7HRC VP Swearingen takes second chance on soccer at SHSU

(Note: At last Thursday's Seven Hills Running Club meeting, members voted Nikki Swearingen in as the club's new vice president, taking over for Lindsey Boller who had moved to Spring.)

Former Lady Hornet star sparks struggling Bearkats
By Gene Schallenberg, The Huntsville Item, 10/29/06

Second chances. Many athletes dream of playing sports in college, but only a small percentage ever get that chance.

A dramatically smaller amount get a second chance.

Former Huntsville High School soccer star Nikki Swearingen is living that dream.

Swearingen was initially recruited in her senior year by Sam Houston State soccer head coach Marcia Oliveira. Swearingen, however, had other plans and declined Oliveira’s invitation. Those plans consisted of going to Texas A&M to study nutrition and education, as well as train for marathons.

Like many young people, Swearingen’s plans changed.

While Swearingen still trains for marathons today, she did not feel Texas A&M comforting.

“It wasn’t for me. It was too big,” she said.

After her brief stint in Aggieland, Swearingen decided to return home and enroll at Sam Houston State. Oliveira found Swearingen on SHSU’s campus and invited her yet again to join the team. Again, Swearingen declined.

Swearingen said she wanted to focus attention on her classes and her preparation for marathons.

Swearingen and Oliveira kept crossing paths. As luck would have it, Swearingen enrolled in Oliveira’s soccer class this fall.

“Nikki admitted to me that she had fun playing and that she missed playing soccer,” Oliveira said.

Injuries to SHSU soccer players Mary MacGregor, Yoanna Garcia and Laura Ybanez put Oliveira in an interesting position. With some of the Bearkats’ scoring threats sidelined with injuries, Oliveira needed someone to help put goals in the nets. There was Swearingen at her disposal.

Oliveira, for a third time, asked Swearingen to join her soccer team.

“It pays to be persistent,” Oliveira said.“After thinking about it, this would be my last chance to play competitive soccer at this level, and I have always wanted to play at this level,” Swearingen added.

Swearingen played her first collegiate soccer game on Oct. 1. Her debut was everything Oliveira expected. Swearingen assisted Raquel Bueno on the game’s lone goal to defeat Texas State.

“I didn’t play for two years. I was scared out of my shoes, but playing soccer is great. I really missed playing,” Swearingen said.

This dream for Swearingen almost didn’t happen at all. In her junior year of high school, Swearingen was hospitalized with anorexia nervosa. This condition kept her from playing, rendering her physically and mentally unfit to compete.

She has returned to the field, and in no time began contributing to the Bearkats’ team this season. “Nikki is a hard worker. She strives for excellence. She provides speed and good passing for those necessary game situations. Her work is phenomenal,” Oliveira said.

“Being able to play soccer in college is once in a lifetime. I have my whole life to run marathons,” Swearingen said.

After collegiate soccer is over, Swearingen plans on working for a ministry for young adults using outdoor adventure sports.

“I want to get to that point of pushing your body to be spiritually dependent on God. God brought me back to soccer and God brought me back from anorexia,” Swearingen said.

Swearingen and the rest of the Bearkat soccer team return to action today against Southeastern Louisiana at 1 p.m. at Pritchett Field. The game will mark the final contest of the season for the Bearkats.