Freshman Grail Johnson not only made the varsity volleyball team as the only freshman, but she also starts on the varsity basketball team, has made the varsity lacrosse team and is hoping to make the varsity tennis team in the spring.
“It means a lot to me to make three, possibly four varsity teams as a freshman,” Johnson said. “I’ve definitely put in a lot of work. Making varsity was my main goal and to have already been able to do that as a freshman is something I’m really proud of.”
Johnson started her high school sports career as the singular freshman on the varsity volleyball team.
“The night after volleyball tryouts I remember thinking about how not good I thought I did,” Johnson said. “So the next day when the results came out I was so excited, I didn’t believe I had what it took to make varsity.”
Volleyball head coach Sandi Stein said Johnson immediately stood out during tryouts.
“Grail came in as a freshman and pushed the limits on everyone,” Stein said. “She always was giving 120% and never complaining just getting the job done.”
Senior volleyball teammate Lucia Olivera said even though Johnson was a freshman she motivated others with her mindset.
“I’m a senior and I found myself looking up to Grail,” Olivera said. “Every time I would look over at her in a practice or a game you can just tell she is giving it all she has. And when someone is playing that way it encourages everyone else to play that way too. It wasn’t even just playing Grail was a huge supporter which made other people support loudly too.”
Despite being a freshman, Johnson made her presence known having the highest ace percentage on the team at 30.8%.
“Volleyball is the sport that I’ve really struggled with and had to really put in work to get better at,” Johnson said. “It’s been very rewarding seeing my hard work pay off.”
The Knights finished the season with an overall record of 29-10, a region record of 6-1 and eventually lost in the Sweet Sixteen of playoffs to Cartersville 3-2. Olivera said Johnson was critical to the success of the team.
“Grail was crucial for our team’s success,” Olivera said. “She brought that success in multiple different ways, obviously her actual volleyball ability but also her cheering and lifting everyone else up. I really think she is going to go far in volleyball and life in general.”
Stein said she has high hopes for Johnson in the future through volleyball.
“Big things are on the horizon for this young lady just because of her work ethic and her positive persistent attitude towards being the best,” Stein said.
Transitioning to basketball after volleyball season, Johnson quickly became a key player on the team, earning a starting spot and making her presence felt on the court even though she only began playing two years ago.
“I didn’t believe I would actually get to start,” Johnson said. “We were at practice and Coach Little [head basketball coach] was talking and was saying to the team how a freshman starting shouldn’t be on his mind. And it just took a second for it to kind of sink in that he was talking about me. I felt overwhelmed with immediate excitement, also anxiety knowing what that meant.”
Coming into the season the Knights lost Briaiah Lewis due to graduation who is playing Division 3 basketball at Berry College.
“Grail filled a gap once Briaiah left, Grail brings rebounding and goes up and down the court,” assistant basketball coach O’Neisha Smith said. “She’s very active, for her to be a freshman and to be put in the role of starting. She is handling it very well, and she’s still learning and she wants to learn. She wants to get better, she just brings that extra oomph that the team needs.”
Johnson has become a key defensive player averaging the third most rebounds a game for the Knights and averaging 1.3 steals a game.
“The most rewarding moment is when I feel like I’ve been an asset to the team,” Johnson said. “Whatever sport it may be in volleyball there’ll be specific games where I feel like when I stepped on the court I was productive and I really showed that I belonged there and sort of the same thing in basketball like when it comes to getting a rebound.”
The Knights ended the season with an overall record of 24-6 losing to Dalton in the Sweet Sixteen. Smith said Johnson made most of those wins possible.
“Grail is extremely good at being a team player,” Smith said. “She always has the mindset that she is going to fix. Her leadership comes from being a team player and she does that in her actions and how she comes to practice, works hard and how she gives her effort.”
Starting the spring season, Johnson had made the varsity lacrosse team and hopes to make the varsity tennis team.
“I’ve been playing tennis all of my life so I really hope I can do it again in high school,” Johnson said. “I also love lacrosse so I’m excited to continue playing it.”
Johnson believes all her sports go hand in hand with one another.
“Playing multiple sports definitely benefits each other,” Johnson said. “All the sports seem so different but they all make me more athletic and hand-eye coordination comes into play with all of them. Being in shape comes into play with all of them.”
On top of varsity sports Johnson also competes on a club volleyball team called ACE. Even with these time commitments, she continues to have all A’s.
“I feel like growing up I’ve just always wanted to make my parents happy and make all the work that they’ve put into driving me to practice and driving me everywhere worth it,” Johnson said. “I want to show them all the work you did for me has paid off. And I just love the feel of all the sports too.”
While sports are a huge part of Johnson’s life, academics always come first.
“School always comes first,” Johnson said. “My mom works in APS so growing up I’ve always had to have good grades. And even throughout sports school has always been the number one thing for me.”
Johnson said she doesn’t have a favorite sport and isn’t sure about playing collegiately.
“If I get an offer from a school that academically I would like to go to I would think about it because I wouldn’t go somewhere just for the sport,” Johnson said.
Johnson said her main goal right now is supporting her teammates.
“I hope to be someone that people look up to,” Johnson said. “Because on all of these teams there’s the seniors and the juniors and it’s like you see them and like you hope you can see your future in them. I just hope when I’m older, other people can see me like that.”
Junior basketball teammate Alexia Davis said she looks up to Johnson’s work ethic.
“Grail has a work ethic that is contagious,” Davis said. “I know Grail is going to thrive in all her sports and all the things she does because of her willingness to do it and not really just do it but to actually do it 100%.”
