Wednesday, June 23, 2021
Entering Omaha as Athletes, Leaving as Navy & Marine Corps Officers
June is the month that is circled on thousands of swimmers’ calendars around the world. For those who are lucky enough to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, that circle is probably made four or five times around in bright-red marker.
For Luke Johnson, and five of his Navy Swimming teammates, June is also circled for an extra reason: commissioning as a military officer.
“I have four other classmates who are here at Wave I, and one more who will be going to Wave II,” Johnson said. “We’re all commissioned officers now in the Navy and in the Marine Corps. It’s a great, great honor to be able to be here and to represent those values.”
Johnson, the captain of this year’s Navy team who also swum the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle events at Wave I of Trials earlier this month, also became a Naval Ensign in June. His service assignment in the Navy will be Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
“It really hasn’t been much of a rollercoaster, it’s really only been all ups,” Johnson said about the emotions of ending his swimming career at Trials and starting his military career. “I’ve really taken the time to just cherish all the memories and all of the moments I’ve had with my teammates.
“I’m here wrapping up my college career, and then I’ll go off and start my Navy career. Being able to have a transition like that is really special to me.”
One of those moments was evidenced when Johnson finished second to his Navy teammate Garrett McGovern in the 800 freestyle in Wave I—punching tickets to Wave II for the duo. The two left the competition deck after his race, did a quick zoom call with media and were then bombarded with hugs and cheers by his Navy teammates.
For Bill Roberts, coach of the Navy Men’s Swimming program, this sight was evidence of the comradery this year’s team has built.
“This year’s group is really special,” Roberts said. “I have no problem bragging about this group. They have plenty of skill in the water, that is pretty obvious. But out of the water, they have wanted more for this program from the get go – they think similarly and they have all wanted to leave the program better than how they found it.
“What they did this year is special, we actually got better through the challenges of the pandemic, and for that reason I will brag about this team, and this senior class specifically, as one of the best groups I have had the honor to work with.”
This leadership ethic showed, as Navy Swimming had 21 athlete entries into Wave I of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, more than any other club competing at Wave I.
The feat of sending more than 20 athletes to Trials is impressive for any club, but when you think of the additional activities that these athletes go through in their day-to-day schedules—regular classes, physical tests, labs, additional military obligations, etc.—the number of Trials qualifiers becomes even more impressive.
“There’s a major planning component to it,” Roberts said of the scheduling difficulties of athletes in military programs. “As a coach, you really want to work them and get the most out of them from a training standpoint, but you also have to be cognizant that they are there for an amazing purpose of going out and being leaders in both our military and also our society.
“The Naval Academy does a good job of making sure the midshipmen aren’t double booked – when they go to practice, they don’t have a lab going on. When they go to a lab, they don’t have to worry about a coach saying, ‘we’ve got to do some video work,’ so the Academy does a good job of making sure the schedules work so (the athletes) don’t get caught in a pickle.”
While this year’s season has officially come to an end, the impact that this group has had on the program, as well as the impact that they will have in the military field and society, will carry on for years to come.
“Our tenets in the Navy are Brotherhood, Tradition and Excellence; I hope to carry that on with me into the Navy,” Johnson said. “Those tenets have been really, really important to me here. There has been no better preparation for being in the United States Navy than being a part of the Navy Men’s Swim and Dive team. The amount of leadership skills it has given me and the amount of comradery that we have here, the conflicts we work through of being in high-stress environments and still being able to compete and succeed—whether that is through academics, athletics or military obligations—all of those contributions have developed me into the leader I hope I can be for sailors out in the fleet.”
For Luke Johnson, and five of his Navy Swimming teammates, June is also circled for an extra reason: commissioning as a military officer.
“I have four other classmates who are here at Wave I, and one more who will be going to Wave II,” Johnson said. “We’re all commissioned officers now in the Navy and in the Marine Corps. It’s a great, great honor to be able to be here and to represent those values.”
Johnson, the captain of this year’s Navy team who also swum the 800- and 1500-meter freestyle events at Wave I of Trials earlier this month, also became a Naval Ensign in June. His service assignment in the Navy will be Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
“It really hasn’t been much of a rollercoaster, it’s really only been all ups,” Johnson said about the emotions of ending his swimming career at Trials and starting his military career. “I’ve really taken the time to just cherish all the memories and all of the moments I’ve had with my teammates.
“I’m here wrapping up my college career, and then I’ll go off and start my Navy career. Being able to have a transition like that is really special to me.”
One of those moments was evidenced when Johnson finished second to his Navy teammate Garrett McGovern in the 800 freestyle in Wave I—punching tickets to Wave II for the duo. The two left the competition deck after his race, did a quick zoom call with media and were then bombarded with hugs and cheers by his Navy teammates.
For Bill Roberts, coach of the Navy Men’s Swimming program, this sight was evidence of the comradery this year’s team has built.
“This year’s group is really special,” Roberts said. “I have no problem bragging about this group. They have plenty of skill in the water, that is pretty obvious. But out of the water, they have wanted more for this program from the get go – they think similarly and they have all wanted to leave the program better than how they found it.
“What they did this year is special, we actually got better through the challenges of the pandemic, and for that reason I will brag about this team, and this senior class specifically, as one of the best groups I have had the honor to work with.”
This leadership ethic showed, as Navy Swimming had 21 athlete entries into Wave I of the U.S. Olympic Team Trials – Swimming, more than any other club competing at Wave I.
The feat of sending more than 20 athletes to Trials is impressive for any club, but when you think of the additional activities that these athletes go through in their day-to-day schedules—regular classes, physical tests, labs, additional military obligations, etc.—the number of Trials qualifiers becomes even more impressive.
“There’s a major planning component to it,” Roberts said of the scheduling difficulties of athletes in military programs. “As a coach, you really want to work them and get the most out of them from a training standpoint, but you also have to be cognizant that they are there for an amazing purpose of going out and being leaders in both our military and also our society.
“The Naval Academy does a good job of making sure the midshipmen aren’t double booked – when they go to practice, they don’t have a lab going on. When they go to a lab, they don’t have to worry about a coach saying, ‘we’ve got to do some video work,’ so the Academy does a good job of making sure the schedules work so (the athletes) don’t get caught in a pickle.”
While this year’s season has officially come to an end, the impact that this group has had on the program, as well as the impact that they will have in the military field and society, will carry on for years to come.
“Our tenets in the Navy are Brotherhood, Tradition and Excellence; I hope to carry that on with me into the Navy,” Johnson said. “Those tenets have been really, really important to me here. There has been no better preparation for being in the United States Navy than being a part of the Navy Men’s Swim and Dive team. The amount of leadership skills it has given me and the amount of comradery that we have here, the conflicts we work through of being in high-stress environments and still being able to compete and succeed—whether that is through academics, athletics or military obligations—all of those contributions have developed me into the leader I hope I can be for sailors out in the fleet.”