By Bill Vilona
GoArgos.Com Senior Writer
Mya Swinton had moved on with her life in early 2022 with competitive soccer in a rear-view mirror.
She was working two jobs in Pensacola, while continuing college courses. She was resigned to the possibility that her playing days in collegiate soccer could be finished.
"My life was not soccer," said Swinton, who had played the sport since a young age and became a star player and standout student at Gulf Breeze High, which led to a scholarship and freshman season at Vanderbilt. "I had really ended up quitting soccer."
And then it all changed.
Word got out in the local soccer community that Swinton was no longer at Vanderbilt. At the urging of those close to her, Swinton began thinking of playing again. She got her name into the NCAA transfer portal and immediately connected with University of West Florida women's soccer coach
Joe Bartlinski, who knew her well.
"I had no idea she wasn't at Vanderbilt, until someone told me she was back here in Pensacola," Bartlinski said. "But the next thing that had to happen was Mya getting her name in the (transfer) portal. And then at that point, she was able to contact us."
What ensued was Swinton resetting her career last season with UWF, which has led into an even greater impact this season. Swinton was recently named the Gulf South Conference player of the year, after scoring a team-best nine goals, five assists for 23 points during the regular season.
The junior midfielder seeks to help the Argos (15-2-1) extend their post-season on Friday at 12 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Division II South Regional in Daytona Beach where No. 4 seed UWF faces No. 5 seed Nova Southeastern. The winner will play top-seed and tournament host Embry-Riddle on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the UWF men's soccer team (11-1-5) got a No. 6 seed and will play at Wingate on 2 p.m. Saturday in a region quarterfinal in Wingate, North Carolina.
Last year, Swinton scored a goal in the Argos' win against Nova Southeastern in the first-round of the NCAA D-2 tournament. This season, she has been a starter in all 18 games and has taken a team-best 59 shots.
"I started to believe in myself more," said Swinton. "That was major. I started to take care of myself more. All the little things I started to do and I think that has shown up in my game right now. It was months and months of preparation.
"When I came back (to playing again), it was a complete 180 (degree turnaround). I could not run for 20 minutes without struggling to breathe easy. I was overweight. I had not touched a (soccer) ball in eight months."
The way she has progressed makes Bartlinski excited for Swinton's future role with the Argos.
"She has just scratched the surface of the player she can be," he said. "She's made such great strides. I really look forward to seeing what she can be next season."
Swinton, 21, who was born in Okinawa, Japan, signed with Vanderbilt following her ultra-successful tenure with Gulf Breeze. But in 2020, that was when the coronavirus took its toll on sports and playing careers for athletes nationwide. The impact of COVID was far-reaching on all sports.
Vanderbilt began playing its 2020 season in late September, then had a spring season in 2021. Swinton appeared in 14 of 16 games for Vandy in 2020. She assisted on game-winning goal against Georgia in 2020. The Bulldogs were the 2023 SEC Tournament champions at recent championship in Pensacola.
After the extended season ended, Swinton opted to leave Vandy and returned to Pensacola.
"The last four years of my life, I could write a book," Swinton said. "In 2020, it wasn't your normal freshman kind of season for me. I had a lot of stuff going on and I think I had to take a step back and think about myself a little bit and I finally did.
"Now, reflecting back on it, I am a better person."
Her passion for playing soccer returned once she decided to transfer into UWF and join the Argos before the 2022 season.
"Out of nowhere, Coach (Bartlinski) contacted me and said, 'Hey Mya do you want to come play.' It was between UWF and South Alabama and I just knew in my heart it was West Florida.
"I just wanted to be back. All the girls, they just welcomed me. I remember going to my unofficial visit and they just came out to me and said, we want you here. I just knew it felt like home."
Swinton has kept a daily journal. She refers to it for inspiration.
"I have journals from way back saying, 'I can do it. I'm prepared, I'm prepared.' I have always enjoyed writing, so I just write and write," Swinton said, laughing. "Coach (Bartlinski) always says that you don't have to be afraid if you are prepared. He said don't flinch this year."
Swinton began playing soccer when she was 8-years-old in San Diego. Her coach, Ouying Zhang, encouraged her to try the sport. She was Swinton's coach for the next four years.
"She came up to me one day and said, Mya I think you can be good on my team.' I said, okay coach, I have never played soccer before, but I will try," Swinton said. "We used to go out and play all the time. She used to pick me up in this green minivan. I just get emotional talking about it."
Her father, Thomas, is in the U.S. Navy. During her sophomore year in high school, her father got transfered from the Navy base in San Diego to Naval Air Station-Pensacola. Thomas Swinton is a vocal supporter at UWF games, encouraging all the players and keeping a lively dialogue.
"He's never played soccer before, and it's great," she said, laughing,
Swinton joined the Gulf Coast-Texans travel soccer team, as well as playing for the Gulf Breeze Dolphins. Advancing to play in college has required a physical adjustment for Swinton.
"I think the intensity is the big thing," she said. "Girls are coming at you out of nowhere. Big bodies everywhere. So you have to be strong. I think the speed of play is completely different. You are checking into a ball a little bit faster and you are moving off the ball a little bit faster.
"You have to believe in yourself."
It's how Swinton now approaches an important time in her soccer career.
