AIMING HIGH: Colony swimmer signs with Air Force Academy

WASILLA — As a junior in high school, Joseph Anderson wasn’t sure where his competitive swim career would take him. He knew he wanted to swim at the collegiate level, but didn’t know where. And the thought of attending a military institution didn’t even cross his mind.

Less than a year later, the Colony High School senior’s future is clear.

As it turns out, Anderson is bound for a prestigious military academy, and will swim at the highest collegiate level.

Anderson recently signed his National Letter of Intent to attend the Air Force Academy and swim for the Division I Falcons.

“It wasn’t even on my radar,” Anderson said of the Air Force Academy recently.

But the Colorado Springs, Colorado, university bested a pair of other schools from the Centennial State — Division I University of Denver and Division II Colorado School of Mines — in Anderson’s hunt for his future school.

Anderson, the two-time defending high school state champion in the boys’ 100 breast stroke, said the Air Force Academy satisfies two of the biggest factors he was looking for in a school.

He wanted to swim at a high level for a school that boasts tremendous academic programs.

At the Air Force Academy, Anderson will be part of a Division I swimming program while having the ability to pursue his degree in mechanical engineering.

As a junior in 2014, Anderson became the first Colony athlete in program history to win an individual swimming state title when he clocked a time of 58.76 seconds in the 100 breast stroke. Anderson defended his title in 2015, shaving his time to 57.70 to claim his second straight state crown. Anderson said the confidence gained by winning his first state title, helped him drive toward future endeavors, which includes the opportunity to compete at the Division I level.

“I definitely helped a lot. I kind of realized I can do better,” Anderson said. “From my sophomore to my junior year, I improved quite a bit. Before that, I wanted to keep swimming, but wasn’t always sure if I could.”

But Anderson’s improvement and work he put in the pool helped him earn a shot at the Division I pool, a rare feat for a Valley athlete.

Anderson said he’ll focus on the 100 and 200 breaststroke events and the 200 individual medley with the Falcons.

“I’m looking forward to training with really fast people,” Anderson said.

In addition to his work with the Colony High program, Anderson said he’s been a member of the Wasilla Waves swim club for about 11 years.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.