CONCORDE-FIRE U-18 ELITE PLAYER TO

ATTEND UNITED STATES NAVAL ACADEMY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 5, 2008

CONTACT:  Gregg Blasingame
(404) 312-1718

ATLANTA, Georgia –  Director of Coaching, Gregg Blasingame announced today that Jamie Deal of Lawrenceville, has been accepted into the U.S. Naval Academy class of 2011 and will report to the Naval Academy in July 2008.

Jamie is a four-year member of the Concorde-Fire Elite U-18 team and was highly recruited as a 2008 high school graduate.  The Concorde-Fire Elite U-18 team has won many major tournaments including the 2006 Disney Showcase. They have been Georgia State Champions in 2004, 2006 & 2007 and were the 2006 Region III Champions.  The team went all the way to Nationals, earning a 2^nd place finish as National Finalists.

Jamie was selected from over 10,000 applicants to attend the prestigious Naval Academy located in Annapolis, Maryland. As part of the highly competitive selection process, Jamie received his nomination to attend the Naval Academy from the Superintendent of the U.S. Naval Academy.  The military service academies require an above-average academic record, good physical condition and above average strength, endurance, and agility.

Jamie will join approximately 1,100 other incoming midshipmen who will report to the Naval Academy on July 3 to begin an academic and military education culminating in an officer’s commission in either the Navy or the Marine Corps.  An integrated program of academic and professional education, moral education, and physical education fulfils the Naval Academy’s mission of developing midshipmen “morally, mentally, and physically.” The Naval Academy offers 19 academic majors, primarily in engineering and the sciences. Required courses in naval science, engineering, navigation, weapons systems, leadership, ethics, and military law give midshipmen a working knowledge of modern naval operations and technology.  After graduation, Jamie will receive a commission as an Ensign in the Navy or as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps and will serve five years on active duty.

Jamie is a senior at Brookwood High School, Snellville, Georgia and has been a member of the soccer program for four years, lettering for three years.  His high school coach, Daniel Klinect, had this to say, “Jamie does not know the phrase "take it easy."  He is one of the hardest working soccer players that I have ever coached and he is never bothered or stressed about what he does.  His favorite saying is, "no worries."  I am humbled to have such a talent in the program.  Jamie is definitely NOT a self-promoter and lets his actions in practice and on the game field speaks for themselves.  You will not find a more deserving young man for this honor than Jamie.”

Jamie’s participation in athletics will help prepare him for the physical challenges of the Naval Academy, beginning with seven weeks of Plebe Summer.   Plebe Summer, beginning on the first day of the academy, is designed to turn civilians into midshipmen. Areas of emphasis include military indoctrination, rigorous daily physical training, basic seamanship and sailing, small arms training, first aid training, and an introduction to personal computers. Plebe Summer introduces midshipmen to the traits required of all good naval officers – self-discipline, honor, and integrity.