Swallows Charter Academy boys soccer laying a foundation for a program in first varsity season

Apr. 13—Laying the foundation for a successful program is what head coach Cody Fowler and the Swallows Charter Academy boys soccer team are setting out to do this season.

Fowler, who coached most of the players on the team throughout their middle school years, took time off from coaching to watch his own children play sports.

But when the opportunity to come back and coach for SCA was presented, he couldn't say no.

"This is only the second season that Swallows has been able to have a high school team," Fowler said. "The administration approached me, and I'm the luckiest guy in the world to help build a soccer program basically from scratch."

Last year, the program began and played a junior varsity only schedule, as is normal for a new program to build its first class before taking on varsity competition.

A combination of the changed sports seasons due to COVID, and Fowler's return cemented the decision to play soccer once again for junior Ben Compton and many of the other athletes.

"Since COVID changed up the seasons this year, it fit perfectly into basketball and baseball. I just kind of wanted to have one last season with some of the seniors because they are some of my best friends," Compton said.

"And we had (Fowler) all through middle school and we won a ton of championships and we all really enjoyed him as a coach — we all were really excited (for him to coach again)."

An encouraging coach who remains a backbone of the team, Fowler has inspired the team and keeps them going through a season where other teams may find animosity.

The Spartans currently have an 0-6 overall record and an 0-4 Black Forest League record, but Fowler says the boys are truly there because they enjoy playing sports together.

"We only have 13 or so kids on the team, so we don't really have subs," Fowler said. "But they play their hearts out. I told them, kids down the road are going to appreciate these guys because they are the building blocks laying a foundation for a soccer program at Swallows.

"They like to be a part of the team. We haven't won a game yet, but their biggest strength is that they just like to play with their friends. A lot of them play basketball and other sports together, now they are playing soccer. So, another asset is that they know each other, they are definitely a team and there is a friendship there that unites them."

Atop of having a small team, the Spartans are also battling a lack of practice time which Compton said is one of the obstacles they have had to work to overcome to get back into a soccer mindset.

"Our soccer team is basically our basketball team, so we know each other as athletes and we know what our strengths are no matter what the sport," Compton said. "So, we already have chemistry, it's just we're a little out of our element because we're mostly basketball focused. But we're having a good time."

The Spartans have two more games left in the regular season and will take on Vanguard at home Thursday night at Langoni Field.

Chieftain and Pueblo West View reporter Alexis Smith can be reached by email at asmith@chieftain.com or on Twitter @smith_alexis27.