James Wood High School 18-year-old senior
Sport: Soccer. Position: Defender
Parents: Jessica and Daniel Swiger
Hometown: Winchester
What do you love about soccer?: The bus rides for away games after a good win.
Most memorable moment in soccer: Beating Handley [1-0] in the [Class 4 Northwestern District semifinals] my freshman year on varsity. The seniors that I really looked up to stepped up and made something happen after we played Handley two times before and [went 0-1-1 against the Judges]. The seniors just stepped up for everybody whenever it mattered the most.
Most embarrassing moment in soccer: I gave up a [penalty kick] in the Kettle Run game this year. There was a kid on Kettle Run who had a wide-open shot from probably 10 yards out. I knew he was going to hit it on goal if I didn’t dive, so I dove head first and the ball ended up hitting my hand midair. They called a PK, probably five minutes into the game.
Most difficult moment in soccer: My freshman year I played striker, but I was always a midfielder. That position switch was really difficult and super hard to learn. Once I got it down, I got into the flow state. (Swiger began playing center back for the first time in the past year, first for Blue Ridge United, then for James Wood.)
Three people you can have dinner with, dead or alive: [Performance coach, speaker and author] Ben Newman; he has super good, motivational talks. A lot of people pay to go hear him talk. What he says is very valuable. [Washington Commanders quarterback] Jayden Daniels; he is definitely my favorite player in the NFL right now. He’s a super good role model with the way that he handles himself on and off the field. And Elon Musk; for the entrepreneurial aspects of himself.
Biggest athletic influence: [Portuguese soccer player Cristiano] Ronaldo. Just because of how assertive he is on and off the field. He’s just the guy.
Favorite teachers: Mrs. [Julie] Gilispie and Ms. [Bonnie] Bennett, both of my fifth-grade teachers at Apple Pie Ridge. Ms. Bennett was the aide. They just made everything fun. Obviously, it was the last year before going into middle school. They kind of knew my parents, and they taught my sister before that, so it just kind of made it special that they already knew me before the year started.
Favorite athlete: [U.S. soccer player] Christian Pulisic
Favorite sports team: Washington Commanders
Favorite movie: “Fight Club”
Favorite TV show: “Outer Banks”
Favorite song: “Make Me Wanna” by Thomas Rhett
Favorite food: Fettuccini Alfredo. My dad makes it pretty good homemade.
Worst thing you’ve eaten: Mushrooms
Plans after high school: I’m working in sales for solar farm companies. Right now I’m working out of New York, but we move all around. In a couple weeks, I’m going out to Delaware. It’s wherever the market opens up. I like sales because I enjoy going around and talking to people. It doesn’t even feel like work, but I get a paycheck in my hand.
— Compiled by Robert Niedzwiecki