SOUTH WHITLEY — Making decisions can be difficult, but when it came to choosing between West Point, the United States Air Force Academy, the United States Naval Academy and the United States Merchant Marine Academy, Erick Loe, senior at Whitko High School, knew exactly what he would do.

“I’ve always wanted to be in the Army,” he said. “I’ve got family who have been in the Army. When I was in elementary school, it got brought up to me by a teacher, ‘you should go to West Point.'”

In that moment, Loe’s teacher planted a seed that would grow into a lifelong dream. When he started high school, he began looking into the United States Military Academy at West Point and what it would take to attend. He wrote to Congressman Marlin Stutzman, who then nominated him.

Loe leaves June 27 and will spend much of the summer in cadet basic training. The school year officially begins in August. Loe has not yet declared a major, though he still has time to decide.

“My first year, I will be doing the freshman required classes and then, at the end of my first year, I’ll declare my major,” he said. “I’m not entirely sure where I want to go with that, but I’m actually looking into nuclear engineering.”

At Whitko, Loe was a four-year varsity wrestler and two-year team captain. This year, he received the team dedication award and has been conference champion and sectional champion in the past. While he does not plan to wrestle at the intercollegiate level at West Point, he plans to participate in intramural wrestling and maybe a few other activities.

“West Point has several different clubs and teams that I can look into,” he said.

He is considering joining the military tactics team, which participates in military tactic drills one day a week.

“My biggest thing is being able to further develop myself as a leader,” he said. “That’s what West Point does. And with that, going in and serving my country.”

He looks forward to serving in the United States Army upon graduation.