Huddled up with her cheer squad as placements were being announced, tears began forming in the corner of then eighth grade student Taylor Johnson’s eyes. She was a 2024 World Champion. Little did she know, just months later she’d go from stepping onto cheerleading mats to getting set on volleyball courts.
Outside hitter Taylor Johnson has been in sports her whole life. She tried out gymnastics before finding her place in cheerleading at 5 years old. For the past two years, Taylor has been doing both All-Star Cheer and volleyball. But the hands that spent years putting in cheer bows are now used for hits and spikes. This year, she stepped down from cheer to focus all her attention on volleyball. Two years after joining volleyball, Taylor started the varsity team as a freshman.
“I would dread cheer practice,” Taylor said. “I always wanted to be in the gym practicing volleyball. Throughout this past year, I realized this is what I want to do. Volleyball is my safe place and it’s somewhere I can be myself. I’ve met some of the greatest people ever [that] I truly love to be around. It’s [like] a second home.”
Taylor’s introduction to volleyball was five years ago when she was watching a game on TV and found herself starstruck. Three years later, she started playing on a club team. Two years after that, she became a freshman starter on varsity. Head volleyball coach Rachel Buckley said Taylor may be the best athlete to ever come through the school.
“It is a different dynamic because she is much less experienced in volleyball,” Buckley said. “Her dominance is what is the most standout part of it all. Watching her on the court, you feel it — it’s different. It’s a higher level of athlete.”
Throughout her life, Taylor has explored multiple sports, ultimately leading her to focus on volleyball. Her father, J.J. Johnson said from an early age, Taylor has been energetic and always had an interest in sports.
“She loves to run, [and] she loves to win,” J.J. said. “She’s a competitive person and whenever she sets her mind to do something, she wants to accomplish it and wants to get better at it.”
J.J. ran track in high school and went on to win two world championships in track. He said that athleticism is more mental than physical and he has always tried to teach Taylor how to win and lose.
“[Taylor] is a way better athlete than I was,” J.J. said. “She knows how to handle the mental aspect of sports.”
Even though Taylor’s dad competed before she was born, Taylor has seen his journey through videos. She said her dad has been the biggest inspiration for her throughout her athletic journey.
“He always tries to help me [and he] notices the little things.” Taylor said. “He’s been very helpful in talking me through things and trying to help coach me through things he’s experienced himself.”
Taylor puts in a minimum of 15 hours a week training for volleyball. She said the biggest challenge she’s faced has been managing her time while also learning how to better handle herself on the court.
“It’s been hard trying to handle [everything,] but by doing that, I’ve learned that it’s worth it in the end,” Taylor said. “I get very emotional sometimes, and I see [that even when [the upperclassmen] are struggling, they handle themselves well and know how to switch their mindsets.”
During preseason, the volleyball team did not get many team practices, so a lot of coaching had to be done on the fly and during game time.
“Most players, especially teenage players, don’t get feedback in games,” Buckley said. “It’s hard to get that feedback and then translate it immediately. With Taylor, I can tell her what to do and to make an adjustment in between her coming in and off the court, and she will do it.”
Being 5 feet 11 inches tall, Taylor has a 45-inch vertical jump and can touch 10 feet 6 inches. Seeing this at the summer freshman camp, Buckley said her initial reaction was shock, followed by anticipation.
“Her vertical is breathtaking,” Buckley said. “It immediately catches your eye. Taylor is a freak-of-nature [athlete]. Her potential is something I’ve never seen before; she’s the most athletic 14-year-old I’ve ever seen. What she’s doing [is] out of raw instinct and natural ability. She has high expectations for herself, but I still don’t think she knows how good she can be.”
Taylor said that the best method for her to stay grounded is to think back on all she has overcome in her past and what she has persevered through. She said surrounding herself with people who are doing the same thing as her gives her hope.
“I thought I couldn’t do it, but I’ve shown myself that I can push through,” Taylor said. “If I’m ever going through a tough time, I think back on what I’ve accomplished and realize I can do it — I’m bigger than that.”