FHS senior and athlete Hayley Johnson is one of the most multifaceted students on campus. She participates in volleyball in the fall, basketball in the winter and track and field in the spring.
She has always loved playing sports, but her love for sports flourished in middle school when she was given the option to do them after school. She tried out as many as possible, but when she had to decide which ones she would continue doing throughout high school, she picked her favorite sport for each season.
Playing a sport every season and managing school work is not an easy feat, but it is something that comes easy to her. With Johnson’s passion for each sport, the business is a blessing rather than a burden.
“I budget [time] well,” Johnson said. “I do homework in my free periods and after school, just whenever I have time.”
Though time management seems like an obvious skill that all student-athletes must master, her basketball coach Miguel Castillo expressed that Johnson does so exceptionally. He described how her dependability stands out against other students’.
“She is one of the most responsible, if not the most responsible player I have,” Castillo said. “She’s always on time. If she’s late, which is rare, she’s going to tell me and make sure I know.”
As one of the captains of the Girls Basketball team, she is responsible when it comes to encouraging and setting examples for her teammates. She encourages players to be the best versions of themselves while still having fun playing and building strong team bonds.
“She does a great job at bringing excitement to the team which makes it a lot of fun for everybody,” Castillo said.
Johnson strives to bring an optimistic outlook to her sports. Even in a tough game, she still tries her best to keep the energy high. Among coaching herself through the struggle, she also supports her teammates and stays attentive to how her disposition affects them.
“I cheer up the team and make sure we all have a positive attitude,” Johnson said. “Because, overall positive attitude is just what wins games and if we get down on ourselves, that’s just not going to help us.”
This year she has had the chance to work on her leadership skills, making her the full package.
“She’s always been a tremendous athlete,” Castillo said. “She can run like a deer, she can jump, she’s quick, she’s athletic. And so, all that put together has led to her development in her skills. She was a good athlete to begin with. And now her leadership and her communication skills makes her one of the great leaders on the team.”
While winning is not everything to Johnson, it is definitely something that she is proud of. Her sophomore year she earned sixth place in the Central Coast Section for high jump and as a junior even led the Girls Basketball team to winning the league championship undefeated. Along with that title, she was also crowned league MVP for basketball thanks to her impressive skills.
She hopes to continue playing sports throughout college and beyond. As for her athletic career following high school, she plans to go to San Jose City College and participate on their track and field and basketball teams.
Considering Johnson’s remarkable qualities as a player, leader and student, her advice is invaluable. Johnson revealed the mottos that have allowed her to keep up her incredible attitude throughout her life.
“Stay with the sport and just keep practicing even on your own time,” Johnson said. “Don’t give up, don’t get down on yourself, keep practicing and having a good attitude.”
