Nutley Male Athlete of the Month

Austin Sweeney – NHS junior, boys’ soccer

“Austin is a second-year varsity player, and a first-year captain. He is a very versatile player who can play different roles on the field. His work ethic, leadership, and skill make him such a valuable player for the Raiders. Austin is an experienced soccer player, and is able to contribute on both ends of the field. He is currently our leading goal scorer with three goals.”
— Tom Tolve,
head coach, NHS boys’ soccer

How did you get into soccer?
My family introduced me to soccer and definitely made me fall in love with the sport.

Do you have a favorite soccer team? Player?
Yes, my favorite soccer team is Real Madrid and my favorite player is probably Modrić. He has amazing vision and finds almost impossible passes on the pitch.

Is there one field that you’d really like to play on? How come?
Probably the Westfalenstadion because the fans are amazing and they are so close the pitch.

What’s your best on-field memory?
Freshman year my club team went to the state finals. It was the last minutes and we were tied 1-1 and I was on a breakaway and scored to win the state championship. It was one of the best memories I’ve had on the field so far.

Even though the U.S. team didn’t qualify for the upcoming World Cup, do you see a bright future for soccer in America? Is soccer here to stay?
I do see a bright future for soccer in the U.S. There are many great young players that are like Pulisic who is starting for the U.S national team and starting for one of the biggest teams in Europe at only 19. Soccer is definitely here to stay and is getting bigger in the U.S. every day.

Any superstitions or pre-game routines?
I don’t have any superstitions but I do listen to music on my way to the game, just think about what I want to do on the field before my game.

Do you watch a lot of soccer on TV?
Every weekend I turn on soccer, there is always a game to watch, whether it is the Premier League, La Liga, or
international soccer

What are you doing for fun these days?
I don’t have much time with soccer, but I like hanging out with my friends when I have free time.