West Platte’s Sydney Sweeden isn’t your typical college soccer signee.
The recent graduate signed late in the school year to continue playing soccer at Graceland University in Lamoni, Iowa.
She will be a rare addition for the Yellowjackets, a member of the Heart of America Athletic Conference, since Sweeden didn’t play soccer for her high school.
Instead, she got noticed by various colleges by playing for Alliance FC, a club soccer team out of Kansas City.
“At first it was odd, it made me stand out,” Sweeden said of not playing for a high school team. “When I look at people’s awards and honors you see four-year varsity, or captain, or all-conference and all of that and I had absolutely nothing. I don’t think that it makes me any different. I knew I could do it.
“What I’ve been told, high school doesn’t get you to college, it is club. It didn’t bother me that much.”
Sweeden was five when she started playing soccer at Platte Ridge Park and in third grade joined her first traveling team. In eighth grade she realized she was pretty good at the sport and it could possibly take her places.
But, without having a soccer program at West Platte High School, her spring season was free while her club teammates were playing for their school. She noted there was talk about her playing for Platte County, but that fell apart along the way.
“I just trained on my own,” she said. “I used the time for myself to get better on my own.”
She got involved with the track and field program at West Platte, serving as a manager. Her playing club soccer paid off and during her junior year she started getting offers from NCAA Division III, NAIA and junior college programs.
She narrowed down the options to State Fair Community College in Sedalia and two schools in Iowa — Graceland and Indians Hills Community College.
“When you got a college visit, they say pick the one that feels like home and Graceland … it had everything I wanted,” Sweeden said. “The coaching staff was amazing and I trained with the team and it felt like I’ve been on the team for years. I felt like I belonged. Also, it was a four -year school so I wouldn’t have to worry about where to go to the next school.”
Sweeden, who will double major in history and psychology, will play either forward of defender for the Yellowjackets.
She will leave for college on Aug. 5 and 10 days later, Graceland will play its first of two exhibition games by hosting Iowa Central Community College.
“Sydney comes to Graceland as the first soccer recipient for her high school in Weston, Missouri,” Graceland coach Ozzie White said. “She is excited to carry this accolade and has the ability to succeed on the pitch and in the classroom.”
Submitted photo
West Platte’s Syndey Sweeden, second from left, signed to play soccer at Graceland. Joining her from left to right: father, Jarrod, sister, Larah, brother, Jace, mom, Maggie, and sister, Josie, during a signing ceremony at the high school.