Daniel Schwaiger '20 Recruiting Profile

Hi Coach

I didn't grow up dreaming to play College Soccer but now that I'm a Junior and looking seriously at the next few years, I am excited about trying to make it happen. Before I came to the USA my family were Australian expats living in China- neither of those countries offer college sports so I had no idea academics and sports could be intertwined in this way. In Shanghai, I trained under international coaches from Africa, Europe and Nepal who established a competitive soccer program for expat kids to compete against local Chinese teams and teams throughout Asia. Arriving in the US in 2015, I wasn't sure how I would stack up in Southern California but I found a place in top teams at San Diego Surf, Albion and most recently the DMCV Sharks ECNL 2002 team. I am a gifted and well rounded athlete- or so I am told, and when I needed time out from soccer to heal a hamstring injury, a broken hip and a broken arm (received within a 12 month period playing soccer for Club and school -Torrey Pines HS), I turned to golf, tennis and the Track & Field Varsity team to exercise and strengthen other parts of my body. 

I know I am returning to soccer a little late for someone aspiring to secure a roster spot in 2020, but the six month break reinforced how much I want to play college soccer.  I would like to attend College in the Western Region of the US, but really I am open. I am looking to major in Business, but haven't ruled out a Science degree or a Liberal Arts degree. 

I played my first ECNL game this past weekend with the DMCV ECNL team in Phoenix. I am not afraid of hard work and training, and I am not bothered that this team has yet to win a game this season. Actually, I am looking forward to the challenge, making an impact in the centre and working with the coach and players to improve the overall play. The team has strong individual players and I really believe that if we can work better as a team, we will have success together on the field. For me, being back out on the field playing 90 minutes of soccer was great and I'm looking forward to the remainder of the ECNL season and the national ECNL showcases in San Diego & Philadelphia in April/May next year.