Denver men’s soccer senior captain, Jordan Schweitzer, was signed by his hometown professional team, the Seattle Sounders, on Jan. 7.
While Schweitzer heads to in Seattle to begin preseason training, he plans on taking online classes to complete the remainder of his degree in hopes of returning in June to walk with his class at graduation.
Between packing up his life in Denver and saying good-byes, Schweitzer arranged time for an interview to describe his time on campus and how that has prepared him for the next chapter he’s about to embark on back in Seattle.
“It [getting signed] is something growing up that all academy kids want to do, to play for the team you grew up around. For [it] to actually happen is pretty rare, I’m very fortunate and very excited for the opportunity,” said the Everett, Washington native and former Sounders Academy soccer player.
“I grew up watching them back in the USL (United Soccer League) and went to games even before they were in the MLS.” adds Schweitzer, who has been a long-term fan of the Sounders prior to their establishment as a Major League Soccer (MLS) team in 2007.
During his collegiate career (2012-2015), the holding center midfielder started 70 of 73 of his appearances and recorded two goals and three assists. Schweitzer led the team to three consecutive NCAA appearances, three consecutive Summit League Titles and a season for the books where the Pios remained the only undefeated team in the nation (prior to their loss versus Southern Methodist University) and were ranked in the top-10 nationally.
Following his history-breaking senior campaign, he was named to the First Team All-West Region, First Team All-Summit League and was invited to the 2016 MLS Player Combine.
Schweitzer attributes his development as a player and preparation for the next level of play to the men’s soccer program that Denver has formed over recent years.
“The way the program is, every single day we train at a very high level and everyone comes ready to compete. Which, obviously, makes you a better player. I owe a lot to the coaching staff and my teammates for helping me grow as a player and a person,” he said.
Schweitzer discussed his gratitude of having the opportunity to pursue his studies at DU while continuing his soccer career at the collegiate level. Since he is just months out from earning his degree, he intends on taking the necessary measures to complete his education in Seattle.
“The coaching staff really stresses academics and getting the most out of education here. Growth on the field and off the field has really prepared me for the pro life [professional soccer career] and life after the pros,” said Schweitzer.
