Overcoming injury is part of any contact sport, with even the toughest players suffering sprains and pulled muscles over the length of a schedule. But for Glynn Academy senior soccer player Jonathan Sweat, it has been more than just nagging injuries. He has spent the past year recovering from two major knee injuries, but now says he is ready to go.
“In August of 2014, the summer going into my junior year, I was at University of South Carolina ID Soccer camp playing in an all-star game when I tore my left ACL,” Sweat said. “I rehabbed hard because I did not want to miss my chance to be recruited.”
In February, he started to play again for the first time since the surgery, just in time for his junior season. “Coach and the team expected a lot from me, especially with my team-leading 29 goals sophomore year in varsity,” he said.
Three games into the season against crosstown rival Brunswick High in March of 2015, he went down and tore his other ACL; this time in the right knee. “The whole stadium went silent,” he said. “So, essentially, I missed the most important year to get recruited as a male soccer player.”
Faced with overcoming the end of his soccer career for a second time, Sweat worked hard to rehab his knees. He started playing again in October 2015. “I got back into it and started to continue my recruiting process,” he said. “My senior season is starting this month and I could not be happier to have improved my health.”
At 5’9” and 145 pounds, Sweat has played all over the soccer pitch, primarily at forward.
He holds a better than perfect grade point average of 4.33 and is a member of the National Honor Society, BETA Club, a Georgia Certificate of Merit recipient, a Presbyterian College Fellow, and took part in the Math and Sciences Expo Quiz Bowl. He is the founder and Vice President of the Spirit Club, Latin Club, GA Best Buddies, and Gathering Place 707 Group. He was voted Most Spirited, Most Involved, and YMCA Leader in Training Staff of the Week. His plan is to attend the University of Georgia to pursue a degree in dentistry.
Before being felled by injuries, Sweat was one of the primary weapons on the Terrors’ soccer team. “The strongest part of his game is playmaking ability,” said Bobby Brockman, Glynn Academy head soccer coach. “He is a dominant scorer, but is also unselfish and can garner assists.”
Sweat started as a freshman and was named to the All-Region 3-AAAAA Second Team. His first big play came against metro-Atlanta’s Berkmar when he dribbled nearly 40 yards in and out of defenders and passed the ball across to assist for the winning goal. “It was a freezing game but a pivotal goal for the team,” Sweat said. “I will never forget this moment.”
In his sophomore year, he led the team in goals and was named First Team All-Region. His most memorable game came against St. Plus X in a late night start at Glynn County Stadium. The visitors were undefeated, which drew a large crowd. The game was tied when the Glynn Academy goal keeper launched the ball down to the opposite end of the field.
“Off the bounce in mid-air, I chipped the ball over the keeper to give us the lead,” he said. “Hands down my favorite goal.”
He played just three games his junior year but has returned this year as a senior captain. “My favorite part of soccer easily is the amount of skill it takes to master it and how it takes more than being athletic to master the game,” he said. “The best player in the world is Messi, and he is only 5’7”.”
He credits his parents and Coach Brockman for motivating him to get back to playing soccer after two ACL surgeries in a year.
“I felt very good about him returning from having ACL surgeries on both knees because he is a very driven young man,” Coach Brockman said.
Sweat has had interest from several schools including Jacksonville University, Presbyterian College, UNC Greensboro, Mercer, Evansville, MIT, Erskine, and Oglethorpe. “I have had the option to play college soccer from numerous schools, but have decided to enroll to the University of Georgia,” Sweat said.
Although he will not be playing intercollegiate soccer for the Dawgs, he will be taking classes in hopes of being accepted to Dental School.
“Even with two ACL surgeries, there were several Division I programs that wanted him,” Coach Brockman said. “But long story short, this guy is Georgia Bulldog through and through, and with his academics being so strong he will do great up there and then pursue his master’s degree as well.”
Sweat believes that his four years of playing soccer have taught him to never give up and that soccer will always be a huge part of his life. As for his hopes for the coming season: “In my final season as a Terror, I hope to play to my full ability, stay healthy, and keep the goals coming.”
SE-MI-0316-Sweat
Jonathan Sweat
Glynn Academy Soccer
By Rob Asbell
Never Give Up
