Reaser enjoying Navy life and football

Most college freshmen are enjoying sleeping in, partying and mingling with others.

Former Thornton Academy football player Mark Reaser is spending his post-secondary education waking up at 5:30 a.m., hitting the books, memorizing the cafeteria menu and doing constant excersises while being yelled at by commanding officers.

For Reaser, it’s just another day in the life of a freshman, or plebe as they call them, at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

There’s still fun to be had for the former Golden Trojan, however. Reaser, who was a fullback and linebacker during his time at Thornton Academy, is a member of the sprint football team at Navy.

A successful team at that, as the Midshipmen defeated Army, 7-6, for the College Sprint Football League title on Oct. 30.

“It feels great,” Reaser said. “Army went undefeated this year. We weren’t too worried, but we knew it wasn’t going to be as much of a blowout as our other games have been. We knew we would be up in West Point, N.Y., and they were encouraging the cadets to be there and the band, and we knew it was going to be a heated game.”

Sprint football is a varstiy sport at the Naval Academy. It’s also commonly referred to as “lightweight football.” It has the exact same rules as football, the only difference is players must weigh 172 pounds or less when they are weighed in two days before the game.

“My sophomore year [at Thornton Academy] I was looking up sports on the [Navy] Web site,” Reaser said. “I saw sprint football and I said, ”˜sprint football? I’ve heard of that, I think it’s like lightweight football or something.’ I clicked on it and that’s exactly what it is. It’s college football, same rules and everything, except the weight limit is 172 [pounds] and you weigh in twice a week. Realistically, I’m not 6’5” and 250 pounds. I’m not going to play Division I football.”

Reaser dropped 10 pounds to play on the team, and went to an informational meeting. He said he enjoyed meeting the other players and his coaches.

“They’re not just civilian coaches, they’re guys who went to this place,” Reaser said. “So these are guys who are in the military and fully understand what you’re going through, and I think that helps us as a team.”

Reaser said holding his weight below the 172-pound limit is not a problem, thanks to his four years of wrestling at Thornton Academy. He said he tries to watch what he eats and knows when to eat and when not to eat.

“I really kind of found out what to eat and what not to eat when weighing in,” Reaser said. “I wouldn’t freak out about making weight because I knew if worse came to worse I could just put on a sweatsuit and lose a couple pounds of water weight before weigh-ins.”

Life is not all fun and games for Reaser at the Naval Academy. His day will usually start between 5:30-6:30 a.m. and ends around 8 p.m. Between those times, Reaser practices marching, attends class, lifts for football and studies later in the evening. His “down time” at night involves fixing his uniform for the next day and having “rack races,” with his fellow plebes to see who can make their bed faster and in perfect condition for inspection by commanding officers.

“It’s a busy life,” Reaser said. “You might have 20 minutes here or there to breathe and look at the trees.”

Reaser said he had wanted to attend the Naval Academy since he was in middle school. His father, Richard, spent time in the Marines, and Reaser said he has a long line of military background in his family.

“On my mom’s side and on my dad’s side, looking up at my family tree all I see is ranks beside each name,” Reaser said. “It’s not that it’s my sole reason for joining the military, but I would feel like crap if I wasn’t in the military for a least a little bit. I feel like I have to repay my country for what’s it’s given me.”

Applying for the Naval Academy is no easy task, as high grades are expected for all candidates, as well as recommendations by state government officials before the academy even looks at an application.

Reaser said the strict requirements added some pressure to his schooling in high school.

“It seemed like every test you take it’s like ”˜Oh God, that test hurt my chance at the academy,’” Reaser said. “I would freak out over every little detail. Then I would put things in perspective and look at bigger concepts than living test to test. That’s not what they want. They want officers ready to lead. They want cultured, well-rounded men and women, obviously moral people that have skills with academics and athletics.”

Though he’s enjoying his college experience, Reaser is aware of the future that awaits him as a miliary officer after he’s graduated from the Naval Academy. Reaser said he is not worried about what happens after graduation.

“Our country needs to do what it needs to do to ensure national security,” Reaser said. “I’m definitely prepared to fight the battles if my country needs me to fight.”