The veteran on a sports team is someone who has been there through the good and bad times. It is someone who leads not just by words, but also by their actions on a consistent basis. Dustin Swinehart and Ben Johnson of the Charlotte Eagles are the personification of that.
Swinehart in his 9th year, and Johnson in his 8th year with the Eagles are not only playing major roles off the field for the team, but there is no question they are still playing integral roles in leading the Eagles to their continued success. Last year in the USL-2 National Championship game, it was Johnson’s throw-in with 10 seconds left in stoppage time that was flicked on by Swinehart’s header to Ben Meek, who scored the goal that sent the game into overtime. That game eventually was decided in a shootout with the Eagles being victorious. It was the second championship for both Johnson and Swinehart, who were part of the championship team in 2000.
Dustin Swinehart, also known to fans as “YT”, was the championship game MVP in 2000, and has been a prolific goal scorer for the Eagles with 97 career goals. With so many awards and experience, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to have many highlights in his career. “A few of my biggest career highlights would have to be winning the two championships, especially being able to win one as a young player and then one this past year as a veteran,” Swinehart states. “It’s definitely a different feeling to win one when you are younger, and then win again as a leader of the team where you are looked up to.” He also points to the Eagles international tours to places like India and Africa as major highlights for him.
Another reason why Dustin is such a popular icon with the Eagles, is his care for others and dedication to the community off the field. If someone were to meet Dustin, it would not take long to see his love for people. “Although I am so thankful to be able to play a sport everyday that I love, it has been the relationships with the players and others I meet that I cherish the most,” says Swinehart. “Being around a group of guys whose goal is not just success on the field, but to also impact lives of others in the process has been an amazing experience. I thank God constantly for the opportunities He’s given me.” One person that Swinehart points to as a great role model to him is Eagles’ tenth year Head Coach Mark Steffens. “I can’t say enough great things about Coach”, says Swinehart. “He has been like a second father to me, and has taught me so much. The great thing about him too is that he genuinely cares for each and every player on the team. He not only wants to see everyone have success on the field, but he also goes out of his way to make sure the guys know they can come and talk to him about anything.”
With all the success Dustin has had, there have also been challenges and potential crossroads. One thing that many people might not know is he actually considered hanging it all up after the Eagles last season in the A-League in 2003. “It was a really difficult time for me,” says Swinehart. “I didn’t have the best year and the team had missed the playoffs for the first time in years. I really started questioning whether I had anything left to give on the field. It was actually the other guys on the team that continued to encourage me to stay and assured me I was still needed.” Swinehart’s teammates were definitely right about that. Swinehart stormed into 2004 with 10 goals and 10 assists, second on the team only to reigning league MVP Jacob Coggins. That successful year led to an opportunity that Dustin will never forget. When a USSF labor dispute arose in the spring of 2005, he was one of the elite players called up to the U.S. National Team in preparation for World Cup qualifying. “It was the last phone call I was expecting to receive,” Swinehart says. “It was an amazing experience and it really taught me to always take advantage of every opportunity you get, because you never know when you’re time is coming.” Now a devoted husband and father of 3 boys, Dustin admits he approaches the game differently now. “Now that I have a family, I don’t place as much value on how many goals I score or how bad a game I’ve had. I truly believe God has used my family to continue showing soccer is just a game. When I come home from a match, my son doesn’t care that daddy just scored 5 goals or had a horrible game. He loves me and just wants to spend as much time with me as possible. I really do feel blessed with the family I’ve been given.” As far as advice for aspiring soccer players or others, Swinehart has this to say: “Whatever you do, make sure you enjoy every bit of it. If you enjoy what you are doing and are passionate about it, you can’t go wrong. Once you know that, the only thing left to do is to try your best with all your heart. If you do that, there is nothing you can’t accomplish.”
One teammate that Swinehart especially has plenty of memories with is Ben Johnson. “It has been such a privilege to spend so many of these years with someone like Ben. It has been great to see him grow as a person from a single guy playing with me 8 years ago to now as a mature veteran, husband and father.” Johnson had the same to say about Swinehart. “Dustin never had to wear the captain’s armband for you to know he was a leader. It comes natural to him. He’s a great example on or off the field whether it’s with his teammates, or his wife and kids.”
Johnson, in his 8th year with the Eagles, is known well for his speed and work-horse mentality, as well as having the same dedication to people and the community as Swinehart. “Ben is such a great asset to our team,” states Swinehart. “He is always trying to draw the best out of everyone on and off the field, and always is encouraging others. His work ethic is relentless.” Johnson agrees that his hard work and determination have been keys to playing a role on the team. “I’m not the most skilled guy on the team, and I definitely would not have been able to play as much as I have without my hard work and determination,” Johnson says. Whatever his role has been over the years, Johnson states that it has been amazing just to be part of a team like the Eagles. “It has been an awesome experience to be part of a team whose identity is more than being professional athletes,” states Johnson. “Every guy on this team is like a brother. It’s been a major reason why we’ve been able to be such a cohesive unit.”
Johnson and his ‘band of brothers’ will get their chance to continue that tradition on April 21st when the Eagles open their season against Cincinnati. The Eagles Championship Celebration will begin at 7pm followed by kick-off at 7:30. Tickets can be purchased at www.CharlotteEagles.com or by calling 704-841-8644 ext.32.
