Two Lakewood Ranch residents earn their enrollment to West Point

Jaden Blank always knew he wanted to compete in gymnastics at the collegiate level.

But competing for the U.S. Military Academy in West Point wasn’t always part of the picture. 

It wasn’t until West Point’s gymnastics coach reached out to Blank to begin the recruiting process that he considered the university. 

“I wasn’t looking at the military academies at first, but when I was talking to the coach, he told me all the benefits of it,” said Blank, who has been doing gymnastics since he was 4 years old. “It was looking like a good choice. Then he offered me an official visit, and after the visit, I knew it was the place I wanted to go.” 

Blank, a Lakewood Ranch High graduate, received a nomination from Rep. Vern Buchanan to attend the U.S. Military Academy in West Point.

"My recruiting class had probably the most good kids out of any in the past few years, so it was really tough to actually get a spot,” Blank said. “A lot of kids just completely dismissed the military academies without realizing everything they have to offer. (Receiving a nomination) felt like I did everything I needed to do. I did everything right. All the years of hard work in my sport led to something I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do otherwise.”

Blank, who started boot camp June 26, has joined Lakewood Ranch’s Chase Merriam, who also received a nomination after taking a break to become a commercial helicopter pilot and later to become a certified flight instructor. 

Merriam graduated from International Connections Academy in 2020. The day after he graduated, he went to Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport to start helicopter flight school.

“I always had an interest in flying, but I didn’t have the time during high school,” Merriam said. “Once I graduated, I wanted to hit the ground running. I think taking those couple of years off helped me kind of find my route in life, and especially coming here to West Point, I think it will translate over really well.”

Merriam looks forward to pushing himself to see what his limits are at West Point. 

“I’m going to West Point to do the best I can do, not just for myself, but for every other cadet there,” he said. “I want to be the best leader I can be once I graduate and become an officer.”

Blank said going to West Point will require him to adjust to a military lifestyle and change his “entire way of thinking.”

“It’ll definitely be an adjustment at first, but after the first few months, and after the first year, I’ll get used to it and it’ll be great,” he said.