FEATURED SENIOR ATHLETE: Erin Johnson, Cloverdale

Erin is a senior at Cloverdale and participates in two sports, volleyball and softball.

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Banner Graphic: How important are sports to you, and what have you learned from them?

Erin Johnson: “Sports are very important to me, especially softball, as I’ve played since I was a kid, playing travel ball all my life. I’ve learned a lot from sports as they’ve taught me how to work with a team, how to be a leader, how to be strong in tough situations and not let pressure get to me.”

BG: Talk about your sports.

EJ: “Volleyball and softball have introduced me to a lot of friends and have made my high school experience fun because I’ve gotten to play on a team with my friends. Even though we haven’t had the best records, it’s been fun. I’m really looking forward to softball this year because I think we’ll be pretty good.”

BG: What’s the most embarrassing thing that has happened to you in sports?

EJ: “This past volleyball season, I was playing back row. A spike came in and hit me right in the face.”

BG: What does your game day routine look like?

EJ: “I go to school and drink a lot of water during the day so I am hydrated for the game. Usually, before the game, I listen to some music to really get me into it while someone does my hair on the bus.”

BG: Softball last year was tough on all the girls at Cloverdale for a myriad of reasons. Having gone through that, how does that help you and the seniors lead the team this year?

EJ: “I learned last year that, for all the struggles we faced, it’s best to stick together because you’re not alone and it helps to know that. For our freshmen, I want them to know they’re not alone. It’s their first year of high school still and first year of softball, so I want them to know they can always come to me for anything and that I’m always there for them.”

BG: Do you have any favorite college/pro sports teams or athletes you follow?

EJ: “I really enjoy watching college volleyball because its super intense. I grew up watching professional softball because my family likes to watch it and I enjoy watching my sister (Olivia) at Dominican University.”

BG: What else do you do at school besides things involving sports?

EJ: “I am in NHS, Ethics Bowl and FCCLA.

BG: What do you like to do outside of school and sports?

EJ: “This year, I’m interning at the prosecutor’s office and I am learning a lot from that. I also work at my hitting place for softball, working with little kids as they learn to hit. I also like to hang out with my friends and my foreign exchange student that is staying this year.”

BG: What are your favorites in movies, books, TV and music?

EJ: “I like all genres of music. I’m always listening to music. For TV, I’m stuck on ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ right now as well as law and criminal shows.”

BG: Are you a person that wants to watch TV shows and movies, stream something from YouTube, Twitch, TikTok etc. or something else (gaming, reading, etc.)?

EJ: “Me and my exchange student like to bake and have done that for hours at a time, so the first thing I would do is ask her if she would like to bake something. If she says know, TikTok here I come.”

BG: What is something you have never done before that you would like to do someday?

EJ: “I’m going to Italy in the summer. I’ve always wanted to go out there and I will get the chance to do so soon.”

BG: What is your biggest fear?

EJ: “Heights.”

BG: You’ve been placed in charge of making dinner. What’s on the menu?

EJ: “Spaghetti. I love spaghetti and it’s semi-easy to make.”

BG: Do you have any pets?

EJ: “I have a gerbil, Pebble.”

BG: If your house were on fire, all living things were already out and you have your keys, cell phone, wallet/purse etc., what is one thing you would go back and get?

EJ: “I’d get my favorite pair of shoes.”

BG: If you were to describe your personality in one word, what would that word be and why?

EJ: “Outgoing. I’m not a shy person and will talk with anyone who wants to talk. I let my true self shine through and don’t care if anyone doesn’t like that. I’m always hanging out doing something.”

BG: What has been your favorite place to visit?

EJ: “Colorado. I have family that lives out there. It’s not too hot and skiing on the mountain is my favorite.”

BG: What was your favorite school field trip?

EJ: “This past year, in my Spanish class, we went to an art museum in Indianapolis. It was fun to go and look at the pieces that were there.”

BG: How important is support from your family and classmates to your success?

EJ: “It’s important to have support, especially from your family, because you see them before and after games. It’s important to have that support. It’s also important to have support from your classmates and teammates. If your whole school is rooting for you, it’s going to make you want to do better.”

BG: Describe your overall school experience both academically and athletically.

EJ: “It’s been good. I like the small school environment where everyone knows everyone. You get a relationship with your teachers where you might not if there are 500 kids in a grade. I’ve gotten to participate in a lot of things throughout the school, which has helped me enjoy my high school career.”

BG: If your school was to offer a class it currently doesn’t, what would you want to see taught?

EJ: “Sign language or another foreign language. It would be cool to have some other choices available.”

BG: What are your plans for after high school, and what career are you headed toward?

EJ: “I am going to ISU to study prelaw and hopefully go to law school. My goal is to own my own firm and go from there.”

BG: Is it difficult to keep up with your school work being an athlete?

EJ: “It’s definitely harder with practices and games every single day of the week. I feel I’ve been able to manage it and get most of it done before leaving school. I have time in extra in classes to get it done. It’s a little bit harder than if I just had the time to go straight home and do it.”

BG: Which particular classes and teachers have helped you the most in high school?

EJ: “Mr. Spencer. I had psychology with him and even though I only had him, he taught me a lot about things in general. He’s a very good person and helped me in general. Mr. Sailor, even though he is not a teacher, helped me get the internship at the courthouse and has helped me succeed a lot.”

BG: In the future, once you’ve established yourself, if you had your choice, would you want to live somewhere more remote, such as in the mountains or the countryside, somewhere more flashy like down on the beach or in the big city or in the neighborhood?

EJ: “I like my privacy and wouldn’t want to live next to a bunch of people but I do want my house to be huge. I’d like the house to be one of those where you can see the driveway but not where it starts.”

BG: Do you think high school has gone fast, and are you going to miss it?

EJ: “High school has gone fast. I still feel like a freshman and not like a senior. I’m not going to miss high school but I will miss the environment and the people. That said, I’m ready to go to college and grow a new chapter in life.”