Welcome back to 11 Questions presented by Piedmont Natural Gas — a weekly questionnaire series designed for you to get to know the people that make up Greenville Triumph Soccer Club. Each week, our own Marion Cole will ask someone from the organization the same ten questions, but the eleventh question will be from the previous interviewee. With players, coaches, and front office staff involved, we hope to bring you a fun look inside our club!
This week, I’m joined by Triumph newcomer Trevor Swartz. A product of Cameron Park, California, Trevor played collegiately at Indiana and spent last season with League One’s Toronto FC II before joining Greenville prior to the start of the 2020 preseason.
1. If you had a podcast, what would it be about and why?
If I had a podcast, I think I would primarily talk about mental health and how it affects different people of all shapes and sizes. I’ve experienced panic attacks and some intense anxiety in the past, and I had to learn how to manage that. There are way more people with issues like anxiety and depression than we realize, and everyone tends to deal with it in a different way. I’d also focus on mindfulness and other coping mechanisms that could benefit people who suffer from a mental illness. I would focus on athletes as a primary target whether they are in high school, college or the professional ranks, many athletes tend to shut down about these issues. So I think if the public were more open to talking about those issues in general then we could help more people.
2. How do you decompress after a long week of work or training?
Training as a professional player is intense and recovering from that mentally and physically is extremely important because it correlates directly to your future performance on the field. If you don’t have a hobby or activity you enjoy, I find that it’s hard to separate yourself from the past week in training. So, after a long week of training, I like to get out of the house and go fishing or hiking. It’s a good change of scenery and allows me to relax and enjoy being outside. I think my favorite place to hike has been Yosemite National Park in Northern California. The hikes and fishing spots there are beautiful. Personally, I think it’s important to have an on and off switch when it comes to training and your down time. If you only think about soccer, or one sport, or just your job, you may find it easier to get burnt out which will affect your performance.
3. What’s the most memorable meal you’ve ever had and why?
Fortunately, I am lucky enough to have had a lot of special and memorable meals. This is a tough one. But I think I’m going to go with a classic Christmas dinner with my family. Our Christmas dinners usually stick out in my mind because it’s one of the few meals I get to enjoy with the whole family present. It’s hard to get my parents and brothers all in the same place at one time, so when it happens it means a little more than just a meal out. Our typical spread is Ciopinno pasta with a side salad. My dad makes it every single year!
4. What was the most nervous you’ve ever been?
I think the most nervous I’ve ever been was the walkout and national anthem before the National Championship game in 2017. I was relatively calm throughout the day, and most of the nerves hit once I walked onto the field. Just realizing how important it was. Once, the whistle blew, though, the nerves went away and I just tried to approach it as another game. In reality, it just wasn’t, but thinking like that helped me play my best. Unfortunately, we lost that game, but I will never forget being on that big of a stage and having the opportunity to play in that game.
5. If you’re up at 2AM on a Saturday night, what are you eating?
If, for some odd reason, I’m up at 2AM on a Saturday night, then I will have to choose a freshly baked pizza. There is no better fourth meal out there than pizza. My favorite pizza spots are back in California and Indiana. I do usually try to take care of what I’m eating and ensure that it’s healthy, but sometimes we have to have a cheat meal and pizza is definitely mine. I don’t have a favorite in Greenville yet, though, so I’m open to suggestions!
6. What’s something you learned recently that blew your mind?
Every ‘C’ in Pacific Ocean is pronounced differently. This popped up on my twitter feed today, and I thought it was pretty interesting. The English language is tricky sometimes.
7. Triumph SC announces they’re bringing a celebrity to the next match and wondering if you have enough time to say, “Hello.” Who’s the celebrity you’re most excited to have at a match?
I think I’m going with Will Ferrell. I would want to see him bring the falcon that he releases before LAFC games so we could all experience an odd pregame event. And it would just be cool to see Will Ferrell at one of our matches. Maybe just push the game time back a little later and ask him to re-enact the whole Step Brothers movie. That would work for me.
8. What’s the most memorable sports moment you’ve had as a fan?
I’m a big college football fan, so please don’t hate me not going with a soccer answer here. I vividly remember watching the Alabama vs. Auburn game in 2013. I was back home in California with my dad and just seeing Auburn’s cornerback, Chris Davis, return a missed field goal for 100+ yards to win the game in the final seconds was crazy. And neither of those teams are my favorite, but when you witness a final play like that, it’s something you don’t forget. It being a historic rivalry made it even more special.
9. What sporting event have you always wanted to go to and why?
Definitely the World Cup. It would be so cool to see the best players in the world representing their countries in such a big event. The crazy atmosphere is something I’ve always wanted to experience. Ideally, I’d be watching the USA play, since it’s the country I grew up watching and supporting. One thing that is so unique about the World Cup is how each country can come together and realize that they are part of something greater than themselves.
10. If you’re part of a PK lineup, what number are you taking your penalty kick?
I would want to go 4th or 5th in the PK lineup. For some reason, I feel more comfortable going later in the rounds so I can calm the nerves beforehand and pick the spot I want to shoot. I think seeing where the goalkeeper has been diving and seeing if there are any patterns definitely helps. At the end of the day, though, hitting a good penalty no matter what is all about confidence in yourself.
11. Your new teammate Carlos Gomez wanted me to ask you, “As a left footed player, who are the top three left-footed players in the world for you?”
Lionel Messi because he’s the best player I have ever seen in my lifetime. Marcelo because he’s the best left back in the world, and David Silva because of how technical and creative he is.
Next week, I’m speaking with the team’s Merchandise Manager, Cory Elwood. What would you like me to ask Cory?
If you could play any position on the field, what would it be and why?
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