Moorman goes to the Naval Academy

BARSTOW — Michael Moorman’s childhood fascination with flying took an alternate route after his sophomore year at Barstow High School. 

Moorman, who was recently sworn into the Navel Academy and will report to Newport, RI, in late July, lost interest in his goal of being a pilot. 

“I just decided I wasn’t interested in becoming a pilot,” Moorman said. “I just lost interest in it all together. I learned that there are many options that you can pursue in the Naval Academy, and the Marine Corp. I began to get interested in other things.” 

Moorman, who has been starting catcher for the Aztecs the last two years, said he is considering playing baseball when he arrives at the Naval Academy. For now, Moorman said he plans to focus more on acedemics.

“They are suggesting that I tryout,” Moorman said. “I am still not sure if I want to play baseball there, I want to focus on my academics and everything.”

He was inspired after visiting the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., three times to do training during the recruitment process.

Moorman’s dreams of flying machines in the Navy was replaced with his long-term goal to graduate from the Marine Corp., and become an intelligence officer for the CIA.

“I want to graduate at the top or near the top of my class, and if I work hard enough, I will have better odds to achieve what I want to achieve,” Moorman said.

Moorman, began enduring grueling physical and mental workouts, with his eye on making it to the Naval Academy, Moorman would wake at 4:30 a.m. every morning and go to the gym and avoid many academic distractions such as X-Box and parties to stay focused. 

“At times, it was difficult to stay focused,” Moorman said. “There was a lot of others such as my parents, and some close friends, and kept me focused whenever things got kind of crazy.” 

Moorman also had to meet the Naval Academies strict requirements of playing a varsity sport, being a leader in student government, and earning high grades

and SAT scores. Moorman also turned down an acceptance to Cal-State Polytechnic school of architectural engineering in San Luis Obispo. 

His father, Joseph Moorman, said, Michael has always been a goal-oriented person.

“He always has been really focused with his school work,” Joseph said. “He doesn’t require much maintenance, and always did whatever he could to achieve his goals.”

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(760) 256-4122 or jason_blasco@link.freedom.com