Huron's Ayden Swinehart carries flag to honor mom, country

HURON -- While the COVID-19 pandemic ended in-class studies for students across the state in March and threatened to disrupt classes, and sports, again this fall, those were just the most visible obstacles for Huron senior Ayden Swinehart. His mother, a staff sergeant in the United States Air Force, was called into active duty for a six-month tour in an undisclosed location, meaning she would miss nearly all of her son's senior football season. To honor his mom, Ayden leads the Tigers onto the field carrying the American flag. "It's been tough," Ayden said. "This is the first time she's been gone for longer than a month or two, so it's different. It's been a big toll on me that she hasn't been able to come to any of our games, but we want to make it to state so she'll get to see at least that one." Huron went undefeated in the shortened six-game regular season and captured its first Sandusky Bay Conference Bay Division title since 2014. That earned the Tigers a No. 3 seed in the Division IV Region 14 playoffs, and a matchup against Bryan on Saturday at Huron Memorial Stadium after an opening-round bye. "Ayden is a terrific kid," said Huron coach Sam Hohler. "He has worked like crazy for our team the last few years. When we found out that his mom would be deployed and gone for our season, it was tough to hear. He is very close to his mom. "Ayden carrying the American flag before our games is very special for our school and our program. In a crazy year of uncertainty, seeing that kid run out on the field with that flag gives us all a great sense of pride." Prior to the start of the season, Ayden and a couple teammates who also plan to enter the military after graduation discussed carrying the flag, then H-Team members asked Ayden to be the one. "It's usually done by a senior and usually by whoever wants to do it," he said. "This year, it meant a more to me. Before my mom left, she said she wanted me to carry the flag." Heather Swinehart is able to stay in touch with her son through certain social media channels and a Facebook group was set up to livestream Ayden's games for her to watch. "It's definitely been hard watching all the things I'm supposed to be there for, but this was my decision a long time ago and I took the risk of something like this happening," Heather Swinehart said to a Facebook question about missing her son's senior football season. "I hope to be home soon and will get to experience all the other senior-year traditions. Technology and friends have made the situation easier, though." The Facebook group is also being used by Swinehart relatives in Cincinnati and Columbus, plus Ayden is able to have direct contact with his mom through WhatsApp, a cross-platform messaging service that allows users to send text and voice messages, but it does not compromise his mom's location. He's also able to use FaceTime, an Apple video messaging application, when his mom's phone reception allows it. "All the senior moms know my mom isn't here so they've tried their best to make this seem normal," Ayden said. "Everyone who goes to the games know by now what's happening and everybody has been nice and friendly, so it's been pretty nice." Heather Swinehart's regular job is as a Mansfield police officer. When she is called to duty for the Air Force, she normally works in the construction area. A divorced mother, her son is living with her longtime friend, Jessica Cray, whom Ayden refers to as his aunt. "My mom wrote her senior letter to me over the phone, but that was a different emotion than sad for me," he said. "It was more that she's gone and can't be here, but everyone is trying to make it feel like I am at home." Another positive for the Tigers lineman is how close the entire class of 23 seniors is to each other. "I would say I'm either best friends or close to best friends with all of them," Ayden said. "We were looking back after we beat Edison (a 40-14 decision that secured a 6-0 season and undisputed SBC Bay title) and wondered what would have happened if we would have had a 10-game season." The Tigers should be well-rested after the unusual bye week that was built into the 2020 state playoff football format, but preparations have ramped up for Bryan on Saturday night. Ayden will be leading the charge with the American flag held high. "At first, I was scared I would drop it, but as time has gone by, I've figured out how it works," he said. "There's this little spinny thing in the middle, so I hold that with one hand and wave it."