Does qualifying for D3 level sports with great academia get me into the MIT easily?

Have to agree with the above. Recruiting should occur at latest summer of your junior year, especially because most D3 schools (any school, really) wants you to apply ED/EA because you’ll have a higher chance than if you apply RD. Yes, they have a pull with admissions but unless its D1 they only have so much say.

The pre-read can boost your confidence, but especially with MIT, the coaches don’t have a strong pull with adcom at all. Your academic application should be able to mostly stand on its own competitively against other applicants.