It should have been one of the best trips of Drew Swartz’s life, and it started out that way.
The former Gilbert High lineman traveled to Colorado Springs last Wednesday to prepare for his entrance into the Air Force Academy, the college he committed to play football for in January.
He went to a team breakfast Thursday morning, and fans yelled encouragement as he got off a bus.
But hours later, Swartz was thrown a curveball.
After a check by team doctors, Swartz was told his hearing wasn’t good enough to be admitted into the college.
“It was a big bummer,” Swartz said.
Now, the 6-foot-4, 240-pounder is at a crossroads.
He may try surgery to fix the problem, although one ear specialist told him it may not work. If it does, Swartz could return to Air Force next season.
If it doesn’t, Swartz is looking at other options.
Scholarship money is hard to come by this late in the recruiting cycle, and he’s checking with Division II schools to see if any is available.
Swartz had a full-ride to Air Force and is figuring out what he can afford.
“I didn’t plan on paying for (college),” Swartz said.
His other alternative would be playing at a junior college next season and trying to earn a scholarship that way.
Swartz has an appointment on Tuesday with an ear specialist to determine his next course of action.
