Nicolet Spotlight: Green Bay Preble soccer player Matt Swanson

GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Preble boys soccer team has won the last two Fox River Classic Conference championships and reached the WIAA Division 1 state title match last season, when it lost 1-0 to Milwaukee Marquette and just missed out on becoming the first area boys team to win a D1 title.

The Hornets have high expectations again this season despite the graduation of 17 seniors. One of the players who will take a leadership role is senior defender Matt Swanson.

Swanson started both games at state last season and was part of a defense that allowed a league-low five goals.

Swanson answered some questions for USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin.

Your nickname is Chooch. How did that happen?

When I was younger, my parents owned a restaurant and they were kind of involved with that. My babysitter was taking care of me and noticed how much I liked trains. I racked up $3,000 worth of Thomas the Train. I’d play with him every day. It started as choo-choo, and as I got older it switched to Chooch.

My grandparents still call me it. My entire family calls me it. I’m OK with it.

What is something most people don’t know about you?

I’m a pretty open book. I don’t have many secrets. I’m kind of an outgoing kind of person. Like to make relationships with people.

What is your most memorable sports achievement?

Probably last year, taking second at state. That was kind of a big deal, looking forward to that for a couple years. (Losing) was tough. It sucked to lose. We were expected to go so far, and when you get there, you think, ‘Wow, we can actually do it this year.’ To lose, especially such a close game, kind of stings.

It’s kind of like next step is we want to take first this year. A lot of kids last year didn’t really get to play in the playoff run, so they want to feel like they did something this year and take part in it. A lot of them feel like they were just on the team instead of contributing.

What is your most embarrassing sports memory?

I was 14 and we were in the championship match of a tournament down in Appleton. Had a wide-open goal, and I swear I saw someone in the corner of my eye, so I slide tackled to get to the ball first and missed a wide-open net and hit the post.

My dad was mad. My coach was mad. Teammates felt bad. Mixed emotions.

Do you have any sports superstition or ritual?

No, not really.

Which teammate will you miss the most?

Jake Lemens. He’s been my best friend since I was young. We just kind of goof off in practice when Coach isn’t really instructing us. It’s kind of a fun time.

Who is your celebrity crush?

I have a couple, to be honest. Alex Morgan because she plays soccer. She is No. 1, but Beyonce isn’t far behind.

Do you have a dream vacation?

No. I love Mexico, though, so if I had to choose, I’d choose Mexico. I travel a lot. I’ve been out in Denver and down south in Florida. I have been a lot of places in the U.S., but I have been to Mexico once.

What is your dream career?

I kind of limited it down. I want to go into business. Maybe own a business. If not, I want to do something being a financial adviser. That’s kind of natural for me, so I want to go in that direction.

Whitewater has a really good program, and a couple of other schools I know have great programs. I figured math and business go side by side. It’s still up in the air. I have toured a couple of schools. A couple for academics and a couple for soccer because I’m seeing if I want to continue my career. I’ll probably lean towards wanting to play. Even though it’s a big commitment, it’s kind of been a part of my life since I was young. It would be hard for me to hang up the boots this early.

Favorites

Sport: Soccer, but basketball is not far behind.

Pro/college athlete: Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes, two former Manchester United players that I am big on.

YouTuber/Twitter personality: An account called “The Office,” which posts funny pictures and stuff from the series. That one makes me laugh a lot.

Movie: “Hot Rod.”

Meal: Steak and potatoes.