Swallen To Be Inducted Into Thunder Hall of Fame

Published on August 27, 2002 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


BLAINE, Minn. (August 27, 2002) – The Minnesota Thunder will recognize the achievements and contributions by legendary goalkeeper John Swallen inducting him into the Hall of Fame in a ceremony prior to the Minnesota-Milwaukee match on Friday. Swallen will join the Hall of Fame as its fifth member along with other Thunder legends Tony Pesznecker (1996), Tony Sanneh (2002), Gerard Lagos (2002) and Manny Lagos (2002).

The game, which is being televised nationally on Fox Sports World, begins at 7 p.m. Tickets to the match ($8-$15) can be purchased in advanced by calling the Thunder office at 763-785-3668. Tickets are also available on the day of the game at the ticket window. For more information, visit the team website at www.mnthunder.com.

Swallen, a 12-year veteran of the Thunder and a Minnesota native, retired in December after the completion of the 2001 season. He grew up in Vadnais Heights, less than 15 minutes from Blaine. Swallen attended Ripon College where he was a three- year starter from 1985 to1987 and a two-time All- Conference selection (1985, 1987).

He joined the Thunder in 1990 for its inaugural season, and along with former teammate Gerard Lagos, who was also inducted into the team's Hall of Fame earlier this season, played his entire professional career for Minnesota. Both Lagos and Swallen remained dedicated to Minnesota and were the last two remaining Thunder players from the original team to retire.

Swallen enjoyed a successful career in his 12- consecutive seasons with the Thunder, which was marked with many impressive highlights. In 1999, he led Minnesota to its first A-League Championship, and was also named the A-League Goalkeeper of the Year that season for his superb performance in the net. Swallen was also named the A-League's Most Valuable Player after leading the League in wins (17) shutouts (11) and for his goals against average (GAA) of 0.56.

Just a year earlier, he was ranked third in the League in 1998 with a 19-7 record and eighth with a 1.09 GAA. In 1997, he was ranked fourth in the League for a 0.89 GAA. Swallen recorded seven shutouts in 1998 after notching eight in 1997, seven in 1996 and 14 in 1995.

He served as the Thunder's co-captain every year for the team since 1993, up through 2001 prior to his retirement. Among his many other accomplishments with the team, Swallen was named a Midwest Division All- Star in 1995 and the USL Championships Outstanding Goalkeeper in 1995, as well being a 1995 USL Championships All-Tournament selection. In 1999, he was named to the First Team All-League. He also played in the USL All-Star Game that same year.

Despite being retired professionally, that doesn't stop Swallen, now 37, from staying active in the sport that he loves. In 1995, he developed the Mini- Kickers camp program designed to target children under the age of five, in order to teach youngsters the fundamentals of the game. Today, Swallen remains the director of Mini-Kickers. Since its inception, the program, which is sponsored by New Horizon Child Care, has grown by leaps and bounds. This year alone more than 500 children were enrolled to participate in Mini-Kickers.

Swallen became involved in the sport at an early age and continued to play professionally because it was his passion. He still remains deeply rooted in the soccer world, and enjoys giving back to the community through his coaching.

Milwaukee Match Against Cincinnati Tonight Holds Serious Playoff Implications for Thunder The Milwaukee Rampage and the Cincinnati Riverhawks will battle tonight in Milwaukee in the last regular season action between the two teams. If the Rampage loses, both Milwaukee and the Thunder will be tied at 66 points entering Friday's showdown match. A loss by the Rampage would allow Minnesota the opportunity to pull ahead in the Central Division Title race with a win on Friday.

If the Rampage wins, the team could potentionally earn four or five points (a bonus point is scored when a team notches three goals in a match), forcing the Thunder to beat Milwaukee on Friday, as well as the Rochester Rhinos on Sunday in order to keep pace in the standings.

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