(High Point, NC – June 29, 2026) - Carolina Core FC announced the signing of defender Bryce Swinehart, adding some youth to the back line after he completed his collegiate career this past fall.
Swinehart joins the Foxes after spending three years at Liberty and finishing his college tenure with the West Virginia Mountaineers, where he proved to be a valuable piece to one of the premiere defenses in in the Sun Belt Conference.
In his single season at West Virginia, Swinehart played in all 21 matches with seven starts, tallying 1,031 minutes. He recorded one goal and two assists while being a part of eight team shutouts in the 2025 season, which was tied for the most in the conference. With Swinehart proving to be a staple on defense, the Mountaineers allowed 1.21 goals against per match, which ranked as the fourth-lowest in the Sun Belt.
He proved himself as one of the top defensive talents in the nation with Liberty. He started all 50 matches across three years for the Flames with eight goals and three assists. He broke onto the scene in his freshman year, being named to the Top Drawer Soccer Top 100 Freshman and earning a spot on the ASUN All-Freshman Team. His best season came in 2023, when he earned All-Ohio Valley Conference First Team and scored a career-best five goals.
“We are extremely excited to welcome Bryce to Carolina Core,” said Interim Head Coach Jake Davis. “We have been tracking Bryce through the USL2 season and his consistent performances sparked our interest. Bryce is a hard working defender that will fit nicely into our identity while providing valuable depth as we enter a busy stretch of the season. I am excited to see how he develops throughout the season and think he has a very high ceiling as a player .”
Swinehart played for Charlotte FC Academy and Sports Kansas City Academy prior to joining Liberty. He was ranked as a top 50 recruit for 2022 by Top Drawer Soccer while winning Greater Charlotte Area Male Defender of the Year the same year. He also spent time with the Charlotte Eagles of USL League 2 on loan during his time in college.
Swinehart arrives in High Point ready to make an impact on The Core's defense in his first season out of college. He will be available for selection as Carolina Core FC continues its 2026 MLS NEXT Pro campaign.
PLAYER INFORMATION:
Name: Bryce Swinehart
Position: Defender
Height: 5’11”
Age: 22
Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
College: West Virginia
