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Prep Roundup
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• Public Schools • Lake Norman High School • top story
2008 Mar-20
ALL-COUNTY: R&L BOYS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
Johnson shines in final season, earns county’s top swimming honorBy Brian Meadows Led by senior Austin Johnson, the Lake Norman boys swim team earned a runner-up finish in the 3A state championship meet Feb. 9 at N.C. State University. It was the best showing on the biggest stage in program history. “I was pretty excited about that,” Johnson said. “We kept getting progressively better the four years I was here. To see us be at the best we’ve ever been in my fourth year, that kind of sealed the deal.” The Wildcats have him largely to thank for wrapping the package. Johnson captured one individual state title, placed second in another event and anchored the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams’ runner-up finishes. His accomplishments ran the gamut — from county titles all the way to the state level — and they paved the way to his selection as R&L county boys swimmer of the year for the fourth time in as many years. “This was just a great way for him to go out his senior year,” Lake Norman coach Karen Steger said. Johnson won his first state title as a junior, when he struck gold with a first-place time in the 100 butterfly. He wasn’t able to repeat this season, instead having to settle for silver. “I was kind of focused on winning the 200 freestyle, and I felt pretty confident going in,” he said. Johnson posted a time of 1 minute, 43.99 seconds to win the 200 freestyle. It was the last of multiple program records he laid claim to. A longtime club swimmer, Johnson owns seven of the eight individual event records at Lake Norman. He set four of those this season. His state meet time in the 200 freestyle was one of them. It broke the record he established the previous week when he won the Western Regional. This was the fourth consecutive year Johnson won a regional title, and each year it was a different event. Steger always touted Johnson’s stroke versatility, and “that really shows it,” she said. “That lets me know I can swim whatever event and that if I try hard enough, I can succeed in it,” said Johnson, who was honored as North Piedmont Conference boys swimmer of the year. Johnson’s legacy as a Wildcats swimmer is well documented, but his competitive fervor for the pool isn’t subsiding as graduation draws near. Johnson said he plans to attend Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce, Fla., in the fall and swim for IRCC. To call the school a national swimming power may be an understatement. The men’s team has won 33 straight National Junior College Athletic Association national titles. “Hopefully after two years I can transfer into a four-year school,” Johnson said. No matter where he ends up, Johnson leaves behind a lasting impression at Lake Norman. “We will miss him tremendously,” Steger said. “He’s been the star for four years, and it will be very difficult to replace him.” Bookmarkz |
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