Fourth time’s the charm for senior Nick Sweilem

The pandemic had a negative impact on many high school baseball players and their development, but senior Nick Sweilem spent his extra free time in 2020 improving as a pitcher. His dedication translated into an opportunity that eluded him in his first three years at Notre Dame College Prep: a roster spot on the baseball team.

“Throughout my high school career, I continuously got rejected from the baseball program,” Sweilem said. “This offseason, I wanted to prove to myself and to everyone else that I’m worthy of making this team, and I gave it all I had.”

Sweilem credited his training routine during the pandemic for his development as a pitcher. He used a set of resistance bands he received for Christmas and other items around the house during his workouts.

“I was restricted only to my house,” Sweilem said of his training routine. “I wanted to make sure that I stayed in shape, so I used household items and heavy-duty products to build up my strength.”

The training paid off: By the time tryouts took place for Dons varsity baseball, Sweilem had increased his average fastball velocity by seven miles per hour.

Playing baseball for Notre Dame was Sweilem’s primary goal throughout high school, and it was a lofty one. The Dons have one of the most competitive programs in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. Since 2015, 35 alumni have gone on to play collegiate baseball.

“He’s shown everyone else on the team how to go about something if you really want something,” Notre Dame assistant coach Terry Kusinski said. “We could be working on pickoffs, and he’ll be in a full-blown sweat. He puts everything into it.”

Sweilem couldn’t have earned his spot on the varsity team without the support of his parents, Nizar and Sandy Sweilem. They didn’t know much about baseball, but when Nick started pitching competitively for Windy City Baseball, a summer travel team, his mom was at every game and his dad was by his side for every bullpen session he threw.

“With my little knowledge of baseball, I watched Major League games and pitchers and based my assistance off that,” Nizar Sweilem said. “Every bullpen that he threw, I directed him in whatever way I could to see him succeed.”

Given their commitment to help their son realize his aspiration, Sweilem's accomplishment of making the team in his final year at Notre Dame was as fulfilling for his parents as it was for him.

“I cried when he made the team,” Sandy Sweilem said. “He waited for that moment and didn’t give up the past four years, and he finally achieved his goal.”