Danielle Lee at . … [Read More...] about 03/05/2021 – Apple Pie Bombs

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The Grand Concourse Railroad, 11919 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills, will offer a Pancake Breakfast and Unlimited Train Rides event on March 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost is $6 for adults and $4 for kids. For information, visit Grand Concourse Railroad on Facebook. … [Read More...] about 03/06/2021 – Pancakes and trains

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The Pasco County Library Cooperative will host a virtual poetry discussion group on “Female Power!” on March 9 at 6:30 p.m., for ages 16 and older, via Zoom. Participants can share a favorite poem or take part in discussions on poems about women or written by women poets. Themed poems will be sent out to help with the session. Registration is required. For information, contact Amaris Papadopoulos at 727-861-3020 or . … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Poetry discussion

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The Land O’ Lakes Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, will offer a Technology Tuesday: Robots & Machines on March 9, through a curbside pickup activity. The kit will help kids learn more about technology, from robots to coding, through online and hands-on activities. The pickup is limited to 35 participants and must be reserved ahead of time. A book bundle can be included. Kits must be picked up between March 9 at 10 a.m., and March 13 at 5 p.m. For information, call 813-929-1214. … [Read More...] about 03/09/2021 – Technology Tuesday

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