For many high school athletes, going on to compete in college is about finding a winning program or pushing themselves to find out just how good they can be.
For Conneaut graduate Brittany Johnson, going on to compete at Edinboro University while pursuing a degree is about just that — competing.
“I like competition,” Johnson, the daughter of John and DIane Johnson said. “I like just going out and playing the game. Sports is just... it gets all your energy out. It makes me feel better.”
A three-sport star for the Spartans, Johnson was left with choosing between playing volleyball or basketball or running track. She eliminated volleyball from the mix, but still has yet to decide whether she will be on the Fighting Scots basketball court or track.
“It’s been hard,” Johnson said. “I played all year high school. It was so much fun for me. It’s a huge change. I don’t know what I want to do. It’s still a hard decision for me.
“I decided I’m not doing volleyball. It’s between basketball and track. Actually, they haven’t (given me a deadline on when I need to decide). I talked to the track coach at the end of the school year and he said if I wanted to try it, I can come in the fall and do some workouts. If I like it, I can stay. If not, then that’s my choice.”
There also the possibilty Johnson won’t have to choose one sport over the other.
“There is a I chance I could possibly do both,” she said. “It’s just still all up in the air.”
But the time to decide is getting close with classes starting soon.
“My mom and I actually were talking about that (Tuesday night),” Johnson said. “She’s getting on me a little bit (to decide). I guess when I know, I’ll know.”
Johnson will major in biology for a year with the idea of branching out after that.
“I want to branch off into environmental science,” she said. “My mom told me to go into biology and see how it goes. If I liked it, I could go into environmental science.
“I like being outside and I love animals. One of my mom’s friends works in geology and she does stuff with land. There are a few people who test Lake Erie water. Being outside is my main goal. I don’t want to be in a little cubicle all day.”
After looking at a few other schools, Johnson settled on Edinboro.
“Edinboro was my sister (Nichele’s) first choice two years ago,” Johnson said. “She ended up at Youngstown State. Edinboro is close to home. I’m a family girl and I need to be close to everyone.
“I realy like the campus and it’s a really easy drive to
get there and back. I was looking at Mount Union and Penn State-Behrend, but they didn’t really have what I was looking for.”
Competing at the college level, whether it’s in basketball or track, does present a bit of a challenge for Johnson.
“It’s a big change between competition levels,” she said. “It’s a whole new level. There will be big changes.. a whole new team. I grew up with everyone (I played with at Conneaut) over the years.
“It will be a new team and I won’t know anyone.”
And Johnson isn’t too keen on change.
“I like the same thing over and over,” she said. “But it’s got to happen sometime.”
Johnson enjoyed playing for her coaches at Conneaut.
“My coaches impacted me so much,” she said. “They taught me the games. They always ahd my back. They told me if I was doing something, when I was doing something right and and what I needed to do. They communicated with me. To be coached by them was a great experience.”
And being a family girl, it was good for Johnson to have the support of her loved ones.
“They have always been at all of my games and track meets,” she said. “My grandparents, Bert and Billie Messmer, were always there for me. My grandpa helped me with volleybell. He used to coach so he was my own personal coach and cheerleader.
“My parents always told me to do what I wanted (in sports). They always ahd my back. They were always there for me.”
Ettinger is a freelance writer from Ashtabula.
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