Two members of the Charleston Battery were named finalists in the slate of 2026 USL Championship Awards, the league announced on Friday. Joey Akpunonu is a finalist for Defender of the Year, and Colton Swan is a finalist for Young Player of the Year.
The duo turned in career years, making the nominations fitting additions to their respective 2026 campaigns.
Akpunonu, fresh off earning All-League First Team honors, has been stellar in 2026 while anchoring the Battery’s back line.
The center-back recorded a team-best 24 blocks and 156 clearances, along with two assists, 18 interceptions, and 78 duels won. Akpunonu also set a new single-season career high for appearances (30) and minutes played (2,537). Savvy with the ball, Akpunonu completed 1,855 passes – the most of any defender in the league – at an 88.7% accuracy rate, and a league-best 231 accurate long balls.
“Joey has shown that he can be one of the best overall defenders in our league,” said Head Coach Ben Pirmann. “He is exceptional on the ball and fits the way we want to play. Joey has been pushed over the past two seasons to constantly make improvements, and he has done so.
“Additionally, Joey has a very strong growth mindset and willingness to improve. These awards have shown the time and energy that he and his teammates are willing to put in.”
Swan, 19, was not just one of the top young players in the regular season but one of the top in the league overall.
The striker tallied nine goals and three assists during the campaign, with a team-high 14 goals scored across all competitions going into the Eastern Conference Final. Swan became just the seventh player to record at least nine goals as a teenager in a single season in the Championship. Swan’s nine goals in the regular season are tied for the most scored by a teenager for an independent club in a season (Diego Luna, 2021).
In May, Swan notched four goals and one assist and was subsequently named the league’s Player of the Month. He became the youngest player to ever be named USL Championship Player of the Month. Swan’s run in May included a brace against Sporting Club Jacksonville, where he became the Battery’s second-youngest player to record a two-goal game in Championship play (18 years and 364 days old), trailing only Fidel Barajas (17 years and 171 days).
“Colton has had a monster first season as a professional and is very deserving of being on the shortlist for this award,” said Coach Pirmann. “He plays a position that is very difficult to thrive in as a young player, yet he continues to improve and improve. Colton has been an animal all season long. No matter what the ups and downs have been, he’s a player who has put the team first and been the hardest worker on the field day in and day out.”
The 2026 USL Championship Awards were voted on by club management and a league-wide media panel that included representation from every USL market.
Defender of the Year will be announced on Tues., Nov. 17, and Young Player of the Year will be announced on Thurs., Nov. 19.
