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Andrew Vanas of Gaithersburg, Maryland, has committed to swim and study at the United States Naval Academy, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year. He trains year-round with Nation’s Capital Swim Club and attends Georgetown Preparatory School.
Vanas confirmed the commitment in an email to SwimSwam, and provided the following quote:
I am proud to announce my commitment to study and swim at The United States Naval Academy and to serve my country. I would like to give a special thanks to Mom, Dad, Chris and the rest of my family for always supporting me. Thank you to all my friends, teammates, and coaches: Bruce, Lee, Chris, Matt, Dory and Stephen. Thank you to my Prep family and thanks to the Waves, where it all started. I am grateful for everything you have done for me, I wouldn’t be here without your support. I look forward to what the future holds with this unmatched opportunity to join Coach Roberts, Liscinsky, and Brown and the NMSD brotherhood.🔱🇺🇸 Go Navy, Beat Army!
The freestyle specialist’s big meet of this past short-course season was the NCSA Spring Championship in March. At the competition, his highest individual finish came in the 100 free, where he logged 44.33 for fifth, which sliced a few tenths off his previous lifetime best. He also touched 10th in the 50 free (20.29), nabbed 16th in the 50 fly (22.52), and produced 49.95 for 37th in the 100 fly.
Vanas played a key role on NCAP’s relays throughout the week, leading off the 200 free relay in a personal best of 20.25 and the 400 free relay in 44.42, narrowly missing his best by less than a tenth. Both of those relays earned gold. Beyond the winning relays, he split a career best of 1:37.67 leading off the second-place 800 free relay, added a 21.52 fly split on the fourth-place 200 medley relay, and anchored the 400 medley relay that took eighth with a 43.93 split.
While freestyle is his primary stroke, he also owns lifetime bests of 48.54 and 49.54 in the 100 fly and 100 back. Both of those times stem from the NCAP Invitational meet in December, where most of his former freestyle bests were set.
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 20.25
- 100 Freestyle: 44.33
- 200 Freestyle: 1:37.67
- 100 Butterfly: 48.54
- 100 Backstroke: 49.54
Navy is led by head coach Bill Roberts, who is entering his 23rd season at the helm of the program. The team finished second to Army West Point at the 2025 Patriot League Championships, failing to earn the conference crown for the first time since 2005.
With one year left before he heads to Annapolis, Vanas’ times would already be useful to the Midshipmen at the conference meet. This past season, his lifetime bests would have earned him a spot in the ‘A’ final of the 100 free and 200 free, and the ‘B’ final of the 50 free, 100 back, and 100 fly. His best in the 50 free is nearly ‘A’ final worthy already, as it took just 0.09 faster than his current PB to slide into that heat last year.
On the team itself, Vanas’ best times would have ranked him sixth in the 100 fly, seventh in the 200 free, eighth in the 100 free and 100 back, and 10th in the 50 free. Sophomore Lachlan Andrew led the team in the 50 free (19.80), while senior Everet Andrew topped the standings in the 100 free (43.69) and 200 free (1:35.26). Sophomore Ben Irwin had the quickest times in the 100 back (45.66) and 100 fly (47.27).
Vanas joins Louis St. Petery, Will Charlton, Chase Wilkerson, Danny Lesinski, Gavin Tran, Paul Mullen, Tyler Koepp, and Jack Kulp in Navy’s class of 2030.
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Service academy recruiting has been on fire recently. I wonder if it has something to do with roster limitations for other elite D1 programs. Service academies arent limited like their competitors with respect to roster size. Either way, I love to see it. Makes it fun!!