Riverhead varsity football center Eddie Wills III signed this afternoon with the United States Merchant Marine Academy.
He first became interested in the academy during the summer of his junior year.
“I had a couple of coaches bring it up,” Eddie said. “Once I looked into the school and realized all the opportunities, I knew it was the one.”
At the academy, Eddie will spend his freshman year on campus, his sophomore year three months at sea, his junior year eight months at sea and his entire senior year will be spent on the water. Eddie will be studying marine engineering.
The application process was long, beginning the summer of his junior year. Eddie needed to receive a nomination from his congressman before he could apply to the academy. He had to complete a full medical exam as well as the candidate fitness assessment, which he completed with Coach Leif Shay over the summer.
The application process was not only lengthy, but academically challenging. Eddie had to take his SATs and ACTs nine times in order to be accepted to the academy.
“It came down to one point extra that I needed on the ACT,” he said. “I took it and I scored four points higher.”
His mother, Caroline Wills, received word that he was accepted to the school last week during a phone call with admissions.
“She had tears in her eyes, and that’s when I knew it was good news,” Eddie said.
Eddie, a 6’2″ 230-pound center and defensive end, finished this last season with 30 tackles. He will play for D-III (Liberty League) Mariners, and hopes to get to continue as a center.
In his career at Riverhead High School, Eddie played on the junior varsity team for two years before moving up to varsity, playing center and defensive end. He was named as one of the captains of the varsity team and was All-Division this season.
After graduation, USMMA students are given the option of spending five years in active duty with the United States Navy or eight years appointed to the Naval Reserves. As of now, Eddie is planning to join the United States Navy Reserves after graduation.
He begins training camp at the end of June.
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