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The United States Military Academy has gained another commitment and another voice in the chant “Go Army. Beat Navy” as Gavin Santoso of Arcadia, California, has been accepted to attend West Point in the Fall of 2025.
Santoso, who attends Loyola High School, recently competed at the California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section (CIF-SS) Division I Championship. The junior made the finals in both of his individual events, placing 17th in the 50 free with a time of 21.81 and 7th in the 100 breast with a time of 55.99. Santoso was also a key component on two of Loyola’s relays. In the 200 Medley, he posted the 3rd fastest split of the A-final with a time of 25.02 (San Marino’s Daniel Li topped the field with a 23.99) as his squad finished 2nd in a time of 1:29.65, earning All-American Honors.
Loyola placed one spot higher in the 200 Free Relay, as the squad of Andrew Brown (20.66), Ray Liu (20.41), Santoso (20.93), and Edward Kim (20.57) claimed the gold medal and another All-American Automatic Honors in a time of 1:22.57, just .1 ahead of St. Margarita. Loyola finished the meet in second place, scoring 345 points, just behind St. Margarita’s 382. At the State meet, Santoso was seeded 14th in the 100 breaststroke but popped off two successive personal bests swimming 55.81 in the prelims and 55.44 in the finals to finish in 10th overall. On Loyola’s relays, which were seeded 2nd in the 200 Medley and held top honors in the 200 Free, Santoso split 24.38 to help Loyola to the victory, outtouching Santa Margarita Catholic by .02, 1:29.49 to 1:29.51. In the 200 free, Santoso split 20.71 as the squad finished third in 1:23.21.
In addition to swimming for his high school, Santoso competes year-round for Rose Bowl Aquatics. At the CA/NV Speedo Sectional Championship meet held this past December, Santoso won the B-final of the 100 breast in a personal best time of 55.88, earning him a 2024 Furutres cut. He also holds cuts from this year in the 200 breast (2:04.51) and 100 fly (50.35).
Best SCY Times
- 50 Free – 21.46
- 100 Breast – 55.44
- 200 Breast – 2:04.51
- 100 Fly – 50.35
- 200 IM – 1:55.54
Army competes in the Patriot League, a D I mid-major, and at the most recent championships, finished runner-up with 1589 points to Navy, who scored 1639.5. Army is helmed by head coach Brandt Nigro, who in 2022 coached Army to their first victory against the Navy in over 30 years. Despite being a junior, Santoso’s best times are already worthy of making the finals at conferences. His personal best in the 100 breast of 55.41 would have placed 19th; last year, the Patriot League swam A, B, and C finals of eight swimmers each. Santoso would also have nabbed the final spot in the C Final of the 200, as his 2:04.51 would displace the 2:05.51 that qualified in 24th.
Santoso will be joining a program with a strong breaststroke pedigree as Army placed two swimmers into the A-Final of the 100 and filled half the lanes (4 of 8) in the 200. Leading the charge was Kohen Rankin, who swept the events, winning the 100 in 52.28 and the 200 in 1:54.22, both of which not only were personal bests but also fast enough to make NCAAs. Rankin finished 28th in the 100 (52.40) and 30th in the 200 (1:55.10). Rankin is just a sophomore, so likely will overlap one year with Santoso.
Rankin was one of five swimmers who represented Army at the U.S. Olympic Trials, finishing 56th in the 100 breaststroke in a time of 1:02.28. Kal Hahn, who just finished his first year at West Point finished 73rd in the 200 breaststroke (2:18.25) and should have two years of overlap with Santoso.
Joining Santoso in attending West Point in 2025 are fellow commits Lewis Esterly, Eli Edmondson, Tanner Innis, Matt Fortson, and Dylan Bonilla, who also calls California home.
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