As part of the starting lineup for all 16 games, Travis Swallow clearly makes the grade on the soccer field.
With his near-perfect 3.98 grade-point average, he clearly makes the grade in the classroom, as well.
For the second year in a row, the Seattle Pacific junior combined the best of his athletic and academic abilities to earn a place on the CoSIDA Academic All-America team.
A defender, Swallow was one of 33 men’s soccer players across NCAA Division II to be chosen by members of the College Sports Information Directors of America, being named to the second team. Last year, he was on the third team.
“Soccer helps a lot with keeping me focused on school. It doesn’t give you a lot of time to waste,” said Swallow, who is double-majoring in finance and accounting. “You have time to do things, and you have to get it done.
“When we travel, coaches set aside time for study hall. When we’re home, we have time from school to practice to get things done,” he added.
In the 52-year Falcon men’s soccer history, Swallow is just the 12th player to earn Academic All-America recognition. However, SPU has had at least one player on that prestigious team for six consecutive years.
“Over the course of the season, you can take a lot of injuries and little knocks here and there, and somehow, he’s always able to pull through and be ready for the next game,” Head Coach Mark Collings said. “That’s no different than in the classroom. He’s able to keep moving forward no matter what the challenge is.”
Swallow, who hails from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, also earned back-to-back Great Northwest Athletic Conference All-Academic awards in 2018 and 2019. He was one of just three Falcons to start every game last fall.
To be considered for CoSIDA awards, student-athletes must have a 3.30 or higher GPA, be in at least their second year of competition at their school, and must be a starter or significant reserve.
Photo by Andrew Towell
