BELLVILLE — If Clear Fork girls soccer coach Brittany Bechtel asked Deijah Swihart to drive the team bus or wash the uniforms after matches, the unassuming senior star would probably oblige.
The Richland Source Athlete of the Week, Swihart would do just about anything for her teammates.
The Colts (7-0-2) are ranked fourth in Division II in this week’s Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association state poll thanks in no small part to Swihart. The three-time All-Ohio forward has moved to the Clear Fork midfield this fall.
“I’m in the midfield now to send balls up to the top because we have struggled a little in the middle,” Swihart said. “I’ll do whatever the team needs.”
A prolific scorer, Swihart has developed into a facilitator this season. She led Richland County in assists heading into last week’s action.
“She does a little bit of everything for us,” said Bechtel, a Clear Fork product who went on to play Division I college soccer. “I’ve been associated with the Clear Fork soccer program for almost its entire existence and she is the best player I’ve seen come through.”
As a freshman, Swihart teamed with All-Ohio midfielder Martha Staab to help lead the Colts to a 16-3-1 record. Clear Fork fell to Toledo St. Ursula 5-2 in the regional championship game. Staab, who plays Division I soccer for Northern Kentucky, was selected to the All-Ohio first team. Swihart was a second team pick.
The following year, Clar Fork was 18-3 and again advanced to the regional championship game before falling 1-0 to St. Ursula. Swihart was an All-Ohio first team pick.
Last year the Colts were 13-4-1. Clear Fork fell to Richland County rival Ontario 3-0 in the district championship game. Swihart and fellow forward Jordyne Helinski were both first team All-Ohioans.
Winning a district championship and returning to the regional tournament is a high priority for Swihart.
“We played in the regional finals my freshman and sophomore years, but got beat earlier than we would have liked last year,” she said. “I feel like we can get back there if things go our way.
“There are some similarities between this team and those teams, but we are establishing our own identity.”
This week’s state ranking is the highest the Colts have ever been rated.
“This is one of the best teams that I’ve coached,” Bechtel said. “When they put everything together, they are tough to handle.
“We have a lot of girls out there who have played in a regional championship game. We’ll need a little luck, but these girls know what is possible.”
Swihart will continue her career at Division II Ashland University. The Eagles are coached by former Ashland High School and AU standout Danny Krispinsky.
“I really like the coach and he is recruiting really good players from around the country,” Swihart said. “I just felt like AU was the place for me.”
AU will have to wait, however, as the Colts are in the hunt for a third straight Ohio Cardinal Conference title. Clear Fork and Wooster are tied atop the Ohio Cardinal Conference standings after Tuesday’s scoreless tie.
“We would have liked to beat them, but we’re still tied with them,” Swihart said. “I got a feeling we might see them in the OCC tournament.”
“I’m in the midfield now to send balls up to the top because we have struggled a little in the middle,” Swihart said. “I’ll do whatever the team needs.”
